What Should I Expect During Menstrual Suppression Treatment
There are many different options for menstrual suppression, and your doctor will work with you to find the best one based on your individual medical history. Most teens have no side effects or minimal side effects depending on which option they choose. Menstrual suppression typically takes 3 to 6 months before periods are stopped completely.
The hormonal medications used for menstrual suppression act on receptors located in the cells of the uterine lining to keep this lining thin. When the lining does not build up, it is safe to go without menstrual periods.
Menstrual suppression medications are known as hormonal therapies, and there are many ways these medications can be delivered, including a pill, skin patch, vaginal ring, injection or an implant. All these options contain progestin, which causes the lining of the uterus to grow thin so menstrual bleeding can be safely suppressed. The progestin-containing intrauterine device is a way to deliver medication directly to the lining of the uterus.
Stopping Periods When Using Birth Control
People who are taking the combined contraceptive pill can plan their period to some extent as they know that it will come during the week that they are taking either the dummy pills or no pills.
If they have started their placebo pills or pill break for the week and their period has commenced, they could begin taking their next pack of pills.
Doing this will increase the level of hormones in their body, which may shorten the duration of bleeding, although there is no guarantee of this.
People can stop their periods in the long term by using hormonal birth control. Doctors refer to this as âmenstrual suppression.â
Long-term methods for stopping your period include:
How To Stop Your Period
For many women, periods are just a monthly nuisance. But for some of us, periods are painful and disabling, causing us to miss out on school and work and life.
For the majority of my teenage years, my monthly period triggered a migraine and cramps so severe I might throw up or even blackout. I spent a lot of time lying in bed with a heating pad and popping prescription ibuprofen.
I was in my early 20s before a doctor finally told me that I could stop my period altogether. Its called menstrual suppression and typically involves continuous use of birth control pills. The hormones trick the body into acting like its pregnant, and periods stop. My quality of life improved within two months.
Women suppress their periods for a variety of reasons. Athletes use the method to avoid the hassle of periods and cramps during important competitions. Brides and vacationers use period suppression so a special event or trip isnt ruined by a difficult period.
And there are women like me, who do it to avoid painful periods, and others who simply want the better quality of life that comes from not having a monthly period. Dr. Shari Lawson, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said that looking at this continuously as a lifestyle is often the next step up from occasional period suppression.
Everyone is different, but honestly, it just lifted a lot of stress off me not to worry about it, she said.
Don’t Miss: If I M Not Pregnant Why Is My Period Late
How To Delay Period Naturally
One thing to remember is that you should not try to change your period if it is not incredibly important, because this can affect the regularity of your period. Here are some natural ways for you to try safely.
1. Natural Progesterone Cream
The levels of progesterone rise during the first half of your menstrual cycle. It comes down slowly by the second half. That dip in your progesterone levels tells your body to start your menstrual period. You can use natural progesterone cream and keep your progesterone levels elevated for a few days. This will help you delay your period for a few more days.
You need to start use the creams at ovulation and apply at least 1/4 teaspoon for twice each day to get desired results. Just stop using the cream when you want your period comes.
2. Foods to Eat and Avoid
You need to pay attention to your diet in order to learn how to delay period naturally, because your hormones can be influenced by your hormones and further help delay your period. Raspberry leaves and lentils may help delay menstruation. Sucking on a lemon may have the same effects.
Also, you need to eliminate certain foods from your diet because they usually bring on your period early. The list includes garlic, ginger, papaya, sesameand peppers. Yet, you may increase the use of these foods though to get your period out of the way early.
3. Breast Massage
Also Check: New Hire 90 Day-probationary Period Template
More Questions From Patients:
Nope. Theres been a ton of research on the birth control pill, and studies show that using the pill does not make you gain weight. And there are no birth control pills that make you lose weight.
Some people think that the hormones in the pill cause weight gain or weight loss, but thats not true. The same goes for the birth control ring and birth control patch these methods of birth control have the same hormones that are in most birth control pills, so the patch and ring wont change your weight either. The hormonal IUD and the copper IUD also wont lead to weight gain or loss.
There are 2 methods of birth control that may cause weight gain in some people who use them: the birth control shot and the birth control implant. But this doesnt happen to everybody who uses these types of birth control. Many people use the shot or the implant without gaining weight.
Breakthrough bleeding is when spotting happens while youre not on your period. Breakthrough bleeding while youre on the birth control pill is normal and usually nothing to worry about.
Here are a few things that may help lessen your breakthrough bleeding:
You May Like: Why Am I Bleeding Not On My Period
Can Birth Control Help Regulate Your Period
While you might not be able to make your monthly visitor disappear forever, many forms of birth control can help regulate your period. This is great news for people living with irregular cycles and painful or heavy periods. According to the ACOG, combined hormonal methods that contain estrogen and progestin can make your period more regular, lighter, and shorter. This includes birth control pills, the patch, and the vaginal ring.
The bottom line is this: If you view your period as a monthly reassurance that youre not pregnant, then you might prefer to see it arrive on schedule. But if thats not you, asking your doctor about the types of birth control that are most likely to stop your period is something to consider.
Why Do Girls Get Periods
A period happens because of changes in hormones in the body. Hormones give messages to the body. These hormones cause the lining of the uterus to build up. This gets the uterus ready for an egg and sperm to attach and grow into a baby. If the woman does not get pregnant, the lining breaks down and bleeds. This same process happens every month. That is why most girls and women get their periods around once a month.
You May Like: 90 Day Employment Probationary Period Template
Recommended Reading: Why Am I On My Period On Birth Control
Who Should Consider Menstrual Suppression
Any girl, teen or young woman with menstrual periods can consider using medication to safely reduce or stop their periods. Sometimes doctors suggest menstrual suppression for medical reasons like heavy periods, painful periods or endometriosis. Menstrual suppression can also help with other medical conditions that may get worse during menstrual periods such as headaches, seizures, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and chronic pain.
Young women with physical or developmental disabilities may prefer to not have periods if personal hygiene is difficult. Finally, some may choose to have fewer or no menstrual periods because it is their personal preference to not experience menstrual bleeding each month.
How Does Birth Control Work And Which Ones Can Stop Your Period
There are tons of options for preventing pregnancy, but not all types of birth control can reduce or delay a period. For the highest likelihood of sending your monthly visitor packing, youll need to use a hormonal birth control method. Some birth control types are progestin-only, while others contain both progestin and estrogen.
So, which types of birth control will definitely stop your period? Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Some people will continue to get a regular period, while others will experience a decrease in flow and duration or see it disappear entirelyas long as they are on birth control. That said, James Gohar, MD, an ob-gyn at Mount Sinai West and New York-Presbyterian Hospital and clinical instructor at Weill Cornell School of Medicine, tells SELF that combination birth control , hormonal IUDs, and injections have the highest potential to stop your period altogether, but this is not a guarantee. The majority of people will still get a period, but significantly shorter and lighter, he explains.
Lets walk through how each type of hormonal birth control works, and talk about their period-poofing potential:
Combination hormonal birth control pills use estrogen and progestin to prevent pregnancy. The progestin thickens your cervical mucus , thins out your uterine lining, and suppresses ovulation. Estrogen helps to control breakthrough bleeding while also working to suppress ovulation.
You May Like: Am I Pregnant Or Getting My Period
How Long After Stopping Birth Control Will You Get Your Period
Okay, so youre on birth control that has stopped your period, but now youre ready to leave that contraceptive method behind. While the exact timeline of when your period will return depends on a variety of factors, the Mayo Clinic says menstrual periods generally resume within three months after stopping birth control pills. This is also true of other types of birth control, with the exception of the shot, which can take much longersometimes between 6 and 18 months, according to the Center for Young Womens Health.
Regardless of the type, your body and menstrual cycle will need time to adjust. This could mean you get a typical period within a month, or you could experience spotting or irregular periods for a few months, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But remember, this is often temporary, and your cycle may return to its pre-birth control days in just a matter of time. For others, it may not.
Can You Stop Your Period Permanently
You can stop your periods in the long term by using hormonal birth control. This is called âmenstrual suppressionâ.
A hormonal intrauterine device is a more long-term approach to stopping periods. IUD is a contraception device that is inserted into your uterus through your cervix. It needs replacing after 3 to 10 years depending on the exact type and brand. It can be removed early if you want to become pregnant or you do not get on with it. Once removed, the menstrual cycle returns to normal.
Surgical procedures such as a hysterectomy or endometrial ablation can stop periods forever. These procedures are permanent and irreversible. Therefore, they are usually only performed on women with high risk factors and medically related reasons, such as endometrial cancer or cervical cancer.
Don’t Miss: Are Lighter Periods A Sign Of Menopause
What Tests Are Needed Before Starting Menstrual Suppression
There are usually no tests needed before starting menstrual suppression. Your doctor will take a careful medical and gynecologic history before recommending or prescribing treatment. A pelvic exam is not needed before starting menstrual suppression.
Menstrual suppression takes time to regulate and stop menstrual bleeding. Unexpected bleeding is most common in the first three months but can continue for longer. At Childrens Hospital Colorado, we will continue to work with you until you are satisfied with your treatment.
Norethisterone Tablets To Stop Periods
These tablets contain a manufactured version of the female hormone called progesterone, which is involved in regulating a womanâs menstrual cycle. It is more commonly known as Utovlan.
During the month, a womanâs progesterone levels change. They drop towards the end of her cycle. When progesterone levels drop, the womb lining breaks down and is released by the body. This causes a period.
Norethisterone works by keeping your progesterone levels topped up.This prevents the lining of the womb from breaking down, stopping periods from occurring. You can stop your period for up to 17 days by using norethisterone. To stop your period, take norethisterone 3 days before your expected period date. The dose is one tablet to be taken three times a day, for as long as you want to be without your period, for a maximum of 20 days. .
You can get norethisterone on prescription from your GP. You can also conveniently buy norethisterone tablets from online pharmacies including Chemist Click. You simply complete a medical questionnaire that is reviewed by our medical team to determine your suitability.
Norethisterone is not suitable for everyone. You cannot take it if you have liver problems, certain heart conditions, or if you have a personal or family history of blood clots. It cannot be taken alongside the contraceptive pill and other medications, such as some antivirals and antiepileptics.
Recommended Reading: No Period While On Birth Control
Use Of An Intrauterine Device
Do you have heavy period flow or cannot be regular taking tablets to stop your periods? Then using an intrauterine contraception will help. Intrauterine device, either copper or hormonal, when inserted into the uterus, can stop bleeding completely in women.
In the first few months, you may experience some breakthrough bleeding. However, this usually stops as your body adjusts to your IUDs.
Questions On Postponing Menstruation
John Mccain iii/Dreamstime.com
This content was published in 2010. We do not recommend that you take any clinical decisions based on this information without first ensuring you have checked the latest guidance.
A. Common situations in which women require menstruation to be delayed or stopped include honeymoons, holidays, religious events , a new or long distance relationship, prolonged menses, sporting events and minor surgery.
Also Check: Do You Get Cramps Before Your First Period
Why Its Not Possible To Stop A Period That Has Already Started
It isnt possible to stop a period that has already started because the shedding process in the lining of the uterus has already started due to low levels of estrogen and progesterone. Once these hormones decrease, the internal lining of the uterus sheds and leads to the bleeding that occurs during a period.
Gelatin To Stop Periods
The other way you can stop your period is by drinking gelatin. Gelatin is a natural food ingredient. It comes from animal proteins and can be derived from mammals, especially pigs and some fish. It is made from the collagen found in the skin, fatty tissue, ligaments, and joints of animals.
Gelatin can be used for weight loss, treating osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and brittle bones. It can also be used to improve the quality of hair and to shorten recovery after strenuous exercise.
To stop your period once it starts, you will need to drink a cup or two of gelatin mixed with water. Drinking it before your period can help delay your menstrual flow for some time.
Those opposed to using animal products in their lifestyle or diet should avoid gelatin.
Read Also: Are Period Apps Accurate For Ovulation
Have A Mug Of Cinnamon Water
Sounds strange, but research shows that cinnamon helps close the blood vessels in the uterus, slowing blood flow and ending your period sooner. To get the most out of this idea, mix three teaspoons of powdered cinnamon to a glass of hot water and drink the mixture several times per day during your period.
Follow these tips and your period shouldnât last as long as it usually does. What other things have you done to make your period end faster?
Are There Side Effects Of Using The Pill To Skip Your Period Continually
The main side effect of having long bleeding-free stretches is an increase in unpredictable breakthrough bleeding . The good news is that the frequency of breakthrough bleeding may decreases over time . Other than increased rates of breakthrough bleeding, taking your birth control pill consecutively, as opposed to having monthly pill-periods, does cause any additional side effects .
A concern about not having a regular âperiodâ is that you lose the monthly confirmation that youâre not pregnant. Although skipping your withdrawal bleed with the pill provides you with the same contraceptive protection as before, it also comes with the same risks if you donât take your pill on a regular daily basis.
Recommended Reading: Birth Control Pills For Irregular Periods
Does The Mini Pill Stop Periods
The mini pill or progesterone-only pill is taken every day and generally stops periods. Light bleeding, known as âspottingâ, may happen when taking the mini-pill. Because the mini pill stops bleeds for a majority of women, there isnât usually a requirement to stop periods in those using this form of contraception. However, some women still do have bleeds with the mini pill.
With the progestogen-only contraceptive pill, you cannot delay your period by changing the way you take your tablets. If you take the mini pill and experience bleeding, you may be able to change to the combined contraceptive pill temporarily, or, you can stop taking the pill and use norethisterone. If you are considering any of these options, remember that you may need to make the switch a few weeks in advance.