Utovlan

What is Utovlan?

Utovlan is a tablet that belongs to a group of medicines called progestogens. These are similar to the natural hormone progesterone. The progestogen in Utovlan is called norethisterone. It’s a pill that you take for a short period of time each month. You’ll take it at different points in your cycle, depending on what you’re using it for.

There are quite a few uses for Utovlan. It can be used to treat heavy or painful periods, PMT, endometriosis, and it can also be used to delay periods too.

How does Utovlan work?

The level of progesterone in your body goes up and down during your period. Levels increase as the womb lining thickens, ready to receive a fertilised egg. If you don’t get pregnant, the thickened lining leaves your body (your period starts) and levels of progesterone fall again.

The norethisterone in Utovlan mimics natural progesterone and prevents the level in your body from falling. You can take Utovlan at different points during your period to mimic the different stages of your cycle.

If you want to take Utovlan to delay periods, you’ll take it towards the end of your cycle, so it ‘tricks’ your womb lining into thinking that you’re pregnant (even though you aren’t). This prevents the shedding of the womb lining and stops you getting your period.

Utovlan is also used to treat endometriosis. It stops the womb lining (endometrium) from thickening and shedding. Regular use of Utovlan will cause the lining to become thin and eventually stop your periods.

Scientific analysis of norethisterone by medical researchers shows that it is also an effective treatment for heavy periods.

Are there different Utovlan doses?

Utovlan comes in one dosage: 5mg. Depending on the severity of your symptoms or the reason you’re taking it, your clinician may tell you to take more than one tablet a day.

If you find that the prescribed dose does not work, you can ask our clinician for advice. Your dose may need to be increased, or our clinician may give you advice on other treatments that are available for you to try.

How to take Utovlan tablets

How you take Utovlan differs depending on the condition you’re taking it for. Your clinician will tell you how to take Utovlan.

Taking Utovlan for heavy periods:

• The usual dose when taken for heavy bleeding is 15mg. This means you will take one tablet three times a day.
• The course of treatment usually lasts for 10 days.
• After this your clinician will probably advise you to take Utovlan for a few days after your next two periods to make sure that your periods don’t cause you problems again.

Taking Utovlan for PMT:

• When used to treat PMT, you will usually take one 5mg tablet for ten days, starting 16 days after your last period started.

Taking Utovlan for endometriosis:

• For treatment of endometriosis, your clinician will prescribe one tablet three times a day for at least six months.
• Your clinician may increase the dose if you have irregular bleeding or spotting during this time.

Taking Utovlan for period delay:

• If you take Utovlan to delay your periods you will usually take one tablet three times a day.
• You’ll start taking the tablets three days before your period is due to start.
• Your period will usually start three days after you finish taking Utovlan.
• A normal course is usually 7-10 days, but this can be extended for longer depending on your prescriber’s advice.

Does Utovlan work?

The active ingredients in Utovlan are highly effective at delaying your period. Research shows that taking one tablet three times a day delays periods in over 90% of women. The clinical trial also proved that norethisterone is more effective at delaying periods than the combined contraceptive pill.

Norethisterone helps reduce period pain because it thins the lining of the womb and prevents it from shedding.

Researchers aren’t 100% sure why norethisterone helps many women with symptoms of PMT, but it is believed that it could be because it helps to maintain a steady level of hormones in the body.

What to do if you miss a tablet

If you forget to take Utovlan you should take the tablet as soon as you remember, and carry on taking the rest of your tablets as normal. You should not take a double dose because this can increase the risk of side effects.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on August 02, 2022.

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