Periods don’t come alone. They come with bloating, gas, cramps and other inconveniences. They can easily ruin your trips to the beach, holiday trips, romantic getaways and other experiences that need carefree physical activity.
They sure do. Due to this, many women just want the periods to stop because of all the pain and inconvenience it comes with while others would like some relief from it so that it doesn’t spoil their meeting, an important occasion or an event. In that case, at some point in your life, you must have really wondered how to stop your period once it starts.
Can you really stop your period once it starts?
Let’s face the truth. NO, you can’t stop your period once it begins. Don’t be misled by the title of the article. There is nothing you can do to stop your period once it starts, but yes you can ease the pain, slow it down and lighten the flow. The heavy flow and pain make period a very inconvenient and unpleasant entity while it remains a fact of every woman’s life.
Can birth control pills stop your period?
Well, again NO. While many girls believe birth control pills or contraceptive pills can but it can’t. You just need to accept the fact that once it starts, nothing can put a stop to it. While you accept this bitter reality, you can always check out a number of ways you utilize to slow it down and get some relief. Read on to know some of the top ways you can make use of.
Is menstrual suppression risky?
Menstrual suppression or trying to stop your period is new for doctors. Studies are still being conducted to know what effects it might have on women on a long-term basis. However, it is a natural process that you are trying to interfere with. This in itself should ring an alarm and should not be taken lightly. Do consult your doctor and do your research before you take continuous birth control pills because there are potential risks involved.
How to make your period end faster?
Since there is no way to stop your period once it starts, here are some of the remedies and conventional medicines that can delay periods, lighten the heavy flow and give you relief from the painful condition you are in.
1. Do lots of Exercise
Yes, you just don’t feel like it when the periods begin, but did you know women who exercise have lighter periods compared to those who don’t? Exercising regularly relaxes the muscles in your uterus, which minimizes the period flow. There are high chances that you will not go through the annoying premenstrual symptoms like moodiness, cramping and bloating if you exercise throughout the month. What many don’t know is that gynecologists highly recommend some light exercises during the period as well.
You can do some brisk walk for 20 minutes, cycling, cardio exercises or some strength training. These exercises will not only minimize the blood flow but also divert your mind from it.
Female athletes who exercise a lot get their periods completely stopped. This is certainly not a good option as it is considered as an unhealthy condition.
2. Refill your Vitamins and minerals
Right before your periods, the amount of minerals and vitamins in your body start shrinking. The ones women need most are Vitamin B12 and B6, iron and magnesium. Vitamin C and A are well-known antioxidants that battle with free radicals and keep a check on heavy periods. Vitamin K also greatly minimizes the heavy blood flow. Vitamins and minerals relax the wall of the uterus and in turn provide relief from the painful cramping. They don’t stop your periods, but they do reduce the discomfort associated with periods.
3. Take Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen along with other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) minimize the swelling of uterine walls, alleviate pain and cut down the flow by 50%. Ibuprofen can be the best option if you are thinking about how to stop your period once it starts. Particularly when your period is heavy and the pain radiates to back, hips and even a bad stomach ache, then you should take ibuprofen after every few hours. It won’t stop your period but it will definitely give you relief from pain and heavy flow.
Make sure you don’t take more than 3 pills within 24 hours because an overdose could be dangerous. Consult your doctor if you are thinking of taking a heavy dose. Other NSAIDs can also be used that help to control menstrual flow and are also painkillers. These include naproxen and mefenamic acid.
4. Eat pineapple
Pineapple happens to be a very popular fruit when it comes to periods. Pineapple contains a substance called Bromelain, which minimizes the heavy bleeding to quite an extent. It is now being studied to check how effective it may be for treating uterine cancer and other kinds of cancer.
5. Limit eating processed foods
All the issues associated with menstruation get worse if you take a diet full of refined flour, refined sugar or other processed foods. To remain on the safe side, try to limit the intake of such food the entire month and particularly during the week that close to your due date.
To promote good health in women, try to maintain a diet that involves lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, olive oil, and lean proteins. Some women have found that keeping such a diet causes your period to shorten.
6. Massage your lower abdomen
When you massage the abdominal muscles, it relaxes the uterine contractions which cause pain and reduces heavy bleeding. Massaging the uterus signals the body to get things moving if it is all stuck up.
What you can do is get herbal oils that contain Clary Sage. Otherwise, you can simply combine 6 drops of lavender essential oil, 6 drops of Clary Sage oil, and 2 teaspoons of almond oil. Massage your lower abdominal area, stomach, pelvis and the groin with it
7. Eat Loads of Fruits and Vegetables
While you should maintain a healthy intake of vegetables and fruits all the time, you should extra vigilant about it during your periods. Adding in more fruits and vegetables to your diet during menstruation is going to make you feel much better. Green beans are one of the most popular answers to the inconveniences that come with a period.
7. Medication
Some medicines can also be used to reduce bleeding during your period. Two of these medicines commonly prescribed by doctors are:
- Tranexamic acid (tablet) – it stimulates blood clotting in the uterus and helps to minimize heavy bleeding. Either 2 to 3 or 3 to 4 tablets for 3 to 4 days is the required dosage. This medicine does not prevent pregnancy as it is not a hormonal contraceptive.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists- they are drugs that are able to minimize bleeding as well as cause temporary menopause. However, one thing to keep in mind is that they result in serious side effects and are very expensive. They interfere with the activity of estrogen hormone in the body. If you use it on a long-term basis, it will cause osteoporosis or weak bones.
8. Nettle tea
Nettles have been used to make periods shorter and lighter for a long time. You can use stinging nettle leaves to make soup, but if cooking with nettle leaves is something you don’t want, then you can take it in the form of supplement or nettle tea. Nettle tea is a natural way to slow down your menstrual bleeding or stop your period early.
- Take 2 cups of water and add a cup of nettle leaves to it.
- Allow it to boil.
- Let it simmer on low heat for a few minutes.
- Allow it to steep for a few minutes, but if you want stronger tea, then let it steep longer.
- Strain it and the tea is ready to be enjoyed.
- You can add a bit of sugar if you want.
Similarly, you can also take raspberry tea, which will serve the same purpose.
9. Vinegar
Again, like other methods, vinegar will not totally stop your period after it has started, but it will slow it down and minimize the flow.
All you have to do is take a glass of water and add 2 to 3 teaspoons of vinegar to it. Drink this solution. For best results, drink 3 glasses a day.
10. Use Contraceptives
Birth control pills to stop your period is the most common method which most women are aware of. However, you should not simply start taking the contraceptive pills. It is best to consult a doctor first who will make you aware of the risks involved, dosage to use and expectations to keep.
Hormonal contraceptives do not let fertilization and ovulation occur. They are available in patch, injectable, and oral form. The easiest way to slow down the periods once it has started is by taking oral contraceptive pills. These pills will serve the purpose of delaying period only if you take them one cycle before the that you really don’t want. If you start taking it on a regular basis, your periods will stop. They will come back when you stop taking the pills.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you take hormonal contraceptives for a long time, you are at risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, hormonal imbalance, and headaches. Talk to your doctor before taking it.
11. Prostaglandin regulators
It is prostaglandin that causes the uterine muscles to contract. This results in menstrual cramps. Taking Prostaglandin regulators can reduce the heavy flow and pain associated with menstruation. This way you can carry out your daily activities efficiently. Many herbs consist of these regulators like Feverfew and Willow Bark.
12. Meadowsweet
Take these a week before your period are going to start. This will delay periods. Many herbs contain a crucial compound called gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which triggers the Prostaglandin and controls period. It will only work if you take it for a week without any gaps before the due date of your periods. Other GLA compound containing herbs include Black Currant, Brage, and Evening Primrose
13. Herbal supplements and teas
Herbal teas and supplements are known to contain magical qualities that relieve menstrual symptoms naturally. Some of the well-known herbs re Chamomile, Kav Kava, Passion Flower and Wild Yam. They relax the uterine muscles and slow down the contractions that cause menstrual cramps.
Other effective herbs that are not so well known are Skull Cap, False Unicorn Root, Chinese Peony, Catnip and California Poppy. They also effect the menstrual cycle and give some relief from cramping.
14. Suck on Lemon
Lemon happens to be a very popular natural remedy among women. You just have to cut out a little slice of lemon and suck on it as much as you can tolerate the sour taste. It helps to make your period shorter.
15. The Surgery
In order to stop your periods or control it, the doctor might recommend surgery. It is recommended in case you are going through heavy menstrual bleeding due to medical conditions like endometriosis, a uterine fibroid, and myoma. The doctor might recommend removal of the uterus or hysterectomy. Your periods will then totally stop. This is only done when other surgical procedures fail. Other surgical procedures consist of:
- Endometrial ablation– it involves the destruction of the inner lining of the uterus
- Myomectomy- it removes myoma which is a non-cancerous tumor of the uterus
- Uterine artery embolization– this procedure involves blocking arteries which result in shrinkage of fibroids.
Other Ways
- Drink lots of water and juices to lighten your periods. Drinking lots of water would fasten the pace of fluid running in your body.
- Use heat packs on the abdominal areas. It helps to push fluid out of the body.
- Mix gelatin in water and quickly drink the solution. This can stop periods for 3 hours.
- Taking a bath is another temporary way of stopping or slowing the bleeding.
- Mixing two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water helps to minimize the flow. It also brings relief from pain if taken 3 times a day.
- Have a balanced diet. Make sure you eat loads of vegetables and fruits which eases menstrual discomforts.
Resources
http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/features/no-more-periods?page=2
http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/treating-irregular-periods
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/birth-control/in-depth/womens-health/art-20044044
http://www.livestrong.com/article/98447-delay-menstrual-period/
Featured Image: healthyphase.com
