Using Natural Cycles after Postponing your Period
Some women may wish to postpone their period by extending the luteal phase, for example, to go traveling or on holiday. This is most often done by taking a pill containing progestogen (e.g. norethisterone). In most countries, these medications are only available with a prescription so you will need to speak to your doctor or healthcare professional about it before taking it.
What you need to know:
- If you take a progestogen pill, the hormone will affect your basal body temperature and therefore the data you enter into the app.
- Continue to measure your temperature as normal but mark it as a “excluding temp.” due to “sick” until your new cycle begins (first day of your period).
- The progestogen will not act as a contraceptive, so make sure you use barrier protection (such as condoms) if you have sex.
Will this affect my cycle?
These pills act to prolong the luteal phase and will make your cycle, when you take it, longer. This might have an impact on your statistics (in the My Cycle tab) and predictions. The app will take these changes into account when giving you red and green days. This will mostly affect the coming cycle, but it will regulate itself again after a few cycles. If you are a Prevent user, this might mean more red days in the coming cycles. If you use the app in Plan mode, this may mean more brown days in the coming cycles.
Extending the luteal phase and delaying your period may cause the app to think you might be pregnant, as your period is later than it usually is. This is nothing to be alarmed about since you know the reason behind the longer cycle.