Stick To A Consistent Exercise Routine
Can You Make Your Period End Faster
So now we know that menstrual bleeding occurs when your uterus sheds its inner lining at the beginning of each cycle. And we know why that happens. But is there a way to stop it once it starts? Not really. There arent any medications or pills to stop menstruation immediately once it starts. But! You can take hormonal birth control to stop periods before they start, or take other medications to make your periods lighter. Lets explore this in detail.
Who Shouldnt Stop A Period
Girls under the age of 15 should not stop their periods because in the first years of the menstrual cycle, its important to observe the interval between cycles, the quantity of blood lost, and which symptoms you have.
Observing the duration and symptoms of a girls cycle help to assess the health of her reproductive system, if the ovaries are working correctly, or if there is a problem such as ovarian cysts.
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What Can You Do To Feel Better
If you have severe cramping during your periods, taking an NSAID such as ibuprofen or naproxen may help. An NSAID works best when you start taking it 1 to 2 days before you expect pain to start. If you dont know when your period will start next, take your first dose as soon as bleeding or cramping starts.
Heavy periods can make you feel weak and run-down and can lead to anemia. Your doctor may suggest that you take an iron supplement if your iron levels are low. You may be able to prevent anemia if you increase the amount of iron in your diet. Foods rich in iron include red meat, shellfish, eggs, and beans.
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Apply Heat To Soothe Period Pain
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How Does This Work
Menstrual symptoms, including heavy periods, affect quality of life for many women. Heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the most common reasons women visit a gynaecologist, accounting for up to 30% of visits.
One study found menstrual symptoms including pain, heavy bleeding and low mood may be linked to nearly nine days of lost productivity per woman every year.
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Women who have heavy bleeding, and who experience painful periods, have elevated levels of hormones called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins act to dilate blood vessels, slow the clotting process and also help the body shed the uterine lining by inducing muscle contractions. So having higher levels of these hormones can lead to heavier bleeding and more severe cramping.
Ibuprofen has been shown to reduce prostaglandin levels in the lining of the uterus, which may be one way it reduces menstrual flow, though the exact mechanism remains uncertain.
This process may also be part of the reason ibuprofen can be an effective first-line treatment option for painful periods.
Who Should Consider Using Nsaids To Reduce Heavy Period Flow
Heavy period flow can be a symptom of several health conditions, including endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome , among others. With that in mind, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your experience with heavy menstrual bleeding to confirm whether ibuprofen is the right option for you, advises Dr. Bartos.
“Certainly for women with endometriosis, in which prostaglandin levels are high, periods are long and heavy and cause immense cramps NSAIDs are a great treatment, especially for women wanting a non-hormonal option” to help reduce bleeding, explains Dr. Bartos. But again, there are also prescription medications, such as tranexamic acid, that can reduce heavy period flow more safely and more effectively, she adds. “Hormonal options like the birth control pill or the Mirena IUD are more effective than high doses of NSAIDs, especially long-term,” adds Dr. Lewin.
As for how to delay your period with ibuprofen or other NSAIDs: “Ibuprofen has not been studied in delaying your period,” but theoretically it’s possible that taking these intermittent high doses “could delay for a very brief time,” explains Dr. Bartos.
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Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
Heavy periods can be the result of benign fibroids, polyps, or adhesions. Fibroids and polyps are non-cancerous growths that develop in the uterus. Adhesions, which are also non-cancerous, are clumps of scar tissue that can occur in women with endometriosis, a condition in which tissue from the uterine lining grows in places where it doesnt belong.
Having fibroids, polyps, or adhesions can interfere with the muscular contractions that occur each month as your uterus sheds its lining. We use several techniques to remove fibroids, polyps, or adhesions that cause heavy bleeding or other health problems.
Cervical Or Endometrial Cancer
Cervical cancer, which can be caused by human papillomavirus , can invade other parts of the body. Treatment for cervical cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy.
Endometrial cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the endometrium grow into the uterus and/or other organs. While the cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, the most common age for diagnosis is the mid 60s.
Treatment for endometrial cancer is usually a hysterectomy, possibly followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments.
Early diagnosis is key to the effective treatment of cancer. In addition to regular Pap screening for cervical cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends that women at high risk of endometrial cancer have an annual endometrial biopsy.
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How Otc Medications Can Help
Some OTC pain relievers can help reduce blood loss during your periods. This includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil, Motrin, or aspirin.
NSAIDs dont lighten bleeding as well as prescription drugs, but you can combine them with other medications for better relief. These drugs may also help relieve painful cramps.
High doses or long-term use of NSAIDs can lead to unwanted side effects. You should always have your doctor monitor your dose, and never take NSAIDs if youre allergic or have been told not to.
If you see your doctor about your heavy periods, theyll likely start by prescribing one of the following medications:
Take Hormonal Birth Control Pills
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Can Ibuprofen Help Reduce Heavy Periods
You may also be wondering, what if you have a heavy flow? Is it possible to use ibuprofen as a way to manage it?
We do recommend high-dose anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen to slow down heavy periods, says Russell. They have some potential to help in the short term. But Russell advises they will only slow your period flow by about 10% to 20%.
Ibuprofen can also be used to help with any period pain you may be experiencing.
While we recommend ibuprofen for a lot for women with significant cramping, most of them dont notice major changes in their flow, she adds.
Heavy Periods: The Best Diy Remedies To Manage A Heavy Flow
Heavy menstrual bleeding is both common and can be managed. The average woman will lose anywhere between six and sixteen teaspoons of blood during her period, and this may vary from month to month. If youre changing your pad or tampon every hour, wearing a pad and a tampon at the same time, passing large blood clots, or feeling dizzy, then youre likely having a heavy period. This isnt necessarily anything to worry about, and there are natural ways to help stem or manage your heavy flow.
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Quick Dose: Can Ibuprofen Reduce Menstrual Flow
Ibuprofen may be your best friend for dealing with cramps, but did you know it can help reduce your menstrual flow, too?
Results are unique to each woman, but Id say, on average, a woman may experience 30 percent less bleeding if she takes 800 mg of ibuprofen three times a day, ideally starting right before or when her period starts, says Northwestern Medicine OB/GYN Heather Beall, MD.
Why? When youre menstruating, your body produces the hormone prostaglandin, which causes the contractions in the uterus . The contractions help your body to shed the lining of your uterus. Ibuprofen slows down prostaglandin production. Less prostaglandin means less uterine shedding, leading to fewer cramps and less bleeding.
If you take ibuprofen, here are some tips to remember:
- Too much ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal distress and other side effects.
- You should always take ibuprofen with food.
Dr. Beall points out that birth control methods can also help with unwanted period symptoms, so if reducing your menstrual flow is your goal, talk to your physician to find the best approach for you.
How Long Is A Typical Period
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Heat Application Or Pain Medication
If painful periods caused by cramping is an associated symptom with your heavy menses, your can use a heating pad on your abdomen or back to relieve the discomfort. You can also relax in a hot bath or take a long, hot shower to relax your tense muscles.
Its also possible to find an assortment of pain relieving medications at a local drugstore to decrease the pain that may not be cured by the heat therapy. Most women find relief with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen.
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Diagnosis Of Painful Periods And Heavy Bleeding
UT Southwesterns experienced gynecologists conduct a thorough evaluation, which includes a:
- Review of personal medical history, including details of the patients menstrual cycle
- Discussion of symptoms
Patients should bring information about the dates and lengths of their last several periods. For sexually active patients, a pelvic exam will be performed to check for infections and to examine the cervix.
To diagnose heavy bleeding and painful periods, our doctors usually recommend one or more tests, such as:
- Blood tests to look for signs of iron deficiency, thyroid disorders, or blood-clotting abnormalities
- Ultrasound: Diagnostic tools that use sound waves to produce images of the pelvic organs. Used to look for any abnormalities
- Pap smear: Sample of cells from the cervix that are examined under a microscope for infection or changes that can lead to cancer or already are cancerous
- Endometrial biopsy: A test that samples a small amount of endometrial tissue for examination under a microscope
- Magnetic resonance imaging scans: Equipment that uses a large magnet and radio waves to produce detailed images of pelvic organs
Based on the results of these tests, we might recommend further testing, such as:
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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, its important to note that if this is your first time skipping a placebo week you may experience some irregular bleeding or light spotting, says Ross.
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. Thats 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 its completely safe, says Ross.
Top 64 Best Tips On How To Stop Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Flow
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
The first and foremost best tip on how to stop heavy menstrual bleeding flow that we want to introduce here is apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar, also known as cider or ACV, can be found easily in many kitchens. This apple must is widely used in salad and has a lot of amazing health benefits. It can benefits your health in many ways such as regulating blood sugar levels, enhancing weight loss, lowering cholesterol, improving skin health, reducing blood pressure, relieving acid refluxs symptoms, fighting fungus, soothing sunburns, treating warts, healing itchy poison ivy rash, warding off seasonal allergies, keeping hair shiny, whitening teeth, stopping colds symptoms and even heavy menstrual bleeding flow.
ACV is well known for treating symptoms associated with heavy menstrual bleeding such as headaches, fatigue, cramping, bloating, intestinal discomfort and irritability. It has the antiseptic properties that can cleanse the internal system. Moreover, the vinegar with amber color can also act as a tonic to kick toxins out of your body and balance hormones. A study found that women with irregular and heavy periods due to polycystic ovarian syndrome should consume apple cider vinegar daily because this can help them boost their fertility and make periods regular. Thanks to all these advantages, apple cider vinegar is used as an effective home remedy for heavy menstrual bleeding. All you have to do is:
2. Red Raspberry Leaf
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How To Get Rid Of Period Cramps
Some women have abnormally painful periods.
There are many ways you can help ease the pain of period cramps. We go into greater detail about them in an earlier blog post on painful periods. To summarize, some of the best answers to how to get rid of period cramps include:
- Taking over-the-counter pain medication such as Motrin
- Taking hot baths
- Taking hormonal medications such as birth control pills
Taking Ibuprofen To Lessen Period Flow
Turns out, the internet is right about this one: Ibuprofen can indeed reduce heavy period flow, says Sharyn N. Lewin, M.D., a board-certified gynecologic oncologist.
Here’s how it works: NSAIDs work by reducing the body’s production of inflammatory elements such as prostaglandins, according to USC Fertility. “Prostaglandins are lipids that have diverse, hormone-like effects” on the body, such as inducing labor and causing inflammation, among other functions, explains board-certified ob-gyn Heather Bartos, M.D.
Prostaglandins are also produced when endometrial cells begin to shed in the uterus, and it’s believed that prostaglandins are largely responsible for those all-too-familiar cramps that come with menstrual bleeding, explains Dr. Bartos. Higher prostaglandin levels translate to heavier menstrual bleeding and more painful cramps, she adds.
So, taking ibuprofen can not only help to ease cramps, but it can also reduce heavy period flow all by causing a decrease in the rate of prostaglandin production from the uterus, explains Dr. Lewin.
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Emergency Treatment To Rapidly Stop Heavy Bleeding
Some women have very heavy bleeding during a period. This can cause a lot of blood loss, and distress. One option as an emergency treatment is to take a course of norethisterone tablets. Norethisterone is a progestogen medicine. Progestogens act like the bodys natural progesterone hormones they control the build-up of cells lining the womb .So, if a period is very heavy or prolonged, your doctor may advise that you take norethisterone tablets. A dose of 5 mg three times daily for 10 days is the usual treatment. Bleeding usually stops within 24-48 hours of starting treatment. If bleeding is exceptionally heavy then 10 mg three times daily may be given. This should then be tapered down to 5 mg three times daily for a week, once your bleeding has stopped.