Can periods be delayed?

A guide for parents of teens

Many teens ask us through our app, luna, about delaying their periods – often because they’re preparing for holidays, big events like prom, or school trips.

So we're here to share this information with parents to help them understand the topic and feel prepared if their teen approaches them about it.

Understanding how periods work

Before discussing how periods can be delayed, it’s helpful to know what triggers them.

Periods are controlled by hormones, primarily oestrogen and progesterone.

In the lead-up to a period, progesterone levels are high as it helps build the uterine lining.

Around 14 days before a period begins, progesterone levels drop suddenly, causing the uterine lining to break down – this is the start of menstruation.

How periods can be delayed

Medications designed to delay periods work by maintaining high progesterone levels.

By doing so, the drop that triggers menstruation doesn’t occur.

There are two main medication options for delaying periods, depending on whether your teen is already using the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) or not.

If your teen is not using the combined pill, doctors may prescribe norethisterone, a medication that mimics progesterone. This is usually taken 3 times daily, starting 3-4 days before the expected period.

It can be taken for up to 20 days but should only be used for the necessary duration.

If your teen is using the combined pill, they may be advised to continue taking their next month’s pills without the usual seven-day break. However, not all combined pills work the same way, so it’s essential to consult a doctor or pharmacist for guidance.

If your teen is using the progesterone-only pill (POP), this cannot delay periods, so your doctor may recommend switching to another pill temporarily.

Possible side effects

Norethisterone can have side effects, though not everyone experiences them.

These include irregularities in the menstrual cycle, breast tenderness, nausea, headaches, and mood changes.

It’s also worth noting that norethisterone isn’t a contraceptive, so additional protection is necessary if your teen is sexually active while taking it.

Know that all of this is completely optional

It’s important to note that delaying a period is an option, but it is not medically necessary in most cases.

Periods are a normal and healthy part of life, and it’s usually possible to manage them even during events or trips.

However, if a period is significantly impacting your teen’s daily life – such as preventing them from attending school or important events – this is something to discuss with a doctor.

A doctor will assess your teen’s overall health and individual circumstances before prescribing any medication.

Finally, a note on home remedies

There’s a lot of misinformation online that teens are accessing about natural ways to delay periods which luna's working hard to debunk in our app, such as drinking lemon or lime juice.

However, these methods are not scientifically proven and may even be harmful.

If your teen comes across such claims, please discourage them from trying it out, and if you don't think they'll be as receptive, you can point them in the direction of luna which has debunked these claims.

Final thoughts...

Delaying a period can be useful for specific situations, but it's not something that needs to be done routinely or without careful consideration.

If your teen is really stressed about having a period for a holiday, for example, you can take your teen to speak with a doctor. With the right guidance in place, you and your teen can decide on what’s best for their health.

Finally, why not support your teen with a luna subscription?

Our app, luna, has dedicated advice on this topic which can help them feel more empowered through adolescence.

You can think of luna as a modern, digital approach to wellbeing – it’s cost-effective, verified by doctors and safeguarding experts, and has a direct line into the biggest concerns facing teens today – so it’s actually addressing what they need advice on, when they need it.

If you’ve been looking for an antidote to the misinformation and negativity shared on social media or forums, you can get luna for your teen via our luna premium page for the price of a coffee each month or manage their subscription by downloading luna yourself and signing up as a parent (it's "we are luna" in app stores).