You're arranging a major event, such as a wedding or a long-awaited vacation, and you notice that it will take place during that month. As a result, as a menstrual woman, you might think to yourself, "Wouldn't it be amazing if I could simply delay my period for a few days?"
While it may sound more like science fiction than reality, there are a few ways to delay your period—but is it even safe to do so? Fortunately, we've enlisted the help of several reproductive medicine professionals. According to ob-gyns, here's everything you need to know about delaying your period and how to do it safely.
First and foremost, is it safe to postpone your period?
It there's some good news: You can definitely postpone your period—and do so safely. But only one hormonal birth control treatment is capable of doing so: the combo pill (known commonly as just "the pill").
"A birth control pill contains 21 days of hormones, usually ethinyl estradiol and progestin, and seven days of a placebo pill that causes a fake period," says Alyse Kelly-Jones, MD, an ob-gyn in Charlotte, North Carolina. "You'd skip the placebo and start a new pack of tablets right away to postpone your menstruation."
According to Dr. Kelly-Jones, doing this for just one cycle can cause your menstruation to be delayed by up to three weeks. The only catch is that if you're not currently on hormonal birth control, you'll need to plan ahead and give plenty of warning. "I probably won't be able to help you if you come to me two weeks before your wedding or vacation and aren't already on birth control," she explains. "At best, you might be able to postpone it, but at worst, you might trigger all sorts of irregular bleeding, which is even less appealing."
That's because, with your birth control pills in place, your body is (more or less) like a well-oiled machine, whereas finding birth control that works with your body to your satisfaction can be a time-consuming procedure.
Another important aspect of delaying your period with birth control pills is to make sure you're taking it consistently—at the same time every day—to avoid spotting, breakthrough bleeding, or even pregnancy, according to Jodie Horton, MD, an ob-gyn in Oakton, Virginia, and chief wellness advisor for Love Wellness. That is, of course, necessary whenever you are taking the active tablets from your pack.
While some people may be concerned about a buildup of blood in the uterus that hasn't been lost as a result of skipping periods, Dr. Horton says this isn't a problem. "Estrogen and progesterone are the major hormones that influence your period," she explains. "Birth control with estrogen and progesterone keeps the uterine lining from thickening; instead, it stays thin and does not need to be shed."
And, while the pill is the greatest birth control technique for skipping or delaying your period, the type of tablet you take matters as well: Monophasic birth control pills, which include equal amounts of estrogen and progesterone, are the best option here, whereas multiphasic or triphasic birth control pills, which contain varied amounts of estrogen and progesterone depending on the week, are often associated with greater spotting.
There's also an FDA-approved medicine known as "extended-cycle pills," which allows you to take up to seven weeks of combination pills before taking a week of placebo tablets to induce bleeding. "This could be great for [people] with endometriosis or painful, heavy periods that are interfering with their quality of life," Dr. Kelly-Jones explains. "While there's nothing wrong with that, the longer you do it, the more likely you are to have breakthrough bleeding or spotting, which is when we normally advise [patients] to take a break, take the placebo tablets, and start over."
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Is it possible to postpone your menstruation using alternative hormonal methods?
According to doctors, the pill is the most effective technique to safely delay your period. However, there are a few additional options that could work.
According to Dr. Kelly-Jones, one of these procedures is the vaginal ring (aka NuvaRing or Annovera). The FDA has approved this hormonal contraceptive technique for use in the same 21-day on, seven-day off cycle as the pill. Dr. Kelly-Jones claims that Annovera contains enough hormones to be left in for a year without altering it. Meanwhile, the NuvaRing only carries 28 days' supply of hormones before it needs to be renewed.
Keep in mind, however, that this is not an FDA-approved application of these techniques. "While it's safe to do so," Dr. Kelly-Jones notes, "neither ring is FDA-approved for this procedure."
In a similar vein, the birth control patch might theoretically be utilized in this manner. "Similarly, you can use the birth control patch indefinitely by using a fresh patch every week and skipping your period on week four," explains Dr. Horton. If you plan to attempt any of these treatments, it's a good idea to let your doctor know—not only to receive their approval but also to keep them informed of any changes in your body.
If you want a method of birth control that can sometimes postpone your period, hormonal contraception is the way to go. However, there are a few options to avoid. Dr. Kelly-Jones believes that progestin intrauterine devices (IUDs) can stop your cycle, but it's a more involved process and less reliable than taking birth control tablets. According to her, the arm implant (also known as Nexplanon) is not indicated for delaying your period because it can induce irregular bleeding that may not improve over time.
Are there any natural methods for delaying your period that work?
You may have read on the internet that there are a few natural or homemade solutions for delaying your period, but our specialists agree that this is not the route to take.
"If you look online, you'll probably find natural ways to postpone your period, such as eating gram lentils, gelatin, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or even green bean water a few days to a week before your period," Dr. Horton advises. "None of these approaches, however, have been scientifically confirmed to work because drinking or eating certain foods has no effect on the hormones that control your menstruation. If consumed in large quantities, they can harm your teeth, gums, mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract."
If you've already begun your period, other suspected cures like as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium (often known as Aleve) can help relieve cramps and lessen flow, but they won't stop it.
Finally, you can safely and effectively pause your period. However, if you have any worries or are unsure which method to use, consult your doctor to determine the best course of action for you.