When it comes to period talk, I am passionate about advocating for ‘period positive discussion’ as I feel it is important to raise awareness and de-stigmatize the taboo around our vaginas. After all, being on your period is something that many of us females share, and we should never feel embarrassed to buy sanitary products in public, nor should we feel like we cannot discuss our periods at arms length. Because despite what society might tell us, there is nothing shameful about being on our periods, nor is there any harm in wanting to speak openly about periods, in the hopes that we can encourage others to speak out. Which is why when I heard about women using medication to delay their periods, I had to do more research to find out how and why women were taking these choices to delay their periods, and whether they could still remain period positive in the process. Through my research I found that a predominant reason as to why women might want to delay their periods was because many women would use medication to delay their period so that it wouldn’t clash with their wedding. After all, every bride wants to enjoy their special day without having to worry about dashing to the bathroom- and where would you stash your sanitary products while you walk down the aisle? Weddings take meticulous planning and can be really stressful; so I understand why you might want to delay your period, so that you can enjoy your wedding day period free.
But how can using medications to delay your period make you period positive I hear you ask?Well as women we have the choice to choose how we want to cherish our bodies, and while some might be ok with being on their period at special events, just because someone has decided to delay their period to arrive at a later date, does not make them any less period positive than someone who embraces periods with open arms. And it’s not just weddings that women are choosing to delay their periods for, but also holidays where they might want to wear bikini’s, and don’t want to pack sanitary protection. After all, you don’t have to fret about whether your swimwear is discreet in case of an unexpected surprise period visit. Plus, when you’re out all-day sightseeing or at the beach, you don’t have to worry about getting to a decent bathroom to change.Other women’s reasons for delaying their periods include important events such as job interviews or exams. There are many different reasons for wanting to delay your period, but put simply, you can delay whenever you don’t want to have to be excused or worry about your period showing up during a social occasion that you spent months planning for.
One might argue that you can plan around your period which is true to an extent; yes you can plan around it- ensure you’ve got your necessary sanitary products, a change of underwear, and stay near a bathroom during the big event. But for those of us who have heavy, irregular periods like myself, and might consequently find it difficult to track our periods, we are not able to plan so effectively around our periods because we never know when our fabulous lady friend is going to show up. After all, some months I will bleed for the majority of the month and then other months not bleed at all, so it can be difficult to plan social occasions around my period. Fortunately, there are ways to delay your period through the use of certain medications to postpone the arrival of your period; a perfect solution when you’ve got something big coming up and it’s going to clash.
Enter Northisterone, a medication used and recommended by doctors for women who are seeking to delay their period safely and effectively. The medication works by mimicking the naturally occurring female hormone that thickens the lining of the uterus because as long as this hormone is present, the body will prevent the lining from shedding, thereby stopping the period from arriving on time.Northisterone, a medication used to delay a period that will coincide with an important social function is safe to use prior to urban myth but it is important to remember that it is not a contraceptive and should not be used as such. Dr Walters explains, “When you have a period, the hormone drops and the womb lining sheds. This is your period. By sustaining a high level of the hormone you prevent the period from occurring. Your period will be prevented for as long as you keep taking the full dose.
However, doctors will only prescribe a course to postpone your period by up to 17 days. The key point? It’s NOT a contraceptive. It works in a similar way to the pill, but that’s not what it’s licensed for and needs to be accompanied with another form of contraception. It is also important to note that Northisterone or other medications that can delay your period are not suitable for everyone. You should see your GP or pharmacist before taking it as they will go through some questions to see if you can safely take the medication. The vast majority of people take it without problems and can successfully prevent their period, allowing them to be period free for big events, but Northisterone should not be taken if you’re on the combined contraceptive (i.e. you take the pill for 21 days then have a 7-day break). However, you’re perfectly safe to take Northisterone if you’re on the mini pill (i.e. you take the pill every day without a break). Another method that some women might use when they are on the contraceptive pill, is taking the pill back to back to delay the period. If you use a pill that has a 7-day break, you simply don’t have a break, and start your next pack straight away. If you’re on a pill that has 7 dummy pills, you skip the dummy pills instead, and start the new pack. If you’re not using a contraceptive pill like myself (I have an implant), you may worry that period delay is something that isn’t available for you. However, there is a period delay medication available that you can simply take for the duration of the time that you want to delay your period. This medication can delay the period for up to 17 days, so even if it’s a fortnight in the sun, or your wedding and honeymoon, you should be covered.
Like any form of medication there are of course common side effects that are associated with taking period delay medications such as spotting / breakthrough bleeding, bloating and nausea, so please be mindful of these symptoms when you are discussing the choice to delay your period with your doctor. However the majority of women who opt to delay their period often have no side effects, and can enjoy their special day period free.
Did You Know That You Can Use Medication To Delay Your Period?
Disclaimer
*Please note this is a collaborative post but all thoughts are my own.
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