How to Delay Your Period

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The menstrual period or menstruation is the natural process in which a woman's body sheds the uterus lining and unfertilized egg as a part of her monthly menstrual cycle. It usually is triggered by fluctuating levels of the hormones progesterone and oestrogen.

Women generally start having a menstrual cycle, called menarche, around the ages of 11 and 14. The cycle continues until menopause at around age 51, usually lasting from three to five days. Aside from bleeding from the vagina, women may also experience:

• Abdominal or pelvic cramps

• Lower back pain

• Breast tenderness and soreness

• Cravings for certain foods

• Moodiness accompanied by irritability

• Headache and fatigue

Contrary to popular belief, not having periods does not result in a "backlog" and is not necessary to "cleanse the body." Aside from the previously stated signs, menstruation can exacerbate incapacitating physical or mental health problems such as endometriosis and depression; it can also cause distress and issues for those who have gender dysphoria.

Alongside being physically and mentally taxing, menstruation also entails several inconveniences that some might wish to avoid at certain times of their lives. This is why period delay medication was created.

These period delay medicines are utilised for several reasons but they are largely used to ensure that a period does not fall during a specific event, such as a formal occasion or holiday. These medications work to stop the bleeding and also the side effects that occur during the bleeding days as well as during pre and post-menstruation. This then means that people to continue on with their daily lives unencumbered by bothersome symptoms.

Periods can naturally be delayed by too much stress. In order to trigger both an ovulation and a period, certain levels and patterns of hormones have to be attained. Once stress gets in the way, a messed-up cycle occurs. Stress increases cortisol levels and disrupts blood sugar, interfering with your ovulation and period. In turn, the stress hormone cortisol blocks progesterone production, causing progesterone levels to drop. Today, science keeps progressing and addressing the issues faced by humans. The development of modern hormonal birth control or contraceptives has made it possible to stop or delay menstruation, medically termed "menstrual suppression." Read on to find out how to delay your period and if it's suitable for you.

Delaying your period with hormonal contraceptives

Scientists devised conventional contraceptive practices such as oestrogen-progestin pills, birth control patch, and vaginal rings to mimic the natural cycle of menstruation. A typical pill pack consists of four weeks of birth control pills in which only the first three weeks have hormones that actively stop fertility; the pills for the fourth week are inactive. The body will response to this suppression of hormones. Bleeding may happen during the week when the inactive pills are taken, known as withdrawal bleeding. Withdrawal bleeding is neither a regular period nor essential for health. This is noteworthy for those who use birth control and want to achieve lesser periods, either for personal or medical reasons.

Continuous-use vs extended-use contraceptives

There are two universal ways to use hormonal contraceptives to lessen the number of menstrual periods.

• Continuous-use contraceptives. Active hormones are taken continually for a year or longer, resulting in withdrawal bleeding not occurring.

• Extended-use contraceptives. The time to take active hormones is extended longer than the usual 21 days. There may be breaks from taking the hormone pills, which generally results in withdrawal bleeding.

Which types of hormonal birth control are effective in delaying periods?

A woman may use various hormonal contraception to lower the frequency of her menstrual periods. Her overall health, preferences, and goals - whether for fewer periods or as short- or long-term birth control, will dictate the best method for her. She may want to visit her doctor to discuss the following choices.

Contraceptive pills

Long-term or continuous use of combined oral contraceptives pills (oestrogen and progestogen) can delay or prevent menstruation. A doctor can recommend the most suitable pill schedule; the inactive pills are usually skipped in the pill package, and a new package can be started immediately. However, various contraceptives are specifically devised to lengthen the interval between periods. Some of these medications include:

• Amethia, Camrese, and Simpesse (generic versions of Seasonique). This regimen involves taking active birth control pills for 84 days (or 12 weeks) followed by a week of very low-dose oestrogen pills. Your period is most likely to occur during the 13th week, approximately once every three months. Taking a low-dose oestrogen pill instead of inactive pills can help reduce bleeding, bloating, and other side effects that are sometimes related to a hormone-free interval.

• Amethyst. Containing low doses of both progesterone and oestrogen, this pill is designed to be taken continually for one year. It requires no breaks for hormone-free intervals.

• Jolessa (generic version of Seasonale). This regimen is similar to the generic versions of Seasonique, requiring you to take active pills continually for 84 days (or 12 weeks), followed by a week of inactive pills. Your period occurs on the 13th week, about once every three months.

• Rivelsa (a generic version of Quartette). It is a 91-day regimen that requires taking active pills for 84 days (or 12 weeks). Each pill has a constant dose of progestin. On the other hand, the dose of oestrogen gradually increases — beginning with 20 micrograms (mcg), raising to 25 mcg, and raising again to 30 mcg — at three specific schedules during the regimen. Pills with a very low dose of oestrogen are then taken for a week. The period occurs on the 13th week.

• Vaginal ring (NuvaRing). Continuous or long-term use of contraceptive rings, like the combined oestrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives, can delay or prevent menstruation as well.

Hormonal intrauterine device (Kyleena, Liletta, Mirena, etc.)

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a form of long-term contraceptive. A type of progestin is continuously released into your body once the device is inserted (by a doctor) into your uterus.

What are the advantages of delaying the period?

Delaying a woman's period can help her manage menstrual symptoms, especially those that are severe and barely tolerable. With a delayed period, women can get rid of the following:

• Conditions aggravated by menstruation, including endometriosis and anaemia

• Physical or mental disabilities that get in the way when using tampons or sanitary pads

• Headaches and other menstrual symptoms during the week when inactive contraceptives are taken

• Tender and bloated breasts accompanied by mood swings that occur seven to 10 days before the start of the period

• Frequent, painful, heavy, and prolonged menstruation

Additionally, women often describe their menstrual bleeding as simply inconvenient. They usually delay their period until after a big event such as a wedding, honeymoon, vacation, and even exams and sports events.

Is delaying menstruation safe and effective for all women?

Using a contraceptive in delaying your period is as safe and effective as using it on a 28-day cycle. A woman can delay her menstrual period depending on her preferred length. However, side effects may arise as a result of delaying one's period.

The most usual side effect of menstrual suppression is breakthrough bleeding, referring to the small amount of unexpected bleeding. It commonly appears in the first few months of skipping the period as a mechanism of assisting the body in adjusting to the hormones.

What can you do when having breakthrough bleeding?

Breakthrough bleeding typically diminishes over time. But in the meantime, a woman experiencing it can do the following.

• Staying on schedule. A breakthrough bleeding is more likely to occur when missing a pill, forgetting to change the vaginal ring, or having late scheduling of a DMPA injection.

• Tracking the bleeding with a diary or a calendar. Careful monitoring can usually ensure that breakthrough bleeding is decreasing.

• Taking contraceptives as prescribed. Breakthrough bleeding is less likely to happen if you don't try delaying your period by skipping inactive weeks.

• Quitting the habit of smoking. Females who smoke get more chances of experiencing breakthrough bleeding than those who do not smoke.

• Taking periodic hormone-free days for those using oestrogen-progestin birth control pills or the vaginal ring. It may help control unscheduled bleeding.

Furthermore, breakthrough bleeding does not indicate contraception is not working. A woman should continue taking contraceptives despite bleeding to reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancy. Lastly, she must see her doctor should breakthrough bleeding become severe or last more than one week in a row.

Are there health risks of delaying your period?

Some risks come with using hormonal contraceptives. However, delaying your period does not pose more significant risks than conventional contraceptive methods. Risks of using hormonal contraceptives can include but do not limit to:

• Higher risk of blood clots

• Increased blood pressure

• Cardiovascular concerns (such as heart attack or stroke)

Long-term use of the Depo-Provera injection also has some potential risks. Years of using the injection can lead to loss of bone minerals, increasing the risk of fractures or osteoporosis; it is more likely to happen with more prolonged use of the injection. Although bone loss usually resolves with discontinued use, the results are not always wholly reversed. Talk to your healthcare provider about its safety if you’re using Depo-Provera to skip your periods.

Does delaying your period affect your fertility?

You don't have to worry about your fertility if you don't get your period with contraception. When you stop using contraception, your body restarts the menstruation cycle and you may be able to conceive. Most women can get pregnant within a year of stopping any type of hormonal birth control. The average time to return to previous fertility levels ranges from three to six menstruation cycles.

What are natural ways to delay periods?

No scientific bases and evidence support the claims that natural remedies, like consuming gram lentils, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and gelatine, can delay your period. For those against hormonal methods, using a menstrual cup may be a possible substitute. Though it does not delay a period, it prevents leaks without using sanitary pads or tampons. A menstrual cup fits over your cervix and collects the menstrual blood, allowing you to participate in various daily activities without changing feminine products frequently.

As previously mentioned, being under a lot of stress or participating in extreme sports and exercises can delay the period. It often happens under uncontrollable circumstances. Physical or emotional stress causes the body to release cortisol. This hormone is responsible for your period becoming lighter, less frequent, or not coming at all.

The bottom line

For some people, having monthly periods disrupts daily activities. But the good news is that you may be able to choose when you have your period. Delaying your period is also a safe and effective way to treat certain medical conditions and prevent pregnancy. Or it may also be a matter of preference and convenience. Talk with your healthcare provider to see if skipping your periods may be an option for you.

For further readings on how to delay your period naturally or by other means, you can always click here.