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Menstrual cycle (or periods) is a vital biological process that occurs monthly in the body of every woman. It is directly linked to the process of ovulation and hence, ensures the well-being as well as the reproductive health of a woman. Even though it is a natural phenomenon, women want to manipulate it for a variety of reasons. Many women find it interfering with their important pre-scheduled tasks or plans while millions of families in our country still consider it as highly ‘inauspicious’ and restrict the person from entering the kitchen, temples, etc. for those 5 long days. Whatever the reason is, it is useful to know how you could prepone or postpone your periods with medications available in India. Let’s discuss it today.
Medicine(s) To Prepone Or Postpone Periods
However, when it comes to rearranging the dates of menstrual cycles, most of the women doubt the efficacy of natural remedies and incline towards synthetic drugs. As all of these are hormonal medicines, they are sold only against doctors’ prescriptions instead of over-the-counter (OTC). The morning after pills are often recommended by gynecologists for this purpose to cause a decline in the level of progesterone in our body, which eventually delay the periods from 2 to 7 days. If you are already taking a birth control pill regularly, all you need to do is continue it for 3 consecutive weeks and skip the iron fillers in the fourth week. Rather, start the cycle back, i.e. keep taking the pills without taking a week off. It will postpone your period until you stop taking the pills and wish to have it.
Here is a list of prescription medicines available in India to prepone or postpone periods:
1. Primolut-N (5 mg.)
Primolut-N is the most widely recommended/prescribed drug in India that is used for preponing or postponing periods. It has the active ingredient ‘norethisterone’, which is a “steroidal progestin with additional weak androgenic and estrogenic activity”. Primolut-N is mostly used for treating “dysfunctional uterine bleeding, relief of primary and secondary amenorrhoea, the timing of menstruation, and endometriosis.” To reschedule the menstrual cycle, one needs to take one tablet thrice every day (swallow with any liquid) at specific times.
Also Read – 9 Proven Home Remedies To Delay Your Period Naturally!
While using for forwarding the timing of menstruation, the tablet needs to be taken at least 10 days prior to the expected date of starting. Once you stop taking it, you will get your period within 3 days. On the other hand, to postpone the timing of menstruation, one needs to start taking the medicine at least 3 days prior to the expected date of starting. Just like the previous case, you will get your period within 2 to 3 days once you stop taking the medicine. However, Primolut-N should not be taken more than 10 to 14 days in one go. Hence, calculate the date of starting the course of medicine with enough time beforehand.
However, special precautions should be taken while using Primolut-N in conditions like diabetes mellitus, chloasma, psychic depression, pregnancy, lactation, active thromboembolic processes, hepatic disease, liver tumors, sex hormone-dependent malignancies, hypersensitivity to norethisterone, unexplained vaginal bleeding, angina, pemphigoid gestationis, porphyria, pruritus, etc. The medicine is also known to cause undesired side effects like bloating, stomach problems, changes in libido, irregular bleeding, scanty bleeding, amenorrhoea, visual disturbances, nausea, headache, oedema, dyspnoea, hypersensitivity, migrainous headaches, thrombophlebitis, tightness in chest, etc.
Tip – Having sex can increase the chances of preponing your periods naturally. However make sure to take pre cautions so that it doesn’t lead to pregnancy.
2. Ibuprofen (800 mg)
The non-steroidal medicine Ibuprofen is known to help in forwarding or delaying menstrual cycles effectively. It should be taken 5 times daily starting from a couple of weeks prior to the expected date. Ibuprofen should be accompanied with a double dose of vitamin B6.
3. Ovral-G
Ovral-G is a combination of estrogen and progesterone, which claims to be a more comforting solution than Primolut-N. It needs to be continued until one wishes to have her period again. The best thing about this drug is that it doesn’t make the delayed menstruation painful.
Tip – Avoid spicy and junk foods to delay your periods.
Prepone Or Postpone Periods Naturally
Being a monthly natural occurrence, menstruation should never be messed up with. However, there come times when we can’t help but wish to reschedule it to an earlier or a later time in order to make our life a bit easier. In such dilemmas, sticking to the natural remedies is always better as they do not pose the risk of adverse effects. According to experts, consuming foods that warm up the body by inducing heat can prepone menstruation while foods that are able to cool down the body can postpone it. This process is absolutely safe and can be followed without a doctor’s guidance.
Read Also – Simple Ways to Prepone or Postpone Your Periods
Things To Keeps In Mind
Getting regular periods is extremely important for the normal functioning of a woman’s body. Tampering with it, especially by using synthetic drugs, might turn out to be fatal in the long run. Hence, it should strictly be done under the supervision of a gynecologist. Also, make sure that you do not ever try to manipulate your menstrual cycle if you are under the age of 16 years.
Are period delaying pills the same as birth control pills?
Birth control pills normally delay periods although these are not period delaying pills. Birth control pills stop ovulation process thus preventing pregnancy. On the other hand, period delaying pills, prevent the discharge of the uterine lining and ovum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do period delaying pills cause side effects?
Prolonged use of these pills can cause side effects like dizziness, rashes, fluid retention, headache, mood swing however there is no side effect associated with single or short term usage. It is recommended to use these pills under medical supervision.
What happens when I stop taking these pills?
Periods will normally start in 3-4 days post you stop taking these medicines.
Can Exercising Postpone Your Period?
Hard core exercises may lead to delayed periods. In extreme cases, it may stop period cycles completely. If body fat goes below certain level, our body tries to save energy considering you are starving. Women with low fat often suffer from delayed periods.
How can drinking alcohol impact my cycle?
Although there is no direct relation between consumption of alcohol and your cycle, it may still impact your periods indirectly. Long term consumption of alcohol may lead to increased stress level and unusual dietary habits which may influence your periods.
Also Read – Vaginal Yeast Infection: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and Home Remedies
