I took my last one on friday and my period started tuesday.The only problem I had was an aching sensation in my legs but other than that everything was fine and had a great holiday.

Took my last one Monday and nothing so far. I would definately use them again, no side effects whats so ever. Im keeping the ones ive got left for the next holiday.

HI,
the last few years my period has been due sometime during my holidays. My doctor prescribes me Primolut which I start taking around 3-4 days before it's expected. What I've learned to do is to delay the last period that falls the month before and stop taking the tablets in time to give me a period that'll end just before my holiday. That way I've finnished the medication and got the period out of the way before the holiday.
Hope I've made sense.

Thats a good idea Shirley h. This was the first time I had used these tablets and I carried sanitary protection around with me just in case it did not work. I would probably be more confident next time but it makes sense to get it out of the way before you go.

Noted for next year. Cheers guys.

I've just came back from hol and stopped the tablets this morning, so waiting to see how long before I come on, but they worked brilliantly for me, I started them 3days before I was due which happened to be the day we flew out and never had a period at all, just boobs ached a little after about a week of taking them but certainly nothing to put me off taking them again, brill but that is def a good idea Shirley certainly worth a try

i usually find that once ive stopped taking them then a period starts about 2-4 days later but not sure if everyone is different

I too have taken norethisterone on a number of occasions without any problems. However, the last time I took them everything was fine until my period started and then after about 1 day the lining of my womb came away in one fell swoop, frightening or what A quick visit to the Doctor reassured me that everything was OK but have decided it is not an experience I would like to go through again! Can't plan holidays around period dates as I am at that age when they have a mind of their own So from here it is just pot luck

So from here it is just pot luck

Yep, looks like I'm getting there

As many posters have suggested, it's better to start the pills sometime well before your holiday so that any unwanted side effects can be sorted out beforehand and the pill changed to another if necesssary. My 16 year old daughter started taking Dianette in anticipation of a period free holiday with no pill breaks but had breakthrough bleeding continuously almost as heavy at times as a normal period. She was then prescribed Marvelon and the same problem persisted. She stopped everything, had her proper period about 3 days later and she will restart about 3-4 days before she goes away.This is in the hope that everything will start again as it should for her hols. Fingers crossed but being my daughter....

Hi My periods for the last couple of years have been all over the place with anything from 1 week to 6 weeks between. lasting anything from 10 to 14 days . Also incredibly heavy. I am vertially housebound for a couple of days. The last 2 or 3 holidays i have lost 3 to 4 days of my holiday due to period problems.
My questions are these....Would the pills work on someone with such a chaotic cycle has mine. and Can a sister/nurse presribe these pills Last time went to the doctors was 20 years ago just after last child was born and know I would chicken out if I had to face the doctor especially for a none medical reason. I might just about get to the nurse.
As the hubby says if you are paying over a 1000 pounds for a holiday its worth sorting out.... Though thats easy for him to say LOL

With you on that one knitter-------------I don't do doctors---------but at my age the periods are here there and everywhere!!!!!!!!

Last year only had two all year---------great--until April this year and I've had one every month since!!!!!! but not proper ones--------just very light!!!!!!!!!!!! It's just you'd like to know where you stood??? What I do now is take protection with me-just in case

It must be something about both of us being 48
I presume its menopause though no give away hot flushes yet Wish mine had gone lighter instead its the reverse .

Hi Knitter 46,

To take your questions in order:

1) Norethisterone only works if you have reasonably regular periods because you need to start taking it in advance of your period starting. Once you've started it's no good but it can be used to help to stabilise your periods and make them more regular and predicable. To do this you start taking them on Day11 of your cycle (the start date of you last period being Day1) and keep taking them until Day 25 with you next period starting on Day 27/28. So you might be one of the women for whom taking it for 14 days every month could be a godsend.

2) It isn't suitable for everybody and so it will need a prescription from your docter and not just a practice nurse.

3) What you describe IS a medical condition - you don't have to put up with such erratic and/or heavy periods. Your docter can help make this all so much easier to cope with.

Also, there are other options that might suit you better than Norethisterone. I took it for years but now take Tranexamic Acid instead which, though it doesn't prevent you having a period, does both reduce the flow considerably and also the duration of a period. I find it extremely effective - so much so that I have absolutely no qualms about wearing white trousers when I'm on. I think it works by preventing the womb lining breaking down and coming away so every so often you do need to not take it so that the lining can come away but it does mean that you can control when this happens.

I carry them everywhere with me and taking two can stop a period in its tracks within an hour of taking the them and then taking 2x3 times a day means that I can get away with just using panty liners - I don't even need to use a tampon or a towel. I do use a tampon if I'm planning to go swimming but not the rest of the time. It has made life so much easier I can assure you. A friend found a similar liberation by having a Mirena coil fitted. There is no need to suffer - if you can bring this up with your docter I'm sure they would be very sympathetic - there is now so much more that can be done to prevent heavy, erratic periods these days and no woman needs ut up wth it.

SM

I have been on Norethisterone for over 20 years and I love it. Several friends have taken it ( not mine they got there own) and loved it as well.

Be worth speaking to the doctor about it as I tried a few different ones before I found this one

my first time in taking them they did stop my period which was great i took them 4 days before i was due on no symptoms other than dreadfull headaches from day 1 i dont know if it has anything to do with it or simply my hormones have gone into shock......

Hi clair, thin that is one of the side effects buts I was told by my doctor thats ide effects are really rare.

It must be something about both of us being 48
I presume its menopause though no give away hot flushes yet Wish mine had gone lighter instead its the reverse

Kitter
You really should pluck up courage and go see the doctor.
I know it's not easy and it's one of those areas where we don't like being examined, regardless whether or not we have had children.

You could be suffering with Fibroids ( they are very common) and depending where they are, for example in the womb or in the linning of the womb or in the cervix or outside the womb....all can be treated before the invasive surgery of an hysterectomy.
I have been there and got the T-shirt you cannot carry on bleeding heavily month after month, you will become anaemic and you really shouldn't have to put up with it.....establishing a regular cycle and tackling the blood flow might also indicate in the tests that you are in the pre-menopausal phase.

I had a total hysterectomy at the age of 46, for exactly the same symptoms that you are describing and having fibroids....but that was 14 years ago and medical science including HRT and its dosage has come a long way since then.
As fibroids swell when oestrogen levels are high, you could have an injection of a special hormone that reduces the oestrogen levels, thus making the fibroids shrink, the bleed flow light and in combination with a low dose HRT....all your problems could be solved.
A small plastic gadget inserted into your womb that slowly releases the hormone Progesterone will stop the linning of your womb from growing thick and hence when it sheds, the bleed will be lighter.
There are many options available and the only way to find out which is best for you....is go see the quack.
Your husband is right ( for once)

Sanjiiii
Edited because of a typo error

I had the mirena coil fitted when I was 48. It took a while to settle but it's fantastic now. My periods used to be so heavy that I used to have to set the alarm to get up and change my protection. Several of my friends have it fitted and I haven't heard a bad word about it.