How To Delay Period For Vacation Otc Pills Naturally + More
Your period can come earlier than expected, or even coincide with major events of your life. You may want to stop your period for vacation, to travel or for a wedding. So, how do you delay menstruation for a day, 2 days or even a week?
You can stop it with some over the counter pills such as ibuprofen and Norethisterone Based on hearsay, you can naturally delay it by exercising, using lemon or vinegar.
Do You Often Want To Delay Your Period
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.
References
Can You Use Vinegar To Stop Your Period
Though vinegar cant stop your cycle completely it can slow your flow and regulate your period. Add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glassful of water and drink it. During your period, you could do this three times a day.
Hide it: If you are planning on having getting really close with someone, you should consider this method. Use these round spongy makeup pads and your flirt wont notice it. Another solution is to use a tampon cut to a third or half. Keep the string attached to make it easier to pull it out.
Gelatin: With this method, you can stop your period for a few hours. Buy gelatin from the grocery store and mix a package with water. Drink it fast and in about three hours your period should stop.
Lemon: Thats a tip your old aunty would give you, but it works. Chew on a piece of lemon and your period will stop or at least cut short. Read more about how to stop your period with lemon.
Bonus Tip: If you are considering a permanent solution, read this article: how to stop periods permanently.
Every woman and therefore every period is different. Not all of the tips will work for every woman. Try a few and see what has the best effect on you. If you are experiencing pain or heavy bleeding, go and see a doctor.
Read Also: How To Make Your Belly Stop Hurting On Your Period
The Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill Or The Pill
The combined oral contraceptive pill may be a good option for some, provided its started in time. If an event is a few months away, it may be possible to start the pill in advance and then try skipping the sugar pills . For many women, this will prevent a period. It doesnt always work, so its a good idea to try it out ahead of the event or holiday. But if contraception is also needed, its certainly worth considering. A doctor or online doctor can go through a series of questions to make sure its a safe and suitable option.
Dont Let Your Period Get In The Way Of Summer Vacation
Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, MD, MPH Written by Pandia Health Editorial Team
Summer is here, which means you might be preparing to take some time off in the near future. Most people with uteri would argree that if they could turn off their periods, specifically for vacation, they would.
Thankfully, this is possible!
Keep reading on for tips on how to manage period symptoms or even schedule your bleeding for a more convenient time. Youll be hula-ing all your stress away in no time!
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How Can Hormones Help
Painkillers like ibuprofen and diclofenac both of which are non-steroidal are often used for the relief of menstrual pain and cramps, and also for heavy periods. In addition to relieving the pain, they may also help to lower the amount of blood lost. Acetylsalicylic acid is not suitable for heavy periods because it has an anti-clotting effect so it can increase the amount of blood lost during menstruation.
The most common side effects of NSAIDs are stomach problems, nausea, vomiting, headaches and drowsiness. The women who took NSAIDs for heavy periods in studies didn’t experience many more side effects than women who took a placebo for comparison.
Another medication that can help in the treatment of heavy periods is tranexamic acid. It affects blood clotting and reduces the tendency to bleed. Studies have shown it to be more effective than NSAIDs. Tranexamic acid may cause headaches, tiredness and muscle cramps. But these side effects are not more common than with NSAIDs.
There is no good-quality research on whether herbal products can relieve heavy periods.
If excessive loss of blood is causing extreme tiredness, iron deficiency anemia is probably the reason. It is normally treated by taking iron tablets. Iron supplements may have side effects such as stomach ache and constipation, and can cause your stool to turn black.
The Larger Cultural Impact Of Menstrual Suppression
The cultural implications of suppressing menstruation play a large role in why many people feel that women shouldnt be encouraged to stop their periods. In a society where women are shamed for having a period, the last thing we want to do is validate that not having one is better. This obsession with hormonal birth control and being period-free sends a message that having a period is not natural or acceptable. There has not been sufficient research done on the effect that stopping your period has on the way women feel about their bodies or the culture of menstruation as a whole.
One study by Robin Ashley Repta at the University of British Columbia, explored the cultural impact of menstrual suppression on women and found that their motivations to stop their periods were largely based on how society defines menstruation as embarrassing, gross, and taboo. Among the motivations to menstruate? Health concerns, distrust of pharmaceuticals, and wanting to have a natural cycle. Regardless of which side of the menstrual suppression coin you find yourself on, theres no denying that the motivations for many women to stop their period being due to shame around bleeding is cause for alarm.
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How To Stop Your Period
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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.
Your Period Makes You Really Sick
Unfortunately, some women suffer from severe symptoms before and during their periods that render them incapacitated for a number of days each month. Heavy periods that are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are actually quite common. This is one reason a doctor may prescribe hormonal birth control, which often helps to minimize symptoms.
Your doctor may recommend taking a few packs back-to-back so that youre only getting our period 4-5 times a year.
Also Check: Why Do I Get So Depressed On My Period
Can Pads Or Tampons Make Your Period End Faster
Some people might feel like their periods end faster when they use tampons, while others say that using pads seemingly shortens their period length because pads do not hamper period flow. However, there is no scientific evidence that either tampons or pads can make your period end faster.
If youre worried about the hassle of having your period during a trip or important event, you could also consider using different period products, such as a menstrual cup. Specific period products wont make your period end faster, but they can help you feel more comfortable during your period and prevent leaks.
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:
Also Check: Can You Have Sex With A Period Cup In
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, 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. 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.
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
4. Intense Exercise
5. Herbs
6. Gelatin
7. Lemon
8. Stress Relief
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When Should I See A Doctor For Heavy Periods
Many women have come to accept heavy bleeding as a normal part of their cycle. This helps explain why over half of women with menorrhagia dont know they have it, or know that heavy periods are treatable. If left untreated, heavy periods can cause other health concerns like anemia, a red blood cell condition that makes it difficult for your organs to get the oxygen they need.
If your period affects your daily life by causing you to miss work or school, cancel social activities or plan your day around bathroom breaks, you might have menorrhagia. Heavy bleeding can cause other physical symptoms that can make you dread getting your period like extreme fatigue, very painful cramps, lightheadedness, anxiety and depression.
We recommend making an appointment with one of our womens health doctors if you experience any of the above symptoms. A doctor will be able to diagnose whats causing your heavy periods and recommend treatment options. If youre not sure whether your period is normal, just ask!
Our womens health doctors at HealthPartners and Park Nicollet are here to answer your questions. Well help you put an end to planning your life around heavy periods.
Can You Stop Your Period Once Its Started
As for stopping a period once it starts, no ones worked out how to do this yet. But once you begin bleeding, if you start taking your combined contraceptive pills immediately this should make your period shorter and lighter . Taking over-the-counter painkillers according to dosage instructions will also reduce swelling of the uterine walls, which will in turn reduce bleeding and the pain that comes with it.
There are a few natural ways you can try too . These include regular exercise, which helps relax the uterine muscles to reduce period flow. Meanwhile, many women swear by herbal teas containing valerian root and chamomile, while raspberry and nettle leaf tea are also thought to slow down menstrual bleeding. Just remember to always consult a doctor before trying herbal methods.
In all cases, while its fine to delay your period on occasion, science has not yet worked out whether its safe to do so in the long-term. So dont put your health at risk its not worth it for the sake of a period.
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