Stop Your Period Early
Menstruation for some people can be extremely painful, and a heavy flow makes for an unpleasant period. There are ways to shorten, lighten, or even stop your period, depending on your needs. Always consult your doctor first, but if you need a few quick tips about how to stop your period, read on.
Contents
Steps
Slow or Stop Your Flow
- Take Ibuprofen. Take one dose three or four times a day, being careful not to exceed the maximum dosage for any 24-hour period. For most people, this will help mitigate the pain of a period, and can reduce flow by about 50%. However, some people find that ibuprofen stops their period altogether.
- While Ibuprofen has very few side effects, it is possible to overdose. Consult your doctor before taking large amounts of ibuprofen or using it for an extended period of time.
- Drink a lot of water. This will flush things through your body faster and can help lighten your flow.
- Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Eating healthily is always better for you, but consuming more fruits and vegetables than normal can lighten your period and make it easier on you.
- Green beans in particular have been shown to help lighten or stop your period.
- Some people also find that sucking on a piece of lemon can temporarily stop their period.
- Drink vinegar. Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup of water. Drink this home remedy three times a day for best results.
- Drink gelatin. Mix a packet of gelatin with water and drink it quickly. This can stop your period for about three hours.
- Use herbal remedies. Angelica root, tea made from fresh or dried raspberry leaves, lady mantle, garden sage, and shepherd's purse are all thought to help stop or lighten menstruation.
- Use menstrual cups to hide your period. Menstrual cups fit just above the cervix and, like tampons, prevent any fluid from escaping. However, where a tampon absorbs blood, a menstrual cup simply catches it. You can leave one in place for up to twelve hours, effectively hiding -- and for all intents and purposes stopping -- your period for that time.
Speed Up Your Flow
- Get some heat. Heat encourages the "fluids" to leave your body faster. Apply a heat pack to your abdominal area.
- Massage your uterus area. This will help reduce the pain of cramps, and it encourages your body to literally 'get things moving'. You might prefer to do this in the comfort and privacy of your own bathroom or bedroom.
- Have sex. Orgasmic contractions will push the fluids out of your body faster, helping you get through your period more quickly. Make sure both you and your partner are okay with the possibility of things getting a little messy first. Lay a towel down under you or have sex in the shower to minimize mess and clean-up.
Long-term Options
- Discuss a long-term option with your doctor. To stop periods for around 2-3 months, you can get an injection called Depo-Provera. This is an injected that you receive on a regular basis from your GP.
- There are surgical options available to permanently stop periods. These include a hysterectomy, the removal of the womb, and endometrial ablation, the removal of the endometrial lining of the uterus. These surgeries can be dangerous and can make pregnancy complicated or impossible, so consult a doctor before deciding to undergo surgical options.
- Get fit. Exercise is vitally important in general, and being physically fit will make your periods shorter and lighter. This is a great way shorten your period in a way that's sustainable and even beneficial over a long time.
- Use birth control. Birth control pills often call for 21 days of contraceptive pills followed by a week of placebo pills. You will get your period during that one week. Hormonal contraceptives are a safe and effective way to regulate your menstruation, especially for those who suffer painful or excessively heavy periods.
- If you need to skip a period, you can do so by simply skipping the placebo pills and continuing with the actual contraceptives. This can have unpredictable or unpleasant side effects, so consult your doctor before doing so.
- Oral contraceptives are available by prescription only. Discuss your needs with your doctor before and during your time on the pill.
Tips
- Everyone is different and has a different menstrual experience. What works for one person may not work for another. Experiment to find out what works for you.
- Let mother nature do what she does best. Everything has its prescribed times. These are just tips on how to speed up the process and also help you cope with this regularity in a more comfortable and relaxed manner.
- While a period usually lasts 2-7 days, don't freak out if yours falls slightly out of this range- especially if you just started getting periods (your cycles will be irregular!).
- Comfrey tea is also another good herbal method. It may help with heavy bleeding or may temporary slow down your menstrual cycle.
- Taking medicine like Tylenol or Ibuprofen will make your period easier. It will help with your cramps, or blood flow. It helps you stay happy and relieves menstrual pain.
- When you're sleeping whilst on your period it's a good idea to lay a towel, this will help protecting your bed sheets from any leakages. Drinking plenty of water and exercising help to reduce your blood flow.
- If the blood leaks down below where your pad is placed while you are sleeping, consider buying pads specifically made for sleeping. They are longer and maybe even thicker, so you can have full coverage.
- Always keep some sanitary napkins and tissue papers with you whether you are at your school, workplace or anywhere else.
Warnings
- Misunderstandings about your period can be dangerous. Consult your doctor before you try anything unfamiliar or you're unsure of, and always ask your doctor for advice or reliable information about your period.
