How do I shift the period? The gynecologist reveals two effective methods

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A wedding, vacation, an important event – this is when women usually try to postpone their menstruation. – There are women who lead a very active lifestyle, so the bleeding days are very disturbing for them. As doctors, we can cause the period of menstruation to be postponed – says Małgorzata Olesiak-Andryszczak, MD, PhD, gynecologist. The expert explains how to change the date of menstruation and whether it is safe for your health.

1. – Menstruation as such is not essential for ladies. Properly selected hormone therapy can stop the bleeding completely. Of course, without any harm to health, the doctor explains
2. – Polish women are attached to regular bleeding and often prefer to have them. They are bothered by the thought that the bleeding might stop, they feel less feminine. That is why there are few such patients in our country – she emphasizes
3. Although there is an “advice” that vitamin C in a high dose helps to shift the period, there is no scientific evidence that it is an effective method.
4. – We will not change the date of menstruation with any home methods – warns Dr. Olesiak-Andryszczak

Edyta Brzozowska, Medonet: Does it happen that your office is visited by patients who ask you to help them postpone their period?

Małgorzata Olesiak-Andryszczak, MD, PhD, gynecologist: I have many such patients. They usually come before the planned vacation. They explain that during the holidays, menstruation is a big obstacle for them. It also happens that menstruation falls on the planned date of a wedding, wedding or an important life circumstance, so they think that the period would be disturbing for them. Still others ask me for medical intervention in this matter when they go skiing or plan other physical activities. Unfortunately, sometimes they report too late and in such a situation, despite my sincere intentions, I am not able to postpone my period overnight. Therefore, this procedure should be planned in advance, we have appropriate pharmacological methods for this.

Is menstrual arrest or shifting menstruation always associated with hormone therapy?

Yes, but we use two methods. The first is the constant intake of hormonal contraceptive pills. Patients are used to taking the tablets for three weeks, followed by a one-week break. During these seven days, the so-called withdrawal bleeding, which women refer to as menstruation, although it is not de facto. When these breaks are not present, bleeding is blocked or appears as slight spotting.

The second method is most often used by women whose periods are extremely heavy and therefore uncomfortable. IUDs that secrete hormones work well for them.

How far in advance do I need to plan a period shift?

The method is safe and effective when we plan it in the cycle preceding the time when we want to get rid of this menstruation. For the method to work, we need to start taking hormones on the first day of the cycle, which is the first day of menstruation.

I will also explain straight away that menstruation as such is not essential for your health. There are women who lead a very active lifestyle or practice various sports, and the bleeding days are very disturbing for them. As doctors, we can make menstruation stop altogether. Of course, without any harm to health.

Stopping your period completely isn’t it going against nature?

Difficult question. Of course, stopping it disturbs the natural ovulatory cycle, but on the other hand, this cycle is not necessary for good health. However, I do admit that women are addicted to regular bleeding and often prefer to have it. They are bothered by the thought that the bleeding could stop, making them feel less feminine. In addition, they are afraid that they might not be aware of this situation if they were to become pregnant unplanned. Therefore, there are few such patients in Poland.

Do you get pregnant while using hormonal contraception?

Of course. You have to remember that no method of contraception can be XNUMX% guaranteed. Even regular, very scrupulous and recommended hormone intake is not certain. The chance of fertilization, although small, still exists.

What are the most common medical contraindications for the menstrual shift procedure?

Hormone therapy is excluded primarily in the event of thrombotic events, i.e. venous thrombosis. In addition, hypertension, cancer, being overweight and smoking, especially after the age of 35. In the case of the IUD, recurrent infections of the genital tract are also contraindications. The inserts could worsen the symptoms and cause various complications.

What are the side effects of using hormonal contraception?

The patients most often complain of headaches. It happens that they also feel that they are getting fat. And although in reality they are not gaining more kilos, in fact there are swellings that give the impression of increased body weight. There is also vaginal dryness, which is often troublesome during intercourse. In this case, effective gels and moisturizing creams that eliminate the problem are helpful.

And when patients return to regular periods, is their menstruation different, more distressing or painful?

In my experience, it is no different from the previous ones.

Why should hormones be used only under medical supervision?

Because the specialist will rule out possible contraindications, conduct an examination and medical history, and finally decide on the selection of appropriate drugs. There are no home remedies to change your period.

Sometimes you can find such “tips”. For example, that vitamin C in a high dose helps to get the desired effect.

There is no scientific evidence that this method is effective. Let me repeat: we will not change the date of menstruation with home remedies. However, there are non-hormonal medications available to reduce the intensity of menstrual bleeding. Some of them can be purchased over the counter, but most are prescription drugs. However, their use always requires medical consultation.