How can I delay my period? Is it recommended?
Do you have an event coming up in a few days' time, but your period is due at the same time? Sometimes, to make the most of our time, we'd like to postpone our period... But is that really possible? How can you delay your period?
Why delay your period?
There are many reasons why you might want to postpone your period. Planned weddings, planned vacations, etc. For many women, menstruation entails a considerable amount of inconvenience, which we prefer to avoid at certain times. Unfortunately, there's no miracle formula for delaying menstruation naturally. Some suggest drinking yarrow tea, or peppermint.
But only taking an oral contraceptive - the contraceptive pill - can effectively delay the onset of menstruation.
If you're worried about your period being late, there's no need to panic too much. Intense physical activity, high levels of stress, jet lag... all these factors can upset your cycle. If you've taken the morning-after pill, it's likely that your period will arrive late or early.
If you have any questions or doubts about your delayed period, consult your healthcare professional, who will be able to answer any questions you may have.
Is it dangerous to delay my period with the pill?
When you're on the pill, it's very easy to postpone your period. If you're taking a 21-tablet pill, simply start a new pack. If your pill contains 28 tablets, simply skip the week containing only the last 7 placebo tablets and start a new pack.
Please note that this method is only valid for estrogen-progestin pills, i.e. those combining estrogen and progestin. It is not possible to postpone your period with pills that have to be taken continuously.
On the other hand, this method is absolutely harmless to your health.
In fact, the bleeding observed on the pill is deprivation bleeding, and is not really menstruation.
However, when using this method, spotting is often observed at the supposed menstrual period. This bleeding is due to an overload of hormones. Fortunately, this bleeding has no impact on contraceptive efficacy.
How often can you delay your period in this way?
You can delay your period as many times as you like, as this has no effect on contraceptive efficacy.
Be careful not to stop your pill pack early to bring your period forward: this will not work, and contraceptive efficacy will no longer be guaranteed.
What should I do if I can't delay my period?
If you're not taking the contraceptive pill, it's difficult to delay your period.
However, there are solutions that can make menstruation easier: menstrual panties.
Menstrual panties are a more environmentally-friendly, non-irritating alternative to conventional, polluting, disposable sanitary protection that respects intimate flora.
All you have to do is slip on your panties in the morning, and you're protected if your period comes.
FAQ for delaying your period
How can I delay my period naturally?
Unfortunately, there's no natural miracle solution for delaying your period.
How can I delay my period by 3 days?
If you're not on the pill and have a supportive doctor, you can ask him or her to prescribe a progestin. This method will enable you to postpone your period by a few days. However, this is a one-off method, and should not be taken every month.
