Medically reviewed by Tanja Premru-Sršen Do you want to know how to delay your period?
There are many tricks that people use to delay their periods. While some are considered safe, others are not. There are limits as to how far some of these methods can be taken, but if you’re desperate, it’s your prerogative.
The common ways to delay periods are by using;
Let’s go over each method in more detail.
Natural remedies can be used for the menstrual delay, but they should not be treated as the primary method. If you want to delay your period, some of the most popular natural ways to try include:
The menstrual cycle is affected by the balance of two opposing forces: the nervous and parasympathetic systems. These two forces work together to hold or release the lining of the uterus during menstruation.
Yoga focuses on uniting and balancing these opposing forces, so it makes sense that practicing yoga every day might decrease menstrual flow.
Since yoga is a popular method of staying healthy, the stigma behind it will not accompany your desire to delay your period.
You can find yoga classes at your local gym, school, community center, or online.
Some women say that drinking apple cider vinegar every day helps reduce period flow.
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which supposedly changes the pH of your vagina to a less acidic environment. This change in acidity can slow or stop ovulation, and therefore reduce your period flow.
You don’t need to drink it straight. You can add the vinegar into tea or juice or simply mix it into some water.
It’s also crucial to note that there are mixed reviews when it comes to apple cider vinegar. It is NOT recommended for pregnant women, nursing mothers, or those with severe kidney problems.
Like apple cider vinegar, lemon juice is high in acid. Since it contains citric acid, many women have reported that drinking one cup of lemon juice daily reduces their menstrual flow.
If you don’t like the taste of lemon juice, simply add it to water or tea.
The idea behind gram lentils is that they contain phytoestrogens. These chemicals imitate estrogen—the hormone that contributes to the uterine lining.
In theory, consuming gram lentils will delay menstruation by creating a uterine lining that isn’t shed until you stop eating them.
Unfortunately, there is no concrete evidence to prove how well this method works.
Although there is little scientific evidence for many of the natural methods that people use to postpone their period, non-natural treatments work. These include:
There are two effective ways of birth control methods you can use to delay your period:
An IUD is considered a non-hormonal birth control method. It’s left inside the uterus, where it releases small doses of copper that prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg.
Since the IUD is a slow-release form of copper, it can delay your period by up to six months.
In many cases, the IUD also releases a synthetic form of progesterone called levonorgestrel. The mild estrogen in the IUD can delay your period by one to two days every month.
Unlike stronger versions of birth control, the IUD doesn’t stop ovulation. When your ovaries are still producing estrogen, it can slow the buildup of the uterine lining.
The active ingredients in birth control pills prevent pregnancy by stopping your ovaries from releasing eggs. Since you don’t release an egg every month, the uterine lining doesn’t get a chance to thicken.
Every active pill contains either one of these synthetic forms of progesterone:
These active pills keep your body in a hormonal state that stops ovulation. As soon as you stop taking hormones containing pills, your menstrual cycle begins again.
Norethisterone is a synthetic form of progesterone. It’s considered the most effective method of stopping your period for up to two weeks.
This treatment is most widely used in countries where abortion is illegal.
Norethisterone stops your period by changing the levels of progesterone in your body. Progesterone makes your uterus less likely to contract, and its absence can stop menstruation for up to two weeks.
The synthetic hormone also alters the endometrium or uterine lining—which weakens the lining and reduces the chance that your uterus will shed it.
Bleeding can be stopped for up to two weeks, but there’s no guarantee that your period won’t come back during the rest of your cycle. It depends on how quickly your body responds to norethisterone.
Norethisterone can also cause significant nausea, breakthrough bleeding, and breast tenderness. Women with a history of blood clots should not take norethisterone. If you have a history of migraines, epilepsy, or high blood pressure, consult your physician before using this medicine.
There is no limit on the number of days that you can postpone your period for most women. Keep in mind that delaying your period may not have any positive effects on your body.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to know how well these methods work until you try them. Since each method has its list of potential side effects and risks, you should consult your doctor before trying any of them.
If you want to try a natural method, be aware that many experts consider these treatments to be unsafe. Many of the ingredients used in natural remedies are not regulated by the FDA, which means that their impact on your body is largely unknown.
Consider looking for an ingredient list before buying the product if you’re still interested in using a natural method to delay your period. Even if the treatment doesn’t directly list its ingredients, it might still contain ingredients that affect your menstrual cycle.
If you’re taking a non-natural remedy, be sure to ask your doctor if it’s safe for you. Although these treatments are effective, they can lead to a variety of side effects when they are misused. If you have a history of irregular bleeding, consult your doctor before trying any of these treatments.
In addition to the potential side effects of these treatments, be aware that there are a few downsides to delaying your period.
First of all, you should understand that once you stop your period, it may take a while for it to return. Some women find it difficult to get pregnant when they have delayed their periods for an extended time.
Secondly, there’s a chance that you will not have a regular menstrual cycle during your attempt to delay your period. In other words, if you avoid menstruating for three months and then resume having monthly periods, the next two or three may also be delayed—or they might come back at their usual pace.
Lastly, no guarantee delaying your period will have any positive effect. Many women have reported no noticeable benefits after stopping their periods.
If you’re only trying to delay your period for a short time—three or four months—the downsides of these treatments may not outweigh the benefits. However, if you plan to stop your period for a few years or more, you should know all the potential problems before using these methods.
Most women delay their periods to prevent pregnancy.
Delaying a period is different from stopping a period. When you stop your period, you will not menstruate throughout the month, and your endometrium will not grow. On the other hand, when you delay a period, your uterine lining will still grow and continue to menstruate.
In addition to preventing pregnancy, there are a few other reasons why women may want to delay their periods.
Some women delay menstruation for medical reasons. For example, women in the middle of chemotherapy or radiation treatments may find that stopping their periods makes them feel better. Women with illnesses like Lupus or endometriosis use these treatments to help control their illness.
Even though most doctors recommend delaying your period, you should only try this method if you have a good reason. Delaying your period can be dangerous, especially if it has adverse effects on your body’s natural processes.
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