How to Stop Your Period: 5 Safe Ways

“How can I stop my period?” is a question that frequently gets asked. Some people might want to stop their periods if they experience heavy and painful bleeding, while others might be looking to delay their period by a week or two to enjoy a holiday or mini break. Whatever the reason, you’ve got to be cautious when looking up methods online. Many of these ‘natural’ methods haven’t been proven to be effective, and they could do more harm than good.

But luckily, there are safe and effective ways to stop or delay your period. We’ve put together some of the best options below.

Norethisterone

One of the most popular ways to stop or delay a period is by taking a prescribed medication called Norethisterone. So, how does it work? Well, Norethisterone is a synthetic progestogen, and by taking it, progesterone levels stay elevated. Without the crucial drop in progesterone, a period can’t take place, so you’re able to skip the period completely.

Typically, you’ll have to take 3 tablets a day for 17 – 20 days, but this depends on the dosage. You’ll start taking these tablets 3 to 4 days before your period is due. If you have irregular periods, you should speak to your doctor to work out the best method and raise any concerns you might have. After you stop taking the medication, you can expect to start bleeding 2 to 4 days later.

Are there side effects?

Many doctors don’t recommend taking Norethisterone regularly, but if it’s used occasionally, then it should be fine! Having said that, side effects are common. Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Fluid retention
• Nausea
• Mood swings
• Headaches
• Breast tenderness
• Loss of libido

Norethisterone isn’t recommended for anyone with a history of blood clots.

Back-to-back combined pill

Another common and effective method to stop your period is by taking the combined contraceptive pill back-to-back. How you do this depends on the brand of pill. Everyday (ED) pills contain 21 active pills and 7 ‘dummy’ pills. Usually, you’d take the 21 pills and then take the inactive pills before starting a new pack. But to delay your period, you need to throw away the inactive pills and start a new pack. Monophasic pills like Cilest and Microgynon work is a similar way. You’d usually take 21 active pills followed by a 7-day break. But this time round, you simply skip the break and begin taking the new pack of pills. For any other brands, you’ll have to discuss the best options with your doctor so you can be sure you’re taking them correctly.

For many people who take the combined pill, this method is preferred. It’s simple and easy, and generally it’s safe. But don’t make the mistake of taking 2 packs without a break—this could make you ill! Speak to your doctor if you’d like to delay your period for longer and they can discuss options with you.

Are there side effects?

The good news it there aren’t too many reported side effects when taking the pill back-to-back, so you’ll likely not feel any different. If you’re planning on going on holiday, this means you can have a great time without the worry of your period ruining your plans.

The only downside is people who take the progestogen-only (mini-pill) can’t delay their period by taking back-to-back packets. So, this method isn’t suitable for everyone!

Mini Pill

We know we just said that you can’t delay a period by taking back-to-back packets—but hear us out! It’s estimated that 2 in 10 women who take the mini pill don’t have a period at all, so there’s a chance that if you take the mini pill like normal then you won’t need to worry about bleeding ever again. Naturally, it doesn’t work for everyone. Some women will still get regular periods and other women will have irregular periods, which is not ideal. The good thing about the mini pill is it has a lower dose of hormones, so if you usually can’t tolerate the combined pill, switching pills could reduce other side effects, too!

Mirena IUS

The Mirena IUS is a plastic T-shaped device that is inserted into the womb and releases progesterone to prevent pregnancy. It’s usually recommended for people with heavy or painful periods, making them shorter and lighter. This isn’t a quick-fix treatment if you’re looking to delay your period immediately, but it could be a long-term solution. Many people who get the Mirena Coil experience much lighter periods, with some periods lasting just 1 – 2 days! Others don’t get periods at all.

Are there side effects?

The downside is the coil can cause side effects, including breast tenderness, low mood, nausea fatigue, to name a few. Some people find the insertion of the coil painful and there is the small risk of infection. But for some people, the symptoms completely go away after a few days or weeks, and they can go about their day-to-day activities without worry!

Contraceptive implant

Looking for a long-term solution? Then you might want to consider the contraceptive implant (commonly Nexplanon) to take control of your periods. The implant, which is a small plastic rod, gets inserted under the skin in your arm where it stays for up to 3 years. Just like the coil, it releases progesterone, which can cause your periods to become lighter or stop completely. One thing to consider is that the implant can cause some spotting in the first few weeks or months, but it completely depends on the person. 

Be prepared for whatever comes your way!

Sometimes, periods show up unexpectedly. It’s always better to be prepared for leaks, spotting, or full-on bleeding. Wherever you go, having a pair of period undies on hand can make that worry of getting caught out by your period melt away!

We all know that fear of leaking through our underwear and on to our clothes. Sure, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but it can be uncomfortable to say the least! Our undies have built in multi-layer technology to wick away moisture quickly and prevent unnecessary stains. The best bit? They are so comfortable! And they stretch, of course.

Fan of the bikini style? We got you. Fan of shorts? We’ve also got you! Worried we don’t have your size? Worry not. We pride ourselves on being size-inclusive, with our sizes ranging from XXS to 4XL, because everyone should feel comfortable, especially on their period. Period.

“How can I stop my period?” is a question that frequently gets asked. Some people might want to stop their periods if they experience heavy and painful bleeding, while others might be looking to delay their period by a week or two to enjoy a holiday or mini break. Whatever the reason, you’ve got to be cautious when looking up methods online. Many of these ‘natural’ methods haven’t been proven to be effective, and they could do more harm than good.

But luckily, there are safe and effective ways to stop or delay your period. We’ve put together some of the best options below.

Norethisterone

One of the most popular ways to stop or delay a period is by taking a prescribed medication called Norethisterone. So, how does it work? Well, Norethisterone is a synthetic progestogen, and by taking it, progesterone levels stay elevated. Without the crucial drop in progesterone, a period can’t take place, so you’re able to skip the period completely.

Typically, you’ll have to take 3 tablets a day for 17 – 20 days, but this depends on the dosage. You’ll start taking these tablets 3 to 4 days before your period is due. If you have irregular periods, you should speak to your doctor to work out the best method and raise any concerns you might have. After you stop taking the medication, you can expect to start bleeding 2 to 4 days later.

Are there side effects?

Many doctors don’t recommend taking Norethisterone regularly, but if it’s used occasionally, then it should be fine! Having said that, side effects are common. Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Fluid retention
• Nausea
• Mood swings
• Headaches
• Breast tenderness
• Loss of libido

Norethisterone isn’t recommended for anyone with a history of blood clots.

Back-to-back combined pill

Another common and effective method to stop your period is by taking the combined contraceptive pill back-to-back. How you do this depends on the brand of pill. Everyday (ED) pills contain 21 active pills and 7 ‘dummy’ pills. Usually, you’d take the 21 pills and then take the inactive pills before starting a new pack. But to delay your period, you need to throw away the inactive pills and start a new pack. Monophasic pills like Cilest and Microgynon work is a similar way. You’d usually take 21 active pills followed by a 7-day break. But this time round, you simply skip the break and begin taking the new pack of pills. For any other brands, you’ll have to discuss the best options with your doctor so you can be sure you’re taking them correctly.

For many people who take the combined pill, this method is preferred. It’s simple and easy, and generally it’s safe. But don’t make the mistake of taking 2 packs without a break—this could make you ill! Speak to your doctor if you’d like to delay your period for longer and they can discuss options with you.

Are there side effects?

The good news it there aren’t too many reported side effects when taking the pill back-to-back, so you’ll likely not feel any different. If you’re planning on going on holiday, this means you can have a great time without the worry of your period ruining your plans.

The only downside is people who take the progestogen-only (mini-pill) can’t delay their period by taking back-to-back packets. So, this method isn’t suitable for everyone!

Mini Pill

We know we just said that you can’t delay a period by taking back-to-back packets—but hear us out! It’s estimated that 2 in 10 women who take the mini pill don’t have a period at all, so there’s a chance that if you take the mini pill like normal then you won’t need to worry about bleeding ever again. Naturally, it doesn’t work for everyone. Some women will still get regular periods and other women will have irregular periods, which is not ideal. The good thing about the mini pill is it has a lower dose of hormones, so if you usually can’t tolerate the combined pill, switching pills could reduce other side effects, too!

Mirena IUS

The Mirena IUS is a plastic T-shaped device that is inserted into the womb and releases progesterone to prevent pregnancy. It’s usually recommended for people with heavy or painful periods, making them shorter and lighter. This isn’t a quick-fix treatment if you’re looking to delay your period immediately, but it could be a long-term solution. Many people who get the Mirena Coil experience much lighter periods, with some periods lasting just 1 – 2 days! Others don’t get periods at all.

Are there side effects?

The downside is the coil can cause side effects, including breast tenderness, low mood, nausea fatigue, to name a few. Some people find the insertion of the coil painful and there is the small risk of infection. But for some people, the symptoms completely go away after a few days or weeks, and they can go about their day-to-day activities without worry!

Contraceptive implant

Looking for a long-term solution? Then you might want to consider the contraceptive implant (commonly Nexplanon) to take control of your periods. The implant, which is a small plastic rod, gets inserted under the skin in your arm where it stays for up to 3 years. Just like the coil, it releases progesterone, which can cause your periods to become lighter or stop completely. One thing to consider is that the implant can cause some spotting in the first few weeks or months, but it completely depends on the person.

Be prepared for whatever comes your way!

Sometimes, periods show up unexpectedly. It’s always better to be prepared for leaks, spotting, or full-on bleeding. Wherever you go, having a pair of period undies on hand can make that worry of getting caught out by your period melt away!

We all know that fear of leaking through our underwear and on to our clothes. Sure, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but it can be uncomfortable to say the least! Our undies have built in multi-layer technology to wick away moisture quickly and prevent unnecessary stains. The best bit? They are so comfortable! And they stretch, of course.

Fan of the bikini style? We got you. Fan of shorts? We’ve also got you! Worried we don’t have your size? Worry not. We pride ourselves on being size-inclusive, with our sizes ranging from XXS to 4XL, because everyone should feel comfortable, especially on their period. Period.