It can get difficult when you have an important event to attend during that time of the month and the period cramp sets in. Here are some natural remedies you can try at home to delay your periods by a few days and attend your important events in style.
Can You Delay Periods?
Yes, you can delay periods by relying on medical methods. This process is known as menstrual suppression. You can achieve this by using combined contraceptive pills back-to-back. Combined contraceptive pills, also commonly called ‘the pill,’ contain artificial variations of female sex hormones.
If you’re not taking pills, your healthcare practitioner can prescribe norethisterone to delay your periods. You’ll have to take this pill three to four days before your due date for it to work.
But if you’re wondering how to delay periods naturally at home without taking any pills, then you might want to continue reading. But before that, it’s worth knowing whether or not natural ways to delay periods work.
Do Natural Ways to Delay Periods Work?
Home remedies to delay periods may or may not work. It may work for some people and not work for others at all. Or it may work on someone the first time and not work again. There is not enough scientific evidence to suggest that natural or home remedies to delay the periods would work.
For example, in a 2013 study, apple cider vinegar restored the menstrual cycles of four out of seven women suffering from polycystic ovarian cancer. But considering the sample size, you may understand why the evidence is not enough.
However, what the home remedies lack in evidence, they make up for in their innocence. Home remedies are generally safer to try—as long as consumed in limit—if you don’t have allergies to the said remedy. These remedies are safe because, unlike birth control pills, they do not have side effects.
For example, gram lentils are a safe ingredient to consume. You can make some powder from the lentils and mix them with a liquid a couple of days before your period date. This concoction might work for you, or it might not. But, it won’t cause harm either.
Regardless, too many home remedies to delay periods can be harmful too. For example, excessive apple cider vinegar or lemon juice can result in premature tooth decay. And you stand to injure yourself if you push yourself too much while exercising, especially if you don’t hit the gym regularly.
How to Delay Periods Naturally at Home?
1. Lime juice
You will find many videos on social media where women say that they delayed their periods by drinking lime juice. As lime juice is rich in vitamin C and is acidic, it can help delay your period date and might also result in light blood flow. Many women believe that squeezing a few drops of lemon juice in hot water and drinking it daily for at least a week before your period can postpone your menstrual cycle.
2. Apple cider vinegar
Another home ingredient that might work for some is apple cider vinegar (ACV). Drinking 1-2 tbsp of ACV in a glass of water for a few days before your expected date might postpone your periods. No scientific research suggests that apple cider vinegar is effective in delaying periods. However, since ACV is acidic, it may be helpful.
3. Uterine Massage
Some women believe that oil massage on the abdomen helps reduce menstrual cramps. Others also believe that a uterine massage can postpone your period date. However, just like other natural remedies, it doesn't guarantee to delay your periods. You can still try it, though.
4. Exercise
Menstrual cycle regulation is dependent on our lifestyle and food choices. However, on the contrary, some believe that doing exercises can send a signal of stress to your brain that might help delay the periods. A study suggests that female athletes are at high risk of suffering from amenorrhea or loss of regular cycle because strenuous exercise can affect the hormones.
Also Read: Can We Do Exercise During Periods?
5. Papaya
Pregnant women are advised not to eat papaya as it can increase the blood flow to the uterine region and cause contractions. Papaya contains a compound called carotene that may increase the oestrogen levels in the body, and cause changes in the menstrual cycle. So, you can try papaya to delay periods.
6. Lentils
People believe that having fried gram lentils can postpone the expected period date. However, there is no scientific data that shows lentils guarantee delayed periods. At the same time, you must also keep in mind that having too much of lentils or pulses can cause flatulence and digestive issues.
7. Parsley
Parsley is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that offer plenty of benefits. These leaves are most commonly used to naturally induce the menstrual cycle if you stress over delay in periods. However, many people believe that parsley leaves are also effective in delaying periods.
As there is no evidence to prove the same, this is not a reliable home remedy to delay periods naturally. You can still try and see if it works. You can boil a few leaves in water and have parsley tea for a few days before your periods.
8. Cinnamon Tea
You can also try drinking cinnamon tea rich in antioxidants. However, you must also remember that cinnamon is a spice that can increase body temperature. So, if you have excess cinnamon, it may prepone your menstrual cycle. No research suggests whether cinnamon can induce or delay the menstrual cycle.
9. Avoid Spicy Food
Eating spicy and hot food in excess is likely to trigger your menstrual cycle by increasing the estrogen levels in the body. So, if you want to delay your periods, avoid eating spicy foods a few days before your expected date.
10. Coriander Seeds
Take a few coriander seeds. Add it to a glass of water and boil it for a few minutes till the water turns slightly yellow. You can have this drink for a week before the expected date of the menstrual cycle.
11. French Beans
Another interesting home remedy that a lot of women use to delay their periods is french beans. Again, there is no other scientific reason to support this natural remedy. You will have to try and see whether it works for you. You can boil french beans in water for a few minutes and add lime juice to it. Have this drink for at least a week before the expected date.
12. Mustard Seeds
Lastly, you can also try including mustard seeds rich in antioxidants in your diet to delay periods naturally. You can put a tbsp of mustard seeds in water overnight and have it in the morning for a week before your periods.
Do Natural Ways Work?
While a lot of women believe that natural home remedies to delay periods are effective, there is no scientific research to confirm the same. You can try some of the above-mentioned home remedies to delay periods. It might work for you.
Home remedies to delay periods are safe to try, but you shouldn't overdo them. Drinking too much lime juice or apple cider vinegar can cause tooth decay and other problems in the body because of their acidic nature.
Also, excessive workouts to delay periods can make your body weak or cause some injury. So, even though there is no specific downside of home remedies to delay periods, you should be careful.
Downsides of Delaying Your Period
Before you get to use any of the above-mentioned to delay your periods, you should know whether it is safe to delay your periods at home with your doctor. Natural home remedies to delay periods will not negatively affect your cycle. You can try the above-mentioned home remedies to delay periods and see if they work for you.
If you want to try more practical ways to delay your periods, you can take birth control pills or use the birth control patch will be a better option. However, these may imbalance your hormonal cycle and cause mood swings and acne issues. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a gynaecologist before intaking any pills to delay periods.
Conclusion
At some point or the other, women do have the urge to delay their periods because they don't want to deal with discomfort, stomach cramps and mood swings when they have something important scheduled.
So, if you have something special lined up and do not want the event to sync up with your period dates, you can try natural ways to delay your periods by a few days.
