How Does Breastfeeding Affect Pregnancy
So, can I get pregnant while breastfeeding?
The answer is yes and no.
If done right, LAM can be an effective birth control method. But, not every woman will go a full six months without her menstrual cycle returning. You can get pregnant while breastfeeding before your period returns since you ovulate first and only then get your period.
Can I Still Get Pregnant If I Intentionally Delay My Period
It depends what method youre using to avoid having a period. Norethisterone only delays your period it doesnt offer any protection against pregnancy but hormonal contraception is very effective at preventing pregnancy when used correctly. Even so, no method is 100% effective, and pregnancy does still occasionally happen. Its worth remembering that it can be harder to know if youre pregnant if youre not having periods . You may need to be more vigilant for other early
What Is The Period Delay Pill
The medical name for the period delay pill is Norethisterone, often sold under the brand name Utovlan.
Norethisterone is a progestin, a form of progesterone, explains Dr. Claudia. Periods start when the natural progestin produced by your body levels fall, so taking progestin tablets will keep your hormone levels up and prevent your period from starting.
On Norethisterone, your cycle is extended, delaying your period.
Norethisterone is a type of progestogen-only pill , but youll also find progesterone in the combined pill and mini-pill. If youve had difficulties taking the POP in the past, it is not recommended you take Norethisterone.
Recommended Reading: Is It Possible To Miss A Period For A Month
Common Myths On How To Delay Your Period Naturally
Generally, there is no natural way that is proven to help delay your period. Some popular misbeliefs include consuming:
- Apple cider vinegar
- Green bean water
Unfortunately, none of these mentioned above have been scientifically proven to work. In truth, eating specific foods or drinking does not regulate period hormones. Unfortunately, when ingested in large quantities, they can have adverse side effects on your gums, mouth, teeth, and digestive system as a whole.
There was, however, a study by Robledo, T., Canzi, E.F., de Andrade, P.M. et al. that did prove a link between citrus juice and a shortened length and intensity of bleeding during menstruation. Yet, this one study did not give enough data to back up claims that lemon juice can pause the onset of your period. There needs to be more research on the subject, but it doesnt hurt to have a glass of lemonade during that time of the month in hopes of shortening the duration or having fewer clots.
The Different Period Delaying Methods
Periods can easily prove to be a major inconvenience for most women, especially when theres a big event on the horizon. For a variety of lifestyle and relationship reasons, more women are today searching for reliable and safe methods to stop or control their periods .
The most common approach is to use period delay pills, such as Norethisterone, or by manipulating the use of birth control medication to delay menstruation by a few days.
Order safe and effective period delay tablets
Don’t Miss: I Know I Ovulated But My Period Is Late
Is There Anyone Who Should Avoid Taking Norethisterone
“Norethisterone is safe for the majority of women,” Wilson says. “It should not be used for women who have suffered with liver tumours, breast cancer, a history of jaundice during pregnancy, and severe vascular disease.”
You should avoid taking the medication if you are pregnant or think you could be, if you are breastfeeding, if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding that hasnt been investigated by a doctor, or if you have a known, suspected or past history of genital or breast cancer .
Those who have recently had angina, a heart attack or a stroke caused by a blood clot should also avoid taking norethisterone.
Dr Lucinda Farmer, spokesperson for the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare , says norethisterone has been shown to be partly metabolised to become the oestrogen hormone ethinylestradiol.
“Women being prescribed 5 mg of norethisterone to postpone menstruation could be exposed to 20-60 mcg of ethinylestradiol a day, which is equivalent to the amount found in two combined contraceptive pills,” she says. “Care should be taken when prescribing these doses of norethisterone in women with contra-indications to the combined pill, especially women presenting with risk factors for venous thromboembolism.”
Can I Keep Breastfeeding If I Want To Get Pregnant
If the conditions are right, yes, pregnancy can happen while breastfeeding. If you see signs of ovulation, you have the possibility of getting pregnant. Some women have reported that they did not have a period and got pregnant.
If your period returns at any point during breastfeeding, LAM is no longer a birth control option for you. You can get pregnant without the use of a barrier or birth control.
When your baby reaches 6 months old or starts eating other foods, you end the LAM and can get pregnant.
Exclusive breastfeeding recommendations are until the baby is 6 months old. Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed through the first year or more. If you breastfeed after the first six months, LAM is no longer an effective birth control method. You could get pregnant any time after this.
You May Like: What Could Cause A Late Period
How Do I Know If I’m Ovulating
Signs of ovulation may be hard to notice in the first six weeks after giving birth due to bleeding and lochia. Some women do not ovulate before six weeks, but others do.
It is important to know that pregnancy is possible during this time. Providers encourage women not to begin sexual activity until after their six-week follow-up. Though many do before that visit.
When To Call Your Healthcare Provider
Missing a period every once in a while is usually not cause for concern. How much of a delay is normal for your period? It depends. On average, a menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, but 40 days could also be within the range of normal. And your cycle will change throughout your life, so at some time, you’re likely to experience a late period when you’re not pregnant.
That said, you should see a healthcare provider if you miss more than one period, or if your missed period is accompanied by new or unusual symptoms.
Seek medical attention right away if you also experience any of the following:
- New or worsening headaches
Also Check: Will My Period Make My Uti Worse
How Skipping A Period Can Be Good For You
Skipping periods can not only make you feel more in control, but can also help with period-related problems. Symptoms or conditions that skipping periods can help with include:
- heavy periods excessive blood loss every month can take its toll physically and emotionally, and can also lead to
- , often cause heavy periods, so not having periods can make symptoms easier to manage
- other health conditions several other health conditions can be aggravated or made worse by having periods, including irritable bowel syndrome
Does Breastfeeding Prevent Pregnancy
Breastfeeding can have a direct effect on your body in the early period after giving birth. Hormones control milk production, the release of new eggs, and getting ready for a new baby.
Breastfeeding can reduce some of these hormones. That can lower the chances of getting pregnant for some women, but not all.
Breastfeeding can be a form of birth control if all steps are met. This method is the lactational amenorrhea method .
For this approach to be successful:
- The baby is younger than 6 months old and only breastfeeds
- There can be no more than 4-6 hours between feeding day or night
- You currently have no periods
LAM is a birth control option for mothers in the first six months after the baby is born.
After six months, the chances of success go down a lot. Studies have shown that two out of 100 women can still get pregnant while hitting all three areas.
This probability is similar to other contraceptives or birth control methods, based on how effective they can be.
Some affect hormones while others do not. The following birth control methods are listed from most effective to least effective:
Less than 1 pregnancy reported in 100 women/year:
- Implant 0.05% likelihood of pregnancy used for up to 3 years
- Intrauterine device 0.2-0.8 likelihood of pregnancy- Hormonal used for 3-7 years Copper T used up to 10 years
6-12 pregnancies in 100 women/year:
18 or more pregnancies in 100 women/year
You May Like: Period Symptoms But No Period Iud
How Else Can You Delay Your Period
Although norethisterone is safe and can work well for many women who want to occasionally postpone their period, it can come with side effects – so it’s worth trying it out before your holiday to see how it will affect you. Before you delay your period, you should speak with your GP who can advise the best option for you.
There’s no guaranteed way to postpone your period, but it might be possible if you take the combined contraceptive pill back-to-back. In fact, the FRSH has recently changed its guidance on taking the pill. They point out that there’s no harm from missing ‘periods’ on the pill, because they’re not actually periods at all – they’re withdrawal bleeds when the daily dose of hormone is withdrawn for a week.
They suggest doctors should offer all women the choice of taking the pill for three weeks with a four-day, rather than a seven-day, break taking the pill without any break taking a break after every third pack rather than after every pack or taking the pill continuously until you have a breakthrough bleed.
If you are on the progestogen-only pill – also known as the mini pill – then this is taken every day of the month without a break. It is not possible to delay your period with this pill.
Some other forms of contraception, such as the injection or the Mirena coil, may make periods lighter or stop them altogether, but this is not the case for all women.
Reasons For Postponing Period
While you may have personal reasons for delaying your period, there are some other general reasons to stop your monthly menstruation for a few days, hours or even a week.
- Any conditions that are made worse by menstruation such as epilepsy, migraines, asthma, anemia and even endometriosis.
- Any mental or physical disability which makes it hard to use tampons or sanitary towels.
- To prevent mood swings, bloating, breast tenderness, headaches or other condition that accompanies the period.
- When one experiences painful, frequent, prolonged or heavy periods.
Before using any of these methods, you should know how you personally respond to them. The advice of a medical doctor is always a valuable ingredient when altering any part of your bodily processes.
Also, living a healthy lifestyle will make it easier and less painful when using any of the methods detailed here. You can achieve that with regular exercise and a healthy diet that is balanced. Also, avoid using any method all the time and allow your body to have periods every now and again.
You May Like: Sanitizer Concentration Must Be Checked Periodically By Using A
What Is An Irregular Period
For those who are still confused about what counts as an irregular cycle, lets break it down for you. You know for certain that you cant count your days if:
- You get your period more than once within 21 days
- Its been more than 35 days since your last period
- The length of your period cycle fluctuates within a wide range
- Your period lasts longer than 7 days
Your body doesnt need to follow the standard 28-day cycle but the larger bracket is between 21 and 35 days. Additionally, the length of your cycle should always almost be the same. For example, if one month the cycle is 31 days and the next month its 34, thats okay. But experiencing a cycle of 25 days one month and 34 days the next month is something you need to get checked.
Also Check: How To Clean Period Blood Out Of Sheets
Will I Need To Consult My Doctor First
While Norethisterone is a prescription-only medication, with these period delay services you do not need a consultation with a GP. Boots and Superdrug have their own team of clinicians and are able supply prescription-only medication without the need to see your GP – as long as it is suitable for you, of course. If you have any concerns or questions, always consult with your GP first.
You May Like: Can You Get Mirena Put In On Your Period
Why Is My Period Late On Birth Control
Contraceptives can help regulate your periods, but other factors including stress, diet, and changes in weight can still affect your menstrual cycle. It’s also possible to experience oligomenorrhea, infrequent or abnormally light bleeding, while using contraceptives.
Women Taking The Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill
If you are taking a fixed-dose combined oral contraceptive pill then simply start the next pack without the usual seven-day break. Taking two packs back-to-back in this way is safe if it is done occasionally. You still only need to have a seven-day break at the end of these two packets.
If you are taking a triphasic or biphasic type of pill then you will need to take the last phase of the pills from the second pack immediately after finishing the first pack. Alternatively, you can change to a fixed-dose pill.
You should see your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are not sure which pill you are taking. The pills most commonly used are fixed-dose. If it is triphasic or biphasic usually the colour of the pill or the packet will not be the same throughout the month.
Read Also: How Many Days From Ovulation To Period
Mental Or Emotional Stress
While it sounds absurd to recommend stress as a way of achieving a good result, stress is known to change the menstrual cycle. The most known result of stress on the menstrual cycle is delaying the onset of periods.
To benefit from this remedy, you can choose to set a goal that you know will lead to some emotional fatigue. For example, rather than doing that project from school for a week, set yourself a target to finish it in three days.
The only downside to this method is that some women are known to respond in the opposite direction.
Rather than having their menstrual cycle delayed, some have their menses come earlier than usual when subjected to stress of any kind.
Is It Healthy To Skip A Period
Despite what you might think, periods arent essential for your health. Unless youre trying to get pregnant, you dont need to release an egg and have periods. And if you choose to use a hormonal method to skip a period, you wont store up extra blood or cause other health risks.
The idea that monthly periods are healthy is partly down to the way the
However, if youre regularly skipping or missing periods and you’re not using hormonal contraception, speak to your doctor, as you may have an underlying condition that needs treatment. Read more about
You May Like: What Do You Take For Period Cramps
Do Period Delay Tablets Contain Allergens
Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with medicine packs for a full list of ingredients.
- Provera 10mg tablets contain both lactose and sucrose and may be unsuitable for women who are unable to take these sugars.
- Provera 10mg tablets as supplied by Dr Fox for period delay do not contain dye. However, Provera 2.5mg tablets contain sunset yellow and some people can be allergic to this.
- Norethisterone tablets are made by several different manufacturers. All brands currently available in the UK contain lactose but not sucrose.
Skip Your Placebo Week Of Oral Contraceptives
Some types of birth control pills come with three weeks of active pills and one week of placebo pills. If you skip the week of placebo pills and start a new pack of active pills instead, then the hormones in the active pills will prevent you from bleeding that week.
However, it’s important to note that if this is your first time skipping a placebo week, you may experience some irregular bleeding or light spotting.
After two to three months of skipping your placebo week, you should see little to no spotting. Therefore, Ross recommends planning several months ahead if you know your period will coincide with a big upcoming occasion.
Moreover, you can get birth control pills in packs that last 28 days, 90 days, and even 365 days. That’s right, you can go a year without your period while on the pill.
“Being able to stop your period completely is one of the most beneficial side effects associated with the pill, and it’s completely safe,” says Ross.
Also Check: Cramps After Orgasim Sign Of Pregnancy Or Period
Is It Safe To Delay Your Period At All
So there’s some good news here: You absolutely can delay your periodand do it in a safe way. But that can only be done with one specific hormonal birth control method: the combination pill .
“A birth control pill has 21 days of hormones, usually ethinyl estradiol and progestin, and seven days of a placebo pill that prompts you to have an artificial period,” Alyse Kelly-Jones, MD, an OB-GYN in Charlotte, N.C., told Health. “To delay your period, you would skip the placebo and immediately start a new pack of pills.”
Doing this for just one cycle can delay your period by as much as another three weeks, said Dr. Kelly-Jones. The only caveat is that you need to plan accordingly and with plenty of notice if you’re not already on hormonal birth control to begin with. “If you come to me two weeks out from your wedding or vacation and aren’t already on birth control, I probably won’t be able to help you,” said Dr. Kelly-Jones. “At best, you might be able to delay it in time, but at worst, you might cause all kinds of irregular bleeding, which would be even less appealing.”
That’s because, with your birth control pills already in place, your body is like a well-oiled machine, while starting birth control from scratch can sometimes be a lengthy process to find one that works with your body to your liking.