There are several safe and effective ways to make your period late or delay it, primarily involving hormonal methods.
Hormonal Birth Control Methods
- Using combined estrogen and progestin birth control pills, you can skip the placebo pills and start a new pack immediately, delaying your period. Some pills are designed for extended cycles, such as Jolessa or Seasonale, that allow you to have a period only every three months.
- Vaginal rings (like NuvaRing) and contraceptive patches work similarly; you can delay your period by using them continuously without the usual ring-free or patch-free break.
- Hormonal IUDs release progestin and can reduce the frequency of periods or stop them altogether after some time.
- The Depo-Provera injection is another method that can stop periods after repeated use.
Prescription Medication
- Norethisterone, a prescription pill, can delay your period when started about 3 days before your expected cycle. You take it daily until you want your period to start again. It's important to use other birth control methods if having sex while on norethisterone.
Natural Methods (Limited Evidence)
- Some anecdotal natural approaches exist like exercising heavily or consuming certain acidic foods (e.g., lemon juice) but these lack scientific backing and are less reliable.
Important Notes
- Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any method to delay your period to ensure safety and suitability for your health needs.
- Using hormonal methods to delay periods is generally safe when done under medical advice but may cause side effects like spotting, nausea, or mood changes in some people.
This covers the main medically supported options for delaying your period safely.
