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There are many reasons why you may want to delay or stop your period altogether. Maybe it’s a special event coming up. Or perhaps you just have really heavy, painful periods.

Whatever the reason, it is possible to safely stop your period or lighten your flow. It just takes some planning ahead.

Medical term: Medically referred to as menstruation suppression, stopping your period can be done with varying hormonal birth control methods.

How to stop your period safely

If you wish to explore the idea of stopping your period long-term, you have options. At the very least, birth control can minimize the frequency of periods you have a year.

Here are a few ways you can safely stop your period:

Intrauterine devices (IUDs)

An IUD is a small device shaped like a «T» that a physician inserts into the uterus.

There are hormonal IUDs and non-hormonal IUDs, but both are meant to prevent pregnancy. An IUD containing hormones like progesterone can help you lighten up your period or stop it altogether.

It may take three to six months to completely stop your period, but after that, it can remain effective for anywhere from three to 10 years, depending on the type.

Birth control implants

A birth control implant, like Nexplanon, is a small plastic rod that is inserted inside your arm. It’s typically a fast and mostly painless procedure that should work for up to three years.

These implants are not necessarily intended to stop your period, but they can make them lighter. In some cases, depending on the person, these implants can even stop periods altogether.

Endometrial ablation procedure

This procedure is usually only recommended for people with very heavy, prolonged periods who are at risk of anemia and shouldn’t be considered if you are planning to get pregnant at any point in the future.

This surgical procedure actually destroys some of the tissue in the uterine lining. It’s minimally invasive and typically used for people who have very heavy menstrual periods.

Shots

The birth control shot, which has the brand name Depo-Provera, contains hormones to help prevent pregnancy. The shot contains the hormone progestin and works by inhibiting ovulation, which is when the ovaries release eggs.

This shot also thickens the mucus lining the cervix, which makes it harder for sperm to reach the eggs. While the shot is not intended to stop your period, it could help lighten it up, but this varies from person to person.

Patches

A birth control patch is a type of hormonal birth control that a person wears on their skin. There’s a variety of brands on the market, but most of the patches available are discrete and easy to apply.

It’s possible to skip your period with a patch by putting on a fourth patch each month instead of skipping the application, which would lead to your period.

Vaginal rings

A vaginal ring is a type of hormonal birth control that a person has inserted into their vagina. It’s typically small and plastic and releases hormones into the bloodstream.

Like many birth control methods, there is a fourth week during which you would remove the ring to have your period. However, if you’d prefer to stop your period, you can continue wearing a vaginal ring on the fourth week.

How to delay your period

Don’t be fooled into thinking home remedies like drinking apple cider vinegar or lemon juice every day will help. «None of these DIY home remedies will delay your period,» says Sherry Ross, MD, an OB-GYN with her own private practice.

Here are a couple of options that might:

Skip your placebo week of oral contraceptives

Some types of birth control pills come with three weeks of active pills and one week of placebo pills. If you skip the week of placebo pills and start a new pack of active pills instead, then the hormones in the active pills will prevent you from bleeding that week.

However, it’s important to note that if this is your first time skipping a placebo week, you may experience some irregular bleeding or light spotting.

After two to three months of skipping your placebo week, you should see little to no spotting. Therefore, Ross recommends planning several months ahead if you know your period will coincide with a big upcoming occasion.

Moreover, you can get birth control pills in packs that last 28 days, 90 days, and even 365 days. That’s right, you can go a year without your period while on the pill.

«Being able to stop your period completely is one of the most beneficial side effects associated with the pill, and it’s completely safe,» says Ross.

Ask your doctor about hormonal medication

If you’re not on hormonal birth control, you may be able to delay your period with hormonal medication containing norethindrone, which is a form of the hormone progesterone, the same active ingredient in hormonal birth control.

You need to start taking this medication a few days before the start of your period for it to delay your period. Note that you will probably get your period within a day or two of stopping it.

A small 2019 study found that people who took norethindrone to delay their period were less likely to experience irregular bleeding than those who tried to delay it with birth control pills. However, the study also found that those who took norethindrone were more likely to gain weight.

Visit your doctor for a prescription and check whether this option is suitable for you.

Natural remedies for stopping or delaying your period

If your period has already started, there isn’t a magic bullet that will make it stop immediately.

However, there are some measures you can take that may reduce the flow, help with any pain, and potentially even shorten the number of days you have your period.

Try Ibuprofen or Aleve

If your period has already started, taking Ibuprofen or Aleve can help relieve menstrual cramps and reduce your flow by 20% to 40%.

While these medicines aren’t exactly natural, they work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, which are inflammatory compounds that trigger contractions in your uterus.

If you’d like to try this method, you may want to start right before your period begins. A high dose of about 800 milligrams, every six hours could help delay your period.

Keep in mind that there could be negative effects. Always consult with a physician before trying a new dose of medication.

Exercise the right way

Exercising regularly can help reduce the intensity of cramps and other symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, says Ross. Exercise may even reduce the frequency or length of your period.

However, it’s also important to note that exercising too much or suddenly starting an intense new exercise routine can cause your period to stop or become more irregular.

Some studies show that aerobic exercise can help reduce menstrual pain in some women. A few examples of aerobic exercise include:

Other studies have found that low-intensity exercise like stretching and yoga can help reduce menstrual pain.

Is it safe to stop your period?

It can be safe to stop your period using a variety of birth control methods like the pill, the ring, and the patch. Always make sure to consult with a physician before attempting to stop your period.

How long can you stop your period for?

You can technically stop your period for as long as you want or need to, using a variety of birth control methods. However, you should consult with a physician regarding the safety of skipping menstruation for an extended period of time. It may or may not be safe depending on each individual person.

How can you immediately stop your period?

You can’t exactly stop your period immediately once it has started. Some types of exercise and medication like Ibuprofen could lighten your period temporarily. However, if you want to quickly stop your period on a long-term basis, you may need birth control for that.

How can I stop my period naturally?

Certain types of exercise could help stop your period naturally. However, it would just be temporary. Birth control is the main way to stop a period, but it’s usually hormonal and not natural.

Insider’s takeaway

If you want to postpone your period for a day or two because you have an important occasion, you can ask your doctor for a prescription medication containing the hormone norethindrone ahead of time that you can start taking a few days before your period is due.

If you’re already on the pill, skipping your placebo pills could delay your period, although this method may not work unless you take active hormonal birth control pills consistently for a few months.

You can stop your period altogether with hormonal birth control like continuous cycle pills, implants, or IUDs. These methods may take a couple of months to be effective.

If you aren’t able to delay your period and are going through a painful period, exercise, drinking hot water, and eating calcium-rich foods may help relieve some of the pain, according to Ross. You can also take medications like Ibuprofen and Aleve to curb your flow and reduce your cramps.

How to Stop Your Period: 6 Safe Ways to Do It

Stopping a period with salt water, water with vinegar, the morning-after pill, or ibuprofen is not advised as these methods are not scientifically proven to be effective and can be harmful to your health. Any of these methods may cause hormonal changes, which might result in irregular cycles.

If you want to delay or stop your period permanently, it is best to speak to your gynecologist so that he or she can advise you the best way to do so.

Even though there is no safe or effective way to stop your period immediately, or to stop it once it has already started, there are ways to alter its timing to come sooner or later by a few days or months. These methods include:

1. Ethinyl Estradiol-Norethisteron Pills

Ethinyl estradiol-norethisteron is a medication typically used to treat irregular uterine bleeding, but it can also be used to stop or delay a period under medical supervision. This medication works by maintaining high levels of progesterone and estrogen in the bloodstream, which will prevent ovulation and delay your period.

Taking ethinyl estradiol-norethisteron pills will allow you to get your period sooner or later by two to three days. After a few days of use, it’s common for there to be some spotting due to a light shedding of the uterus, which is not a period.

2. Birth control pills

If you are on birth control pills, you can delay your period by a full cycle, thereby not having a period for a month. To do so, you need to take two packs back-to-back (i.e. start a new pack immediately after finishing the last pill of the current pack)

Note that that there are some birth control pills in which the last pills are placebos (28-day pack). The last pills of these packs are generally another color. If you are taking a 28-day birth control pill are looking to delay your period, skip the placebo pills and start immediately on the first pill of the next pack.

By taking two pack back-to-back, levels of estrogen and progesterone will remain elevated, and the lining of the uterus will not shed.

3. Continuous-Use Birth Control Pill

A continuous-use birth control pill can prevent a period for several months, as it keeps progesterone and estrogen levels high and it stops the lining of the uterus from shedding.

Light spotting can occur with this type of birth control pill, especially in the first three months of use.

4. Hormonal IUDs

A hormonal IUD, like the Mirena, reduces the amount of blood lost during a period, and in some cases, it can stop bleeding altogether. This happens due to the hormone typically found in IUDs called levonorgestrel, which works very similarly to progesterone (a hormone produced by the ovaries). Levonorgestrel makes vaginal fluid thicker and changes the uterine lining, which will prevent pregnancy and stop a period.

5. Contraceptive Injections

A contraceptive injection that contains progesterone can significantly reduce and even prevent menstrual the bleeding completely. These shots are usually administered every three months.

Injecting progesterone inhibits ovulation and it alters the uterine lining, which prevents pregnancy. Because this shot causes the body to maintain high progesterone levels, this method can also delay or stop a period.

6. Contraceptive Implants

A contraceptive implant that is applied subdermally will continuously release progesterone, which causes the body to have high hormone levels. This will reduce menstrual bleeding and can also prevent a period.

A contraceptive implant stops ovulation and increases the thickness of vaginal fluid, making it harder for sperm to travel.

The contraceptive implant is a small flexible rod that a gynecologist places under the skin in the arm. It is effective for three years.

Is it safe to stop your period?

There are some studies being done on reducing the amount of periods a woman has in a year from once per month to once every four months. This can be beneficial for women who experience debilitating symptoms with their period, like cramps, heavy bleeding, and fatigue, which can arguably improve a woman’s quality of life.

However, all the outcomes of having less periods are still not completely known. Menstruation serves to shed endometrial cells from the uterine lining each month, and delaying or reducing the frequency of this process on a regular basis may have negative health effects in women.

Therefore, it is best to adhere to a monthly period and to skip it only for special occasions, like a wedding or athletic event.

How to stop a period permanently

To permanently stop a period, you can have a surgical procedure to have your uterus removed, known as a hysterectomy. There is also a procedure that removes an internal part of the uterus, known as an endometrial ablation.

These procedures are permanent and therefore it’s important for a gynecologist to assess which method is best for you.

1. Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is a surgery done to remove the uterus, which will stop your period, but also prevent you from getting pregnant.

This surgical procedure is usually done in serious situations like endometrial cancer or cervical cancer. This option should be discussed with a doctor, as it’s permanent and irreversible.

2. Endometrial Ablation

An endometrial ablation is usually indicated for women who have heavy periods. After this procedure, the quantity of blood either reduces significantly or the period will stop all together.

After doing the endometrial ablation, however, likelihood of pregnancy diminishes significantly, as the procedure destroys the internal part of the uterus. Therefore, it’s important to discuss this option with your doctor if you intend to conceive in the future.

Why it’s not possible to stop a period that has already started

It isn’t possible to stop a period that has already started because the shedding process in the lining of the uterus has already started due to low levels of estrogen and progesterone. Once these hormones decrease, the internal lining of the uterus sheds and leads to the bleeding that occurs during a period.

When to stop a period

If your gynecologist thinks that your periods are not beneficial due to medical conditions like anemia, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids, it may be necessary to stop menstruation for a prescribed time.

In these cases, the gynecologist will indicate the best way to stop a period, usually until the condition is under control and the loss of blood is not a concern

Who shouldn’t stop a period

Girls under the age of 15 should not stop their periods as it is important to observe cycle characteristics such as cycle length, the quantity of blood, and associated symptoms in the first years of menstruation.

Observing the duration and symptoms of a girl’s cycle will help to evaluate and assess for any concerns related to the reproductive system.

6 Safe Ways To Stop Your Period

It’s almost that time of month. You’re about to start your period, but you have a big vacation coming up.

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Instead of dealing with menstrual cramps, bleeding and bloating, you’re wondering what your options are.

Can you stop your period? And is it safe?

“A lot of people think if you skip your periods, it’s not safe,” says Ob/Gyn Stacie Jhaveri, MD. “But it’s actually very safe, if done correctly.”

Dr. Jhaveri talks about ways to safely stop your period and what methods to avoid.

Is it safe to try and stop your period?

Whether it’s for a week, a month or even long-term, it’s possible to stop your period.

Some people want to stop or delay their period because of special events like a wedding or honeymoon. For others, the desire to stop their period stems from a medical reason like:

While it’s safe to stop your period, remember that your body is normally on a cycle, which ranges from 21 to 35 days. And it all has to do with hormones.

“Estrogen is the hormone that makes tissue build up in your uterus, which provides a nice cushiony lining for a pregnancy to implant,” says Dr. Jhaveri. “If you don’t get pregnant, that tissue needs to shed, and that’s your period. After you ovulate, another hormone, progesterone, is released and helps to keep you pregnant. But if you don’t get pregnant that cycle, the progesterone goes away and that’s when the period comes.”

That decrease in progesterone causes your uterus sheds its lining, which results in a period.

“If you can prolong the progesterone, that’s the most effective way to stop your period,” says Dr. Jhaveri. “You’re faking your body into thinking you’re pregnant.”

How to stop your period

It’s best to talk to your gynecologist about ways to stop your period.

“The success rate will be very different based on when you try in your cycle and what method you use,” says Dr. Jhaveri.

If you know there’s an important event coming up in the next few months, the earlier you can game plan with your doctor the better, says Dr. Jhaveri.

It’s also important to note that there’s no way to stop your period once it starts. And with all these methods, there’s a chance of breakthrough bleeding.

Here are some options to discuss with your doctor.

Birth control pills

With a lot of different brands and options, birth control pills are widely used to prevent pregnancy.

Birth control pills typically come in a 28-pill pack. Normally, you’d take three weeks of active pills, which contain hormones. Then, during the fourth week, you’d take placebo pills, which don’t have hormones.

But if you want to stop your period, you can skip the placebo week and start a new pack. That’ll keep your levels of estrogen and progesterone elevated, so the lining of your uterus won’t shed.

While you can continuously take the pills with hormones to prevent your period, Dr. Jhaveri recommends talking with your doctor about a strategy.

“With birth control pills specifically, it’s recommended that you have a period every three or four months to get rid of any additional tissue that is built up, otherwise it could lead to very irregular bleeding,” says Dr. Jhaveri.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs)

An IUD is a good birth control option for those who want an effective solution and don’t have to think about it again for a while.

A T-shaped device is inserted into your uterus during an in-office procedure. While there are copper versions and plastic versions, the plastic versions are the only ones that contain hormones. Many individuals who have a plastic IUD have lighter periods or periods that stop altogether.

“If you don’t want to have periods, you should consider a method that is continuous progesterone like a hormone-containing IUD,” says Dr. Jhaveri. “If you just want to stop a period for one cycle, an IUD is not going to be your best bet.”

Vaginal rings and patches

Like birth control pills, these methods deliver 21 days of hormones. You receive those hormones either through a patch that’s placed on your stomach and changed weekly or a plastic ring that’s inserted into your vagina for three weeks.

After the three weeks, you typically remove those methods for a week to have your period. But if you want to stop or skip your period, use a new patch or ring right after 21 days.

“Similar to birth control pills, you would just use these methods continuously to stop your period” ” says Dr. Jhaveri.

Shots

You can get a birth control shot every three months, which contains a high dose of progesterone.

“The shot has the highest success of stopping your periods long-term because it’s going to suppress the estrogen the most and suppress the buildup of tissue the most,” explains Dr. Jhaveri. “So, if somebody really needs to suppress their periods because of heavy flow or other problems, the shot has got one of the highest success rates.”

Due to its higher levels of hormones, though, there’s a greater chance for side effects like bloating, mood changes and weight gain. You should also consider that it’s more of a long-term method than other options.

“Once you get the shot, you’re stuck with it for at least three to four months,” says Dr. Jhaveri. “If you don’t like your pill, you don’t take it the next day. You don’t like your patch? You don’t wear it. But once you get the shot, it’s in your system for three months or longer, so it’s important to review all of your options before deciding which method is best for you.”

Implants

An implant is another birth control option that has the potential to stop your period.

A thin flexible rod, which releases progesterone, is inserted under the skin on your upper arm. While it can typically last up to three years, there’s the option to remove it before then.

“Implants have the same benefits of the shot and are very effective, but one unique benefit is that if you don’t like it, you can have it removed,” says Dr. Jhaveri. “You don’t have to worry about it staying in your system for an extended period of time.”

What doesn’t work

The internet is full of ideas and ways you can stop your period. But many of them are false. The following methods don’t work at stopping your period:

“There’s absolutely no science behind why these methods would work to stop your period,” stresses Dr. Jhaveri. “None of these ideas are going to provide enough hormone regulation to stop your period. You can potentially hurt yourself by trying random methods and they can cause irregular bleeding.”

Your best course of action? Consult your doctor on the best way to stop your period.

Also, if you have high blood pressure or experience migraines with aura, it’s not recommended that you take estrogen, which can be found in many forms of birth control.

For most people, using some form of birth control to help stop their period is an option.

“If you want to successfully stop your period, talk to your doctor,” advises Dr. Jhaveri. “Even during a virtual visit, doctors can offer a quick 15-minute consultation to find out your medical risk factors and the best way to stop your period with the amount of time that you’re looking at.”

How to Stop Your Period Once It Starts

Read the disclaimer at the bottom.

How to Stop Your Period Once It Starts? Women usually want to stop or delay their period for a special occasion in their life. It might they want to do that because they want to go on vacations, they want to go to a party without the pain and inconvenience, or for something entirely different. We can stop the period in many natural ways, or we can use some of the medical methods.

Shorten or stop your period – Naturally

By exercising

Believe it or not, you can stop the period through regular exercise.

Your thickness partly determines the length of the menstrual cycle and the quantity of liquid that comes out. Women who are slightly thicker and have a higher amount of fat in their body, often have severe and painful, more extended and heavier menstrual periods. For this reason, it is essential to recreate yourself regularly, even during menstruation.

If you have a lot of pain during menstruation, of course, it will not work out, but if you feel well enough to exercise, it will shorten and even stop the period and more importantly, increasing blood circulation in the body by exercising will help in reducing menstrual cramps.

By sexual intercourse

Making love will surely help you to feel better during a menstrual period. If a little of diluted blood does not bother you, it’s recommended to have sexual intercourse during a period. Stimulation will boost blood flow to the genitals, which means that you will have fewer problems with cramps.

Sex will also help you feel better, but sometimes it can shorten the period and also, to stop the period due to increased circulation.

Drinking enough of water

Proper hydration of the body is essential at any moment in life, but in this case, can help in reducing or stopping the period. Large amounts of water will also reduce bloating and cramping during menstruation.

In addition to proper hydration, you should avoid fizzy drinks and too much caffeine because they will be partly responsible for the increase of cramps during menstruation.

Medicinal herbs

Many medicinal plants can help in the control of the periods. Chaste or wild pepper is an excellent herb that can help with the shortening of the menstrual cycle.

It works in a way that controls the hormones that are responsible for ovulation and the period. In addition, Raspberry tea is famous for shortening the period.

Kitty plant is also perfect for controlling the hormone that affects the period, so it may be the right choice if you want to shorten or to stop the period.

Shorten or stop the period – through the medical methods

The contraceptive pills

Contraceptive pills are known to reduce the cramps during menstruation and to shorten the duration of the menstrual period successfully.

Also, the menstrual period will be less abundant if you drink the pill. Before taking the pill, it is very important to consult a doctor.

Cup for menstruation

Cap for period is a flexible cup that we put into the vagina during menstruation, and it serves to collect menstrual blood. It is usually made of silicon and can be used many times. In the market, there are cups that we can use only once.

The cap for period is much more comfortable than a conventional tampon and is usually much shallower pushed into the vagina. A cap for the period also has a much better absorption or more menstrual blood fit into it.

Studies have shown that wearing a menstrual cup during menstruation reduces heavy bleeding and shorten your period.

All of these methods that we mentioned in the article are functioning depending from person to person. On some will affect such a way that will significantly reduce menstrual bleeding; while others will stop the period altogether. It would certainly be best to solve this problem before the start of the period. Because this is the safest period for such a thing as a disposal of the menstrual cycle.

Disposal of the period is usually achieved with the help of hormonal pills that, when using them, they prevent the start of the cycle. Anything that requires the use of medical supplements you should not take on your own. Consulting a doctor is important.

It is important also to know that any interruption or postponement of the period indeed is not healthy for your body. So, if this is necessary, try not to repeat this more than two times a year.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.