Imagine starting your menses on your wedding day!! Yes, the biggest day in your life, a day you should be celebrating being spoiled by dreadful period cramps and excruciating unbearable abdominal pain. Apart from that, think about your gloomy moody look on your big day? I know at this point you are asking yourself questions like ‘what can I do to stop my period?’ if it happens on a special day.
Periods are a tough thing that most women must deal with. They prevent you from activities like swimming and also dictate your dressing code; most ladies avoid white pants during these days unless they are specifically for menstrual. Luckily, there is a way you can postpone your menstrual flow and let them come at a time that is convenient for you. In this article, you are going to get some of the ways to delay your period.
How to delay menstrual flow
Check out some of the following ways to delay your menstrual flow:
‘How can I delay my period?’ if you have ever asked someone this question, then am sure they told you to use pills. Using tablets to postpone periods is the most used method. There are several types of tablets to use which include:
I am sure you have used this drug before to stop painful menstrual cramps. But did you know that Ibuprofen can also be used as a pill to stop periods immediately?
The fact that it is available over the counter makes it even more popular. You should take at least three tablets within 24 hours. The drug will inhibit the hormone that helps your uterus contract and relax it thus leading to delayed menses until you stop taking the drug.
It is important to know the side effects of ibuprofen before taking it;
This is a pill that can delay your period for a whole week or even maximum of 20 days. It is a prescription only pill and you should start taking it at least three days before your due date and continue for as long as you are needed. You will have your menstrual flow 2 to 3 days after you stop taking the drug (the time scale is different for every individual).
Prolonged use of this drug can cause the following side effects
You can delay your menses through birth control. Scientifically, birth control makes the lining of the uterus very thin thus there is nothing to clean out leading to short menses.
But not only that, according to Mayo clinic, traditional birth control pills come in packs of 21 active pills and 7 inactive pills. The pills are designed to mimic a natural menstrual cycle. You, therefore, instructed to take the active pills daily for 21 days followed by seven days of inactive pills which allow for withdrawal bleeding, which looks like a menstrual flow and is your body’s response to the hormones present in the active pills.
However, if for one reason or another you feel that you not ready for your periods just yet, you can delay them by skipping the inactive pills and continue taking the active pills until the day you want it. To be on the safe side, you should discard the pack where you got the extra pills from and start on a new pack to avoid confusing yourself. This makes birth control pills one of the medication to delay period for a few days.
Birth control pills may cause the following side effects;
Because of the side effects, I understand why you are weary of using pills. If you fall into this category, you may substitute the tablets used to stop period with the following natural ways.
Cut out on the spicy food
Spicy foods like black pepper, garlic, chili pepper increase the blood flow in your body and therefore speeding up your menstrual cycle. In fact, they are used if you want to get periods early. Avoid them and you will push your flow away.
Apple cider vinegar
Some healthcare professionals have suggested that taking Vinegar can delay your period. They even go ahead to suggest that it will make them less painful next time you have them. There is no clinical evidence to suggest that this is true. I hope we will get more research done on this topic so that we can be sure.
Lemon
Before tablets were discovered to stop period, lemons were already being used to postpone it naturally. The acidic properties present in lemon are said to help your uterine walls shed quickly, therefore, shortening your menstrual flow. Lemon is also a good detox. Suck the lemon juice from the fruit or you can also drink lemon juice if you want to delay your menses for a few hours.
Exercises for delaying menses
Exercises are good for your health but there is more reason why you should engage in exercises like aerobics, weightlifting, gymnastics and even swimming. Exercises can delay your menses by inhibiting the production of estrogen, the hormone responsible for triggering the menstruation cycle.
Gram lentils soup
If you don’t want to miss out on that vacation because of menses and are asking yourself about what I can take to stop my period, then I suggest you try out gram lentils. They are known to postpone this problem for a few days.
Take some gram lentils then fry them till they become soft. Grind them to a powder. Use the powder to make soup. You should start taking the soup at least seven days before your duty date and continue until the day you want to have your menses.
Gelatin
Gelatin is used for many functions including removing excess estrogen from the body. Mix a packet of gelatin and drink it, your period will be delayed for a few hours. Gelatin is used for emergency purposes only.
Delaying your menses interferes with the normal hormonal functioning of your body, it should not be done for fun. Only do this if you always experience painful periods, heavy bleeding or on a person with a disability which make them unable to use sanitary pads or tampons.
Delaying them does not protect you against pregnancy or Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Always use protection when having sex.
