Utovlan is a medication where the active substance is the hormone norethisterone. This is a synthetic version of the naturally-occurring female sex hormone, progesterone. It is used in a wide range of menstrual disorders.

You can take Utovlan to treat or manage:

  • Heavy periods
  • Painful periods
  • Irregular periods or periods that are more frequent than normal
  • Premenstrual tension (PMT)
  • Endometriosis (where tissue from your womb is found outside your womb)
  • Breast cancer

What’s on this page:

Heavy periods: A short overview

Heavy periods are common, but they can have a big effect on a woman’s everyday life. They aren’t necessarily a sign there is anything wrong, but they can affect you physically and emotionally. Excessive menstrual bleeding is usually known as menorrhagia. It can be a distressing problem, and is one of the most common reasons for women to visit their GP. 1 in 20 women consult their GP every year about this problem.

Common causes include hormone imbalance. In a normal menstrual cycle, a balance between the hormones estrogen and progesterone regulates the buildup of the lining of the uterus (endometrium), which is shed during menstruation. If a hormone imbalance occurs, the endometrium develops in excess and eventually sheds by way of heavy menstrual bleeding.

It’s difficult to define exactly what a heavy period is because it varies from woman to woman. Heavy for one woman may be normal for another. Most women will lose less than 16 teaspoons of blood (80ml) during their period, with the average being around 6 to 8 teaspoons. Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined as losing 80ml or more with each period, having periods that last longer than 7 days, or both.

How does Utovlan work?

As mentioned above the active ingredient in Utovlan is Norethisterone, this drug mimics the effects of your natural progesterone and so can help regulate the healthy growth and normal shedding of the womb lining. It may be used in the treatment of menstrual disorders such as irregular or painful menstrual periods, premenstrual syndrome and endometriosis. It may also be used to postpone the start of your period for special circumstances, for example, if travelling or taking part in a sporting event.

Can I buy Utovlan online in the UK?

Yes, it is possible to purchase this drug online after a quick consultation on chat or a phone consultation. Provera is not prescription free and therefore you must always have a prescription from your doctor to start the treatment. Never start such treatment without talking to a doctor, and do not buy this medicine online from pages that do not require a doctor’s consultation. These are unauthorized online pharmacies and can sell fake versions of the drug.

If you are fit for the treatment, you will receive it directly by mail from an approved pharmacy in the UK.

How do I use this medicine?

When using this medicine, it is absolutely crucial to precisely follow the guidelines presented to you by your prescriber. In addition to this, you should also consult the official patient information leaflet that you can find within every box of the medicine for a detailed overview of the treatment. Doing so will go a long way in diminishing the risk of side effects while at the same time boosting the chances of success.

This drug can be used in different ways, depending on the condition. In case of menstrual disorders the drug only needs to be used a few days per menstrual cycle. If you are taking Utovlan for another condition, then you have to take the medicine every day.
Some most general guidelines can be described as follows:

  • The tablets should be swallowed with a drink. They can be taken either with or without food.
  • Menstrual disorders: for 10 days three times daily 1 tablet of 5 mg. Then for 2 cycles from day 16 to day 25, 1 tablet of 5 mg twice daily

Since the use of this treatment depends on the condition you will be treated, talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more detailed information for your daily use of this medicine.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The most serious of them certainly is an allergic reaction to the medicine. If you turn out to be allergic to Utovlan or any of its ingredients, it is essential to contact the emergency services immediately and ask for advice.

The symptom of an allergic side effect is:

  • You have difficulty breathing
  • Your face or throat swell
  • Your skin develops a severe rash

Other possible side effects:

  • Changes in menstrual bleeding, e.g. irregular bleeding, spotting or sometimes stopping of bleeding
  • Headache
  • Migraine
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Retention of fluid in the body tissues causing swelling (oedema)
  • Skin reactions such as rash and itching
  • Dizziness
  • Breast discomfort or tenderness
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
  • Depression
  • Change in sex drive
  • Weight gain
  • Disturbance in liver function
  • Jaundice
  • Hair loss (alopecia)
  • Excessive hair growth (hirsutism)

If you think you have experienced a side effect from a medicine you should check the patient information leaflet. This lists the known side effects and what to do if you get them. Also if you think you might be experiencing other side effects that’s not listed above.

Utovlan contraindications

In order to ensure the safety of this treatment, always make sure to disclose all the relevant info to your doctor and this includes other medicines you might be taking at the moment and other medical conditions that you might be affected by.

Hypersensitivity to this medicine is a contraindication. In addition, this cream should not be used if you have the following:

  • pregnant
  • unexplained vaginal bleeding (other than a normal period)
  • you or members of your family have a history of blood clots or thrombosis
  • liver problems
  • heart attack or angina
  • suffers from jaundice or a rash called pemphigoid gestationis during pregnancy
  • pruritus (an itchy rash all over your body)
  • blood disease like porphyria

Tell your doctor, if you have any of the following conditions:

  • Epilepsy
  • Migraines
  • Asthma
  • Heart problems
  • Kidney problems

Your doctor needs to know about these medical conditions, as Utovlan may not be suitable for you.