Does Birth Control Make Periods Lighter
According to Mayo Clinic, taking an oral contraceptive can assist in alleviating the symptoms associated with heavy bleeding, particularly if the bleeding has been caused by a hormonal imbalance. You should consult your doctor about going on the pill first.
The birth control pills normally contain estrogen and progesteronetwo of the hormones that are responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle, as well as determining how heavy each period will be in a month. Many women taking birth control pills have ended up experiencing shorter, and lighter periods. In case your period happens to be particularly heavy, and you are looking to lighten the heavy bleeding using medication, consider this option.
- You should consult your physician about getting a prescription for the birth control pills. Remember that all women have different bodies, and there are many different pills that have been designed to cater for varying needs. Consulting a physician will ensure that you get the right prescription.
- Follow the instructions provided when being issued the pills. You have to ensure that you take the pill each day, at the same time, as this will guarantee that you will get the benefits that come with using this pill.
Consider additional hormonal birth control options
Is Drinking Water Good For Your Period
When it comes to easing up your menstruation symptoms, staying hydrated is key. If your water intake is below the eight glasses a day threshold, give yourself a boost during your periodthis will help you experience fewer cramps and back aches. It can help move your cycle along more quickly, too. Drinking water helps prevent blood from thickening.
Warm Compress Or Bath
There is no direct scientific research that supports the belief that a warm bath can help to induce a period, but what it does is relax the tight muscles and reduce emotional stress. As a result, you get your period.
The heat also helps relieve your muscles, both when you are applying a compress and taking a hot bath.
Adding scented oil to a bath can accelerate the relaxation process. If you want to apply a warm compress, press it to your abdomen for the best results. The heat helps increase the blood flow to the area, which helps the period develop faster.
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Remember: You Can Still Get Pregnant
You cant get an STI or pregnant if youre masturbating.
But if you and your partner have penis-in-vagina sex, pregnancy is a risk.
While its less likely that youll get pregnant on your period, you still can, says Ross.
Play it safe and use a reliable birth control method even when youre bleeding unless you want to get pregnant, of course.
After period play is finished, be sure to clean yourself, your partner , and any toys, clothes, or bedding that were worn and used.
But Regular Or Irregular Sometimes You Want Your Period To Just Hurry The Eff Up And Get Hereso Can You Do That Or Nah
First things first: Ask yourself why youre so eager for your period to show up in the first place. If its because youve got a vacation planned, sorry, but youre sh*t out of luck.
Yes, a quick internet search will turn up a long list of remedies claiming to induce your period: vitamin C supplements, aspirin, ginger, turmeric, parsley tea, relaxation techniques, sex or a warm compress or bath, to name but a few. But while youll probably be able to find someone who can anecdotally attest to each of these methods doing the trick, the science is just flat-out not there.
There is simply no scientific data which shows that any of these methods will induce your period, says Davood. In fact, Davood advises against trying to make your period come faster without first being evaluated by a qualified professional.
But, if youre waiting for your period to make its entrance because its been MIA for a few months , then your doctor might be able to help.
There are some hormonal medications that can be used to induce menses, but these should only be used if they are deemed necessary by your physician in very specific situations, she says.
Take someone with PCOS, for exampletheir physician may prescribe a medication to induce a period for health purposes: We may consider inducing a cycle as prolonged periods without a menses may increase risks of abnormal thickening of the lining, says Davood. But again, this is something that needs to be discussed with your ob-gyn
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What Should We Not Do In Periods
Avoid Caffeine: Caffeine can also irritate your stomach and give you that achy, crampy, bloated feeling, so its best to limit your intake on your period. In addition to caffeine, its a good idea to avoid sweet and carbonated drinks that can also increase bloating. A good caffeine-free drink option is herbal tea.
Is It Safe To Reduce Or Stop Periods
According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a common side effect of hormonal birth control is amenorrhea, which is when your period disappears for months at a time. Missing periods is common when youre using hormonal contraceptives.
Theres no science to support claims that skipping periods is dangerous to you or your reproductive health. But if you start skipping periods, talk to your doctor just to make sure everything is still hunky-dory.
Keep in mind, there are some risks to hormonal methods. According to the American Cancer Society, women whove used hormonal birth control methods are slightly more inclined to get breast cancer and five times more likely to get cervical cancer.
Longer usage increases the risk. But the American Cancer Society also notes, hormonal methods can reduce your risk of endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, and colon cancer.
As with anything, family history and other factors play a part. Talk to your doctor about risk factors before starting your treatment of choice.
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Whats Considered A Heavy Period
You might be surprised to learn that about one in five women experience menorrhagia, the medical term for heavy periods. Because each womans period is unique, it can be tricky to know if what you think is normal for your cycle is actually excessive bleeding. In fact, half of women who experience menorrhagia dont realize they have it.
While the best way to know if your heavy periods are chronic is to talk to a doctor, you can keep an eye out for some common symptoms of menorrhagia.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, any of the following is considered a symptom of heavy bleeding:
- Bleeding for more than seven days
- Blood soaks through one or more tampons or pads every hour
- You need to change your pad or tampon during the night
- You need to double up on protection to keep from leaking
- The blood clots in your flow are the size of a quarter or larger
Start Hormonal Birth Control
Birth control can stop period pain if cramps are caused by a hormone imbalance. Balancing your levels of estrogen and progesterone helps thin the uterine lining so it sheds more easily. Hormonal birth control also regulates the length and frequency of your period. Some forms of birth control can completely alleviate period cramps by stopping your period altogether. Talk to your OB-GYN about birth control options, including the pill, birth control shot or hormonal IUD. Then, youll be able to choose the type of birth control that works best for you.
If youve tried all the treatments on this list and still have painful periods, or you want to know up front which option will work best for you, talk to your primary care doctor or OB-GYN. At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, our womens health doctors can prescribe stronger treatments for menstrual cramps. A little help from a doctor might be the best way to stop dreading your periods.
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Consume More Vitamin C
The more you consume vitamin C, the more it helps to end your periods faster. When you consume things or the pills that contain Vitamin C, it helps to increase the levels of progesterone in your body.
It helps by stretching your uterine lining and allows the blood to flow down quickly. If these vitamin pills cause you any allergies like stomach upset or diarrhea, then you can take fruits that contain vitamin C, it will also help.
So include vitamin in your diet and see the amazing results in your next period. It keeps you from menstrual discomforts, and when you take vitamin C, it absorbs the iron fast and makes your blood vessels strong.
Some fruits and vegetables can be added to your diet like lemon, orange, kiwis, broccoli, berries, tomatoes, papayas, etc.
A Few Scientifically Proven Ways To Speed Up Your Period:
Believe it or not, there are a few studies out there that have found that stopping your period early or even delaying it for a few days is totally possible. However, not all of these methods are suitable for everyone. Speak with your doctor or OB-GYN if you have any concerns about the length of your period or if its suddenly become crazy heavy.
Caveats aside, here are a few scientifically proven ways to shorten your period:
Sweat it out
Your period is no longer an excuse to skip the gym. Turns out, physical exercise may not only make your period less painful, but also has the potential to decrease its duration by about a quarter of a day, according to a study published in medical journal Epidemiology.1 Cardiovascular exercise, in particular, has been shown to reduce pain associated with menstrual cramps and may help uterine blood exit the body a little faster.2
Exercise also reduces excess water content in your body, which helps with bloating, that oh-so-fun reason you hate wearing jeans during your period. And full-body workouts improve circulation and blood flow over time, especially if you keep your exercise routine regular . In general, several studies have shown that exercise reduces PMS symptoms and makes your period a little less uncomfortable, no matter what routine you choose.3
Hormonal birth control FTW
NSAIDs But proceed with caution
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Birth Control Options Galore
Birth control isnt just for keeping your eggo not preggo. Hormonal birth control helps regulate your cycle. In addition to easing cramps and other messy menstrual symptoms, it helps shorten the duration of your period.
Some hormonal options, like the Depo-Provera shot, can stop your period for months at a time. Keep in mind, it can take a few months for the full effect to kick in. Definitely talk to your doctor about whats best for you.
How Can I Stop Heavy Periods
If youve heard that the only options for treating heavy periods are hormone therapy or surgery, thats not true! Just like there are many causes of menorrhagia, there are many treatment options available. Were often able to manage heavy periods with treatments ranging from diet changes to prescription medication.
Menorrhagia can usually be managed with medication and lifestyle changes. In some cases, heavy periods caused by fibroids, growths or endometriosis might be best treated with surgery. The best way to know which treatment options will work best for you is to talk to a doctor.
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How To Safely Reduce The Length Of Your Period
TL/DR: Studies show that hormonal birth control is the most effective way to control your period. However, if you need to kick bleeding to the curb ASAP, you can also try getting some exercise, having an orgasm, taking some Advil, or incorporating herbs like fennel and ginger into your diet.
Behold the mighty interrupter of romantic beach baecations and cute white outfits: The Ill-Timed Period. Even if your period isnt killing the vibe at major life events , it might just be extra heavy and uncomfortable. Chocolate and a heating pad can only do so much.
Luckily, there are a few ways, both scientifically proven and science-ish-yet-widespread, to shorten your period. Yup, you heard that right. And were talking simple, quick hacks not crazy multi-step strategies, weird diets, or prayers to an ancient goddess.
Read on to learn how to kick your period to the curb a little sooner so you can enjoy that date night, wedding, or concert menstruation-free.
Drink Some Herbal Tea
It has been speculated that certain teas can stimulate the start of menstruation, particularly, parsley tea. Apparently parsley has been used to induce menstruation for centuries. While parsley tea is the most likely to be helpful, any tea that relaxes you and warms your belly is going to be useful in starting menstruation .
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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.
How To Stop Your Period Early
This article was co-authored by Rebecca Levy-Gantt, MPT, DO. Dr. Rebecca Levy-Gantt is a board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist running a private practice based in Napa, California. Dr. Levy-Gantt specializes in menopause, peri-menopause and hormonal management, including bio-Identical and compounded hormone treatments and alternative treatments. She is also a Nationally Certified Menopause Practitioner and is on the national listing of physicians who specialize in menopausal management. She received a Masters of Physical Therapy from Boston University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 70 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 5,730,312 times.
Menstruation for some people can be extremely painful, and a heavy flow makes for an unpleasant period. There are ways to shorten, lighten, or even stop your period, depending on your needs. Always consult your doctor first, but if you need a few quick tips about how to stop your period, read on.
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