You can now buy a pill over the counter to delay your period - but is it safe?

Periods can often be something of an inconvenience, particularly if it arrives when you are heading off on holiday or on a special occasion.

But there is a pill that can delay menstruation for up to 30 days - and it is now available to buy in Superdrug stores over the counter for the first time.

A high street first

The period delay pill, known as Norethisterone, was formerly a prescription-only medication that women had to be prescribed by their GP.

In a high street first, Superdrug has announced that it is the first retailer to offer the pill to customers via a walk-in service at its pharmacies, as well as through its health clinics by appointment.

Everything you need to know

Women must be aged 18 or over and will be able to have an in-store consultation to allow them to temporarily stop their period, without having to visit their GP. The pill needs to be taken three days before the expected period begins and then delays it until three days after the last tablet.

Superdrug offers packs of 30, 60 and 90 pills, which last for 10, 20 and 30 days. The packs are priced at £29, £45 and £59 respectively.

However, how to delay your period depends on whether you are taking the contraceptive pill or not.

Norethisterone can delay your period for up to 30 days (Photo: Superdrug)

Not a form of contraception

Women who are not taking a contraceptive pill can take Norethisterone tablets to delay their period, if medically appropriate.

If you are taking the combined contraceptive pill, you can keep taking that back to back to delay your period instead of taking the period delay pill.

Norethisterone is the synthetic version of a sex hormone which naturally occurs in the human body. It belongs to a group of hormones called progestogens, which are also found in mini pills and combined contraceptive pills.

However, taking Norethisterone tablets to delay your period will not protect you against pregnancy, so you will still need to use a method of contraception, such as a condom.