What Birth Control Works Best To Suppress My Period
While many types of hormonal birth control could theoretically be used for menstrual suppression, some are more common or reliable than others. Birth control pills and IUDs are some of the most common methods, whereas IUDs and birth control shots are some of the most reliable.
There are several types of birth control pills: combination pills, which include both estrogen and progestin, and progestin-only pills. Among combination pills there are also monophasic and multiphasic. Monophasic means the amount of hormones in each pill is the same, whereas with multiphasic pills, the dose changes throughout the month.
Combination, monophasic pills are the easiest and most effective to use to stop your period. Most pill packets contain three weeks of active pills that have hormones and one week of inactive pills that dont contain hormones. This is designed to mimic someones natural menstrual cycle. If you want to stop your period, you simply dont take the inactive pills and instead go straight to the next set of pills that contain hormones.
Some brands, such as Amethyst, are designed to let you skip your period for a year or more. Others, such as Seasonique, are designed to give you a period only every three months.
Additionally, the contraceptive vaginal ring and transdermal contraceptive patches can both be used to reduce or eliminate periods with about the same effectiveness as pills.
Taking The Combined Pill Back
If you take a combined contraceptive pill, you can delay your period by taking the packets back-to-back.
How you do this will depend on the type of pill you take.
Examples are:
- monophasic 21-day pills, such as Microgynon and Cilest you take a combined pill for 21 days, followed by 7 days without pills, when you have a bleed . To delay your period, start a new packet of pills straight after you finish the last pill and miss out the 7-day break.
- everyday pills, such as Microgynon ED and Lorynon ED you take a combined pill every day. The first 21 pills are active pills and the next 7 pills are inactive or dummy pills, when you have your period. To delay your period, miss out and throw away the dummy pills, and start the active pills in a new packet straight away.
- phasic 21-day pills, such as Binovium, Qlaira and Logynon the mix of hormones in each pill is different, depending on which phase you’re in. You need to take these pills in the correct order to have effective contraception. Speak to your pharmacist, community contraception clinic or GP for more information before taking phasic pills back-to-back.
Taking your contraceptive pills in the ways described above will not affect how they work as contraceptives.
If you’re not sure which pill you’re on, which pills in the packet to miss out, or you need advice, speak to your pharmacist, community contraception clinic or GP.
Taking the combined pill can cause side effects, such as:
Are There Any Natural Methods That Work To Delay Your Period
You may have heard somewhere on the internet that there are a few natural or homemade methods that can help you delay your periodbut our experts agree that this is not the way to go.
“If you search online, you’ll likely read about natural ways to delay your period, like consuming gram lentils, gelatin, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or even green bean water a few days to a week before your period,” said Dr. Horton. “However, none of these methods are scientifically proven to work because drinking or eating special foods does not alter the hormones involved in regulating your period. They can, however, affect your teeth, gums, mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract if taken in excessive amounts.”
Other suspected remedies like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can help to relieve cramps and reduce your flow if you’ve already started your period, but they won’t prevent it altogether.
Ultimately, if you’re looking to temporarily pause your period, you are able to do so in a safe and effective way. But, as always, if you have any concerns or are unsure about which method to go for, talk to your healthcare provider to determine the best path for your individual situation.
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Delaying Your Period If You’re Not On The Pill
To delay your period, you can use a medicine called Norethisterone for up to 17 days’ delay.
It comes in the form of tablets which you must start to take three days before your period is due. You must then take three tablets a day during the time you wish to delay your period . You should get your period two or three days after you stop taking Norethisterone.
Norethisterone is a prescription-only medicine. Your GP can prescribe it for you, or you can order it through our online service if you want to save the hassle of booking an appointment and going to the clinic.
Norethisterone is not a contraceptive, and cannot be used to prevent pregnancy.
How does Norethisterone work?
Norethisterone contains the hormone progesterone. By artificially keeping your natural progesterone levels up, it stops the lining of your womb from shedding and delays your period.
How effective is Norethisterone?
Most women find that Norethisterone prevents their period from starting until they choose to stop taking the tablets. However, some women find that they have spotting or breakthrough bleeding while they are taking Norethisterone. Starting to take Norethisterone less than three days before your period is due to start greatly increases the chance of spotting.
Can I take Norethisterone?
As a general rule, you should probably not take Norethisterone if you:
Quick Read No You Dont Need A Period Period
- Stopping your period is safe having a period isnt necessary for good health.
- Hormonal shots and intrauterine devices are the most effective methods.
- The most common side effect is breakthrough, irregular bleeding or spotting.
- Period suppression does not put someone at risk for infertility, if they want to have kids.
- It also lowers the risk for uterine fibroids and endometrial polyps or cancer.
Most people who have periods can agree: They arent exactly fun.
Research has shown that heavy, painful and otherwise disruptive periods also can have a significant impact on someones life, such as missing more days of work.
The good news? If you have a uterus, you dont need to have a period. There are safe, effective ways to stop getting a period for a little while or a long time. Heres what you need to know.
Read Also: How Do You Know If Your Gonna Get Your Period
How To Delay Your Period: Learn Whether Or Not This Is A Good Idea
Delaying or stopping menstruation has become possible with the development of modern hormonal contraceptives. There are lots of reasons people do it: medical reasons such as heavy menstrual bleeding, preparation for medical procedures, period migraines, or if they have an upcoming sports event, wedding, or vacation. After all, periods dont always happen at the most convenient time. Keep reading to discover how to delay your period and if its safe to do it.
Will Birth Control Make My Period Stop
if I get on birth control will i stop getting my period?
It depends on what kind of birth control you use and how you use it. In general, women who use the IUD, patch, pill, or ring will have menstrual periods every month. Women who take the shot may not have periods often or at all while they use the method. Some women use combined-hormone methods the pill and the vaginal ring to skip periods.
Combination pills, for example, usually come in 28-day packs and are taken without interruption. The first 21 pills in the pack are called active they contain hormones that prevent pregnancy. The last seven pills in the pack are called reminder pills. Theyre inactive placebos that do not contain hormones. Theyre taken during the fourth week to let a woman have her period and to help her keep the habit of taking a pill on a regular basis.
Some women choose to skip placebo pills and go right into the next pack to avoid having a period continuously or during certain events like their vacations, for example. They may still experience some spotting light bleeding when they do this.
Tags:menstruation, periods, birth control
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Eat A Healthy Diet That Controls Blood Sugar
As with any chronic health issue, the first step is to ensure youre eating a well-balanced diet that provides you the nutrients you need for optimal physical function. While there are dozens of theories about the perfect diet, there truly is no one-size-fits-all approach, so I prefer to give general guidelines in this case.
For improved hormonal function, the goal should be to keep blood sugar as steady as possible. A real food diet made primarily from whole foods is ideal, with limited amounts of highly refined grains and sugars.
Having period trouble? Here are 10 tips by @AncestralizeMe to fix your cycle before going on birth control.
High-quality protein should be consumed at every meal and snack, and plant foods like vegetables and fruit should make up the bulk of the volume of the diet. Healthy fats should be consumed at each meal as well. A higher fiber intake from plant foods can help with the excretion of extra hormones in the stool.
Micronutrient-dense foods like liver, eggs, fatty fish, leafy greens, and full-fat dairy products provide vitamins and minerals that support metabolic function, detoxification in the liver, and ovarian health.
A balanced Paleo template can be a great fit for women provided they pay attention to the next recommendation listed below.
Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy
While theres no actual scientific research behind it, theres limited anecdotal evidence that drinking lemon juice might delay the onset of bleeding.
While moderate amounts of acidic foods like lemon juice are fine, too much acid is not good for you. It can work on a number on your mouth, teeth, gums, throat, stomach, and intestines.
Just like with ACV, make sure to dilute lemon juice in something else, like unsweetened tea or plain water.
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How To Delay Your Period
If youre wondering how to delay your period naturally, you might be disappointed. Generally, there is no natural way that is proven to help delay your period. Some popular myths include taking apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.
While it might not delay your period, a 2014 study in Brazil involving 45 volunteers aged 1840 showed that Tahiti lime juice reduced the duration and intensity of menstrual bleeding, as well as the presence of clots. In the course of the study, it was found that the juice of one lime reduces menstrual bleeding within 30 minutes after drinking it. But its important to note that despite these results, how exactly lime or lemon juice works has not been reliably determined.
So, if youre wondering how to stop your period with lemon, theres no scientific data to prove its efficient or safe. In reality, consuming too much apple cider vinegar or lemon juice can irritate and impact the health of your gums, teeth, mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines.
While there isnt a scientifically proven natural way to stop your period, there are a variety of non-natural and medicinal ways to delay or stop your period from coming. These typically include hormonal contraception, such as:
- The pill or vaginal rings
- Oral progestogen
What Is Menstrual Suppression
It is entirely possible to stop this monthly bleeding by using hormonal birth control. Almost any hormonal method may stop someones period incidentally, whether or not the person actively tries.
Not having a period can significantly improve someones quality of life and ability to interact in the world, plus fewer missed days at school or work, Dr. Sarah Prager says. She is an OB-GYN at UW Medicine who specializes in family planning, birth control management, abortion and reproductive justice.
That is true for people who simply dont want to deal with irritating monthly symptoms and for those whose periods prevent them from living a full life.
Being period-free is helpful for people who have a condition called menorrhagia, where they bleed so heavily they can develop anemia and, in rare cases, may need blood transfusions. It can also be helpful for people who have conditions such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome , where periods may cause heavy bleeding and severe pain.
Some transgender and gender nonbinary people may not want a period because it causes dysphoria and doesnt match their gender identity. Athletes, military personnel, or people who are outdoors or travel a lot for work may decide a period is an unnecessary hassle.
Read Also: How To Calculate Next Period Date
Reasons For Having No Period After Stopping Birth Control
Did you miss your period after stopping birth control? Remember that it can take several months for your cycle to regulate once you stop hormonal contraception, and this is completely normal. That said, if menstruation is absent for longer than expected, there might be another issue at play. Here are the most common things that might be causing an irregular cycle.
What Are The Different Ways To Delay A Period
For one reason or another, sometimes women will wish to delay a period. The monthly nuisance of menstruation is a fact of life that most women are used to. For some, periods are light and painless. For others, they are severe and debilitating, with labour-like cramps, heavy bleeding, diarrhoea and faintness. For most, its probably somewhere in the middle. But for all women who menstruate, its an inconvenience and requires a certain level of thought and planning. Of course, women just get on with things and do what must be done, as they have for millennia.
But when a big event like a wedding, exam or a much-anticipated holiday crops up, and a period is due slap-bang in the middle of it, it can be particularly frustrating- it may affect how a woman feels physically and mentally, what activities she can partake in, and what clothes she can wear! Women quite often come to their doctor to ask for ways to stop or delay a period in such situations. So, what are the options and do they work? Well there are actually a few, depending on the circumstances, time-frames involved, a womans preferences and medical history.
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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
Taking 2 Packets Of The Combined Pill Back
If you take a combined contraceptive pill, you can delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back.
How you do this will depend on which pill you take.
Examples are:
- monophasic 21-day pills, such as Microgynon and Cilest you take a combined pill for 21 days, followed by 7 days without pills, when you have a bleed . To delay your period, start a new packet of pills straight after you finish the last pill and miss out the 7-day break.
- everyday pills, such as Microgynon ED and Lorynon ED you take a combined pill every day. The first 21 pills are active pills and the next 7 pills are inactive or dummy pills, when you have your period. To delay your period, miss out and throw away the dummy pills, and start the active pills in a new packet straight away.
- phasic 21-day pills, such as Binovium, Qlaira and Logynon the mix of hormones in each pill is different, depending on which phase youre in. You need to take these pills in the correct order to have effective contraception. Ask your pharmacist, community contraception clinic or GP for more information.
Taking your contraceptive pills in the ways described above will not affect how they work as contraceptives.
If youre not sure which pill youre on or which pills in the packet to miss out, speak to your pharmacist, community contraception clinic or GP.
Avoid taking more than 2 packs without a break, unless your GP says you can.
Theres a risk you could experience side effects, such as:
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Delaying Your Period Often
It is not recommended to take Norethisterone regularly. If you often want to delay your period, your options include taking the combined contraceptive pill back to back or considering an intrauterine system . An IUS can work for up to 5 years and most women get lighter, less painful and often stop. After 12 months most users only have a light bleed for one day per month and about 1 in 5 users have no bleeding at all.
For more information on long-term contraception, visit our contraception clinic.