How Much Does Period Delay Cost in the UK?
What a private prescription for period delay costs online, what the price covers, how many tablets you need, and when you might get it on the NHS instead.
Part of the Period Delay Health Guide.
When to get urgent help: Call 999 or go to A&E if you have signs of a blood clot or stroke while taking norethisterone: pain, swelling or redness in one leg; sudden chest pain or breathlessness; coughing up blood; sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking or a sudden severe headache. Also call 999 for a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing. Stop taking it and see a doctor the same day if your skin or eyes turn yellow, you get a migraine for the first time, or you have sudden changes to your vision.
Key fact: at Access Doctor, the price of norethisterone 5mg tablets includes the online consultation with a pharmacist independent prescriber, the private prescription and the medicine. There is no separate consultation fee, and you only pay if treatment is approved as suitable for you.
Get Norethisterone 5mg Online
Prescribed after an online consultation with our GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescribers, and dispensed from our UK pharmacy in plain packaging.
Get norethisterone 5mg →What you pay
| Treatment | From | Pack | Price includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norethisterone 5mg | £13.99 | 30 tablets (larger packs available) | Consultation, prescription and medicine |
Prices correct at 10 October 2026. The current price for each pack size is shown on the norethisterone 5mg tablets page. Your prescriber decides which medicine and how many tablets are suitable for you. If norethisterone isn’t suitable, they may discuss other options, and any cost is confirmed before you pay.
How many tablets you need
The dose is one 5mg tablet three times a day, starting 3 days before your period is due and continuing until you no longer need to delay it. That means:
| Pack | Lasts | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 30 tablets | 10 days | A long weekend or a one-week holiday, including the 3 days before your period is due |
| 60 tablets | Just under 3 weeks | A longer trip, if your prescriber agrees a longer course |
How long you can take it for is a clinical decision. The Primolut N licence describes courses of no longer than 10 to 14 days, and NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service guidance allows up to 3 to 4 weeks if necessary. Your prescriber will tell you how long is appropriate.
What’s included in the price
- The online consultation, reviewed by a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber. Consultation included, with no separate fee.
- The private prescription, issued only if treatment is appropriate for you.
- The medicine, a UK-licensed product dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy.
- Plain packaging. Delivery options and any delivery charge are shown at checkout before you pay.
There is no subscription. If you need period delay again in the future, you complete a new consultation so the prescriber can check nothing has changed.
Can you get it on the NHS?
Some GPs will prescribe norethisterone to delay a period on the NHS, while others treat delaying a period for a holiday or event as a non-medical reason and suggest a private prescription. If you get an NHS prescription in England, you pay the standard prescription charge unless you are exempt; prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The trade-off is time: you may need to wait for a GP appointment, and you must start the tablets at least 3 days before your period is due.
If you already take a combined pill, delaying your period by running packs back to back usually costs nothing extra. See how to delay your period on the pill.
How to avoid paying more than you need
- Give the prescriber your exact dates. They will prescribe the number of tablets you need, so you don’t pay for more than your course.
- Order early. Starting your consultation at least a week ahead avoids paying for faster delivery.
- Check the pill option first. If you already take a combined pill, you may not need a separate medicine.
UK safety and prescribing information
- Legal status: norethisterone is a prescription-only medicine (POM). At Access Doctor it is prescribed only after an online consultation with a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber, who may decline and suggest an alternative or that you see your GP.
- Licence: it is the only progestogen licensed in the UK to delay periods (NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service). The dose is 5mg three times a day, starting 3 days before your period is due.
- Course length: take it for as long as your prescriber advises. The Primolut N licence describes courses of no longer than 10 to 14 days, and NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service guidance says it can be taken for up to 3 to 4 weeks if necessary.
- Not a contraceptive: use condoms or another method while you take it.
- Blood clots: part of each dose is converted in the body to ethinylestradiol, the oestrogen in the combined pill (about 4–6 micrograms for every 1mg, according to the Primolut N product information), so the same blood clot warnings apply. Your prescriber will check risk factors such as a previous clot, smoking, a BMI over 30, being over 35, recent surgery and long-haul travel.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: do not take it if you are or might be pregnant. The Primolut N product information says it should be avoided while breastfeeding, so ask your prescriber.
- Reporting side effects: you can report suspected side effects to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme website or the Yellow Card app.
Planning to Delay Your Period?
Start your consultation at least a week before your period is due, so your tablets arrive in time to begin 3 days beforehand. Approved orders placed before 3pm Monday to Friday are dispatched that day by Royal Mail Tracked 24.
Get norethisterone 5mg →Frequently asked questions
How much do period delay tablets cost?
At Access Doctor, norethisterone 5mg starts from £13.99 for 30 tablets (price correct at 10 October 2026). If another medicine is more suitable for you, the cost is confirmed before you pay. The price includes the consultation, the prescription and the medicine.
Is there a separate consultation fee?
No. The consultation is included in the price of the treatment, and you only pay if the prescriber approves treatment as suitable for you.
Can I get period delay tablets on the NHS?
Sometimes. Some GPs prescribe norethisterone for period delay on the NHS, while others suggest a private prescription because it is not a medical need. NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; in England the standard prescription charge applies unless you are exempt.
Does the price include delivery?
Delivery options and any delivery charge are shown at checkout before you pay. Approved orders placed before 3pm Monday to Friday are dispatched that day by Royal Mail Tracked 24 in plain packaging.
How many tablets do I need?
One 5mg tablet three times a day, so a 30-tablet pack lasts 10 days, counting from 3 days before your period is due. Your prescriber will advise if you need a longer course.
References
- electronic Medicines Compendium. Norethisterone 5mg Tablets — Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflet. medicines.org.uk
- electronic Medicines Compendium. Primolut N 5mg Tablets — Summary of Product Characteristics. medicines.org.uk
- NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service. Choosing a medicine to delay periods. 2025. sps.nhs.uk
- MHRA. Yellow Card scheme. yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk
Medical disclaimer: This article is for information only and does not replace advice from your GP, pharmacist or prescriber. Norethisterone is a prescription-only medicine; always follow the instructions on your label and leaflet. In a medical emergency, call 999.