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.

Over the Counter Pills to Delay period

There are several things you can do to delay your period. However, if you have any medical condition, make sure you have confirmed with your doctor that it is safe to use any of the following methods in making your period late.

1. Take Norethisterone

One of the most known drugs for delaying a period is Norethisterone. Some women use it to delay their monthly cycles altogether using Norethisterone more than any other drug. For a start, Norethisterone is a synthetic hormone which is similar in effects to progesterone.

Given that the amount of progesterone in blood goes down when menstruation comes about, keeping the level of this hormone high by taking Norethisterone will keep the endometrial wall from being shed off as a period.

The dosage

It ought to be known that Norethisterone is not like the normal contraceptive pills. Rather, it is a synthetic version of progesterone meant specifically to counter the effects of estrogen. For Norethisterone to work effectively, you should start taking 50 mg of the drug three times a day.

The day you start taking Norethisterone should be three days before your period is due. You can then take the drug for up to thirty days to keep your period at bay. However, if you stop taking it, you will see your menses after 2 to 3 days.

Does Norethisterone have side effects?

The side effects from using Norethisterone are rare since the drug has a formula similar to that of the hormone progesterone which is produced by the body. The known side effects include;

Before taking the drug, ensure you have consulted your doctor first.

2. How to delay period with ibuprofen

One way to delay or even stop your period once it has started is to use ibuprofen. Basically, ibuprofen is a painkiller which works by inhibiting the work of the enzymes which tell the brain of the pain you are feeling.

In this way, the drug does a good job in preventing the pain you would normally feel from your cramps. It is the anti-inflammatory properties of the drug that are important in delaying the period. How does ibuprofen work to delay your period?

During your period, the hormone prostaglandin is in control of shedding the endometrial wall. This hormone is also responsible for other smooth muscles of the body such as those in the stomach.

It determines whether the muscles should relax or contract. Ibuprofen works by inhibiting the activities of the prostaglandin hormone. It is so effective that, at times, it can stop the period when it has started.

What is the dosage?

To make it work, ibuprofen has to be taken in high amounts. That means that one has to take at least 800 mg three times a day (800 mg is the total). Such a high dosage of this drug means that it should not be taken for long periods of time.

In fact, the maximum number of days is only three. Beyond that it, would be a certain overdose. Before taking this drug, make sure you have talked to your doctor about it. Besides being an effective drug in delaying your period, it may also have side effects. The medical history the doctor has on you will determine that.

What are the dangers of ibuprofen?

Because of the way ibuprofen works, there are some dangers you need to be aware of. These occur especially when one has taken too much of the drug either in high amounts or long periods of time. They include;

• Being prone to stomach ulcers; ibuprofen has a deregulating effect on the prostaglandin which may lead to ulcers, stomach bleeding and nausea in some women.
• Blood problems; the drug has different effects on different people. While some experience random blood clotting, others have the clotting capabilities of their blood inhibited.
• Digestive problems.
• Breathing problems.

3. Birth control pills

If you are currently using birth control pills, you ought to know that you do not actually need another method to delay your period. Delaying your menses can take nothing more than changing the way of taking your birth control pills.

Your pills are designed to align with the normal menstrual cycle of 28 days. That is why they have 28 pills (one for each day of the menstrual cycle). However, of the 28 pills, only 21 are active. The others are simply dummies.

Normally, you take the 21 active pills without any sign of bleeding. When you get to the 7 dummy pills, there is withdrawal bleeding which looks much like a period. It is simply the body responding to the lack of the hormones from the active pills.

So how do you delay menstruation with birth control?

To delay your period using birth control pills, you need to avoid skipping the 7 inactive pills. After getting to the 21^st pill, take the first pill of the next cycle rather than one of the inactive ones.

Are there any side effects?

Tampering with your menstrual cycle by using birth control pills is often safe. However, it should not be done for three cycles in a row as it is not healthy for the body. While most women will not experience any side effects, some will experience the following;

• Breakthrough bleeding
• Difficulty in knowing whether you are pregnant or not

How to Delay your Period Naturally Without Pills

So far, the methods dealt with above involved pills. However, if you have reservations about using drugs or your body does not respond well to the drugs, you can still make your period delay naturally using home remedies.

Note: Most of the following methods are based on anecdotal evidence. They may work or not work.

1. Mental or emotional stress

While it sounds absurd to recommend stress as a way of achieving a good result, stress is known to change the menstrual cycle. The most known result of stress on the menstrual cycle is delaying the onset of periods.

To benefit from this remedy, you can choose to set a goal that you know will lead to some emotional fatigue. For example, rather than doing that project from school (or work) for a week, set yourself a target to finish it in three days.

The only downside to this method is that some women are known to respond in the opposite direction. Rather than having their menstrual cycle delayed, some have their menses come earlier than usual when subjected to stress of any kind.

2. Vinegar

Chances are that there is a bottle of vinegar staring at you in your kitchen. Most kitchens have this essential food ingredient. What most people do not know is that vinegar has a positive effect on the menstrual cycle.

1. Add 3 to 4 spoons of vinegar to a glass of water.
2. Stir to mix well.
3. Take the vinegar solution three to four times each day.

This will delay your period for a few days and, if the flow is already imminent, reduce its amount or make it end faster.

3. Avoid spicy foods

There is no scientific evidence to show that spicy food has an effect on the menstrual cycle. However, there has been a general agreement that spicy food triggers periods when eaten often. Foods such as black pepper, paprika, ginger, garlic, hot pepper and chilies are believed to increase the likelihood of having periods.

If your vacation, wedding or travel is here and you need to stop the menstruation from coming soon, you might thus consider keeping away from these foods. The belief in this food must have been due to the heat they have.

4. Gelatin

Gelatin is made from collagen found in animal bones. This substance has various uses including reducing stretch marks and wrinkles in users. However, it has been recently found that gelatin can be used to reduce the amount of estrogen in the body.

Estrogen is the hormone that sets off the periods that come about at the end of the menstrual cycle. When this hormone increases in amount, the endometrial wall begins being shed off. Given the effects of gelatin on his hormone, it can be used to postpone the onset of periods for a while.

It ought to be known that while gelatin can postpone period, it only does that for about four or five hours. It is thus only effective as a last-minute resort for the delay. It can be taken as a blend of warm water and a standard packet of the substance.

5. Parsley leaves

Parsley leaves are used to spice up various types of foods owing to their distinctive taste. They are very rich in nutrients including vitamins A, K, B12 and C besides several minerals. The leaves are known to improve the immune and nervous systems and the bones. They are also used to get rid of any excess fluids in the body. Few people know of their roles in the menstrual cycle however.

Here’s how to delay periods naturally using parsley leaves:

1. Put a handful of parsley leaves in water.
2. Heat to boil.
3. Strain the water and add some honey to taste.
4. Drink the mixture while still warm.
5. Do this twice or thrice a day for the most effective results.

This mixture has no known side effects.

6. Lemon

The uses of lemon for the benefit of the body are many. All the parts of a lemon tree can be used for medicinal purposes without any severe side effects. For the delaying of periods, you can suck on a lemon or mix it into plain water and drink it. The period experienced will be either lighter or nonexistent.

The only downside noted in some women is that of pain during the next period. This happens in a few people and, if you are affected this way by the lemon, you can take energy supplements when the next period is due.

7. Gram lentils

Gram lentils are a type of pulse known for many health benefits. It is one of the most consumed pulses owing mainly to its high protein value. It can also be used to delay periods instead of suing pills.

To use gram lentils for delaying periods, do the following:

1. Fry a sizeable amount of gram lentils till they become soft.
2. Grind them to a smooth and consistent powder.
3. Add some water to the powder to make a soup.
4. Take the soup each morning on an empty stomach for the best results.
5. Do this for seven days before your periods are due and they will not appear.

8. Have sex to delay period

Can having sex right before your period delay it for 2 days? Most women need to know whether having sex can delay their period. The answer to that question is yes, having sex before the period starts can delay it.

• Some women claim sex may only delay the period for a day or two and no more.
• If you plan on delaying the menstrual cycle for longer periods, you better resort to another method.

Sex delays the period due to the surge of hormones that comes about due to arousal. Most women who experience this issue may think that they have become pregnant when it is a small issue of a delayed period. If this happens and the period is yet to appear about a week from its due date, you may need to take a pregnancy test.

9. Increase exercise

Starting to exercise or increasing your level of exercise may be a great way of delaying your period without medication. Some women report it worked for them. It is recommended by many medical practitioners given that it does not tamper with the hormonal nature of the body in any artificial way.

It is recommended that half an hour a day of physical activity such as aerobics or team games yields good results in making your period late. You should be careful, however, not to strain too much. If you have a personal trainer, they will have a good idea of how much strain your body can take. Too much of it will only affect your overall health negatively.

While this method does not work for every person, it is a good thing to have an exercise routine as it has many health benefits. Besides keeping diseases at bay, a regular exercise routine will make your periods regular, reduce the length of each period, and lead to less pain and cramps when in a period. When combined with other methods, exercise can be a great way of delaying periods.

Reasons for delaying your period

While you may have personal reasons for delaying your period, there are some other general reasons to stop your monthly menstruation for a few days, hours or even a week.

• Any conditions that are made worse by menstruation such as epilepsy, migraines, asthma, anemia and even endometriosis.
• Any mental or physical disability which makes it hard to use tampons or sanitary towels.
• To prevent mood swings, bloating, breast tenderness, headaches or other condition that accompanies the period.
• When one experiences painful, frequent, prolonged or heavy periods.

Before using any of these methods, you should know how you personally respond to them. The advice of a medical doctor is always a valuable ingredient when altering any part of your bodily processes.

Also, living a healthy lifestyle will make it easier and less painful when using any of the methods detailed here. You can achieve that with regular exercise and a healthy diet that is balanced.

Also, avoid using any method all the time and allow your body to have periods every now and again.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Delaying your period with birth control pills.
• MacCure: How To Delay Periods Naturally With Home Remedies?