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Should Pregnancy Be Ruled Out Before Taking Medication To Delay Periods?
Question: I stopped taking Microgynon 30 in mid May after having been on it for 12 years - I have had my normal withdrawal bleed and one normal period since stopping. My next period is due when I am going on holiday and I have been reading about the possibility of taking a tablet in order to delay my period. However, I have come off the pill in order to start a family, so am concerned about taking a period delay pill in case I am pregnant - I understand you need to start taking the period delay tablet 3 days before your period is due, so I can take a pregnancy test before I start taking them, but will that be too soon to know if I am pregnant? If I take the tablets to delay my period for a week will this have any negative effects if I am pregnant? Or for a short time are the risks limited? Thank you
Brief Answer:
Yes, it would be contraindicated if you were to be pregnant.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
Pregnancy should be ruled out first. Get tested. Urine test can be negative up to 12 to 14 days after conception. Blood HCG can tell within a week whether your pregnant or not. So it depends on the day of conception 4 to 5 days will be too soon for a urine pregnancy test to become positive. Norethisterone 5mg tds for 3 days can be prescribed if you want to postpone your period. Once you stop the medicine you will get withdrawal bleeding. Yes, the deleterious effects on the baby development are significant as products like norethisterone are contraindicated in pregnancy. So pregnancy should be ruled out before sing it.
Thanks.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Yes, it would be contraindicated if you were to be pregnant.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
Pregnancy should be ruled out first. Get tested. Urine test can be negative up to 12 to 14 days after conception. Blood HCG can tell within a week whether your pregnant or not. So it depends on the day of conception 4 to 5 days will be too soon for a urine pregnancy test to become positive. Norethisterone 5mg tds for 3 days can be prescribed if you want to postpone your period. Once you stop the medicine you will get withdrawal bleeding. Yes, the deleterious effects on the baby development are significant as products like norethisterone are contraindicated in pregnancy. So pregnancy should be ruled out before sing it.
Thanks.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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