How To Stop Menstruation: Ways To Bring Your Period To An Abrupt Halt

Most if not all women all over the world have at some point or another wished they could skip or stop their period. Some would like to stop it permanently, and so begins the countdown to the onset of menopause. There are numerous reasons why women want to stop their period. For some it is because it interferes with their sexual relationship, or because they have a special trip away or a sports event where having your period is a hindrance. Others simply want a break from the symptoms they have when they have their period, especially if they suffer from terrible pain or very heavy bleeding.

There have been many old wives tales tossed about for decades on how to stop your period. Unfortunately, most of these are completely ineffective, and in some cases can even be harmful to your health. Even in medicine there are not a lot of ways to stop your period, and there are generally only effective for stopping it temporarily.

Contraception To Stop Your Periods

The safest and most effective way to temporarily stop your period is by using contraceptives. There are different methods of delivering contraception, including oral tablets, injections, patches and implants. The easiest is the oral tablet form, which contains hormones to inhibit ovulation and fertilization.

Planning in advance of when you want your period to be stopped is necessary so that you don’t break the cycle of the tablets.

Some forms of contraception can actually cause your period to stop, or at least lighten significantly to the point where it is barely noticeable. However, as your doctor will inform you, long term taking of these contraceptives can have medical implications, with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, headaches, and an imbalance of certain hormones.

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Using The Softcup

The Softcup is a flexible device that is designed to sit in front of the cervix and collect the blood. Although this doesn't stop the period, it does prevent it from flowing out of the vagina, therefore you can still have sex, go swimming, or undertake any other activity that can be hindered by a period. It doesn't however prevent pregnancy, so it is not to be used as a contraceptive device. It can be worn for up to 12 hours maximum, and it can be reused. The main advantage is that it doesn't have any side effects that can impact your health, because there is no hormone or medication involved.

Surgical And Natural Options To Stop Your Periods

Surgical Options To Halt Menstruation

If you suffer from very heavy menstrual bleeding and pain, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure. The extreme option is to have a complete hysterectomy, but because this involves the removal of the uterus, it is only suitable for those who no longer wish to have children.

If there are fibroids in the uterus causing heavy bleeding, a procedure that involves the emobilization of the uterine artery may be indicated. This procedure causes shrinkage of the fibroid and blocks the arteries. Ablation of the endometrium is another option, and this involves the destruction of the inner lining of the uterus. 

Going Natural

For many women the thought of having to take hormones, medicines or undergoing surgical procedures is intolerable. There are also medical reasons why hormonal or medicinal treatments may not be viable. But all is not lost – there are some natural remedies to slow or lighten your period, and in some cases stop it temporarily.

To lighten your periods it is important to drink lots of water or juice, as this can significantly reduce the menstrual flow. Having a healthy diet can also help ease your period, especially if it includes plenty of vegetables and fruits. Interestingly, green beans are well known as a food that that helps to slow down the menstruation cycle.

Good old apple cider vinegar has been touted as almost a ‘cure-all’ for many health problems, and unsurprisingly, it is also said to slow down the flow of your period and also relieve some of the associated symptoms. It is recommended that you take 2 teaspoons of the vinegar in a glass of water three times a day to fully effective. It won’t stop your period, but it may lighten it.

Some women find that having a nice, warm bath can also help to lighten their period or in some cases, stop it temporarily. The added advantage of a warm bath is that it can also help to relieve the aches and pains many women suffer during their period. Especially if you suffer from a lot of back pain, or abdominal cramping. The relaxation of lying in a bath is great for headaches, and stress, and stress is known to impact the severity of the period.

A couple of the strangest yet perhaps successful methods involve lemons and gelatin. If you only want to stop your period for a few hours, some women have found that by mixing a packet of gelatin with water and then drinking it straight away can cause their period to stop for up to three hours. Others have found that sucking on a piece of raw lemon can temporarily stop your period.

Conclusion

Each method of stopping your period may have varying results depending on the individual. What may work for some, may not work for others, so the most important thing to do is discuss it with your doctor to see which is the best option for you. This is especially important if you have any pre-existing health issues. It is a good idea to discuss herbal supplements with your doctor, as these may have side effects that could be dangerous for you.

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Until such time as you go through menopause, or have a medical condition that stops menstruation, it is unfortunately something that most women will have to deal with for quite a long stretch of time. For most it is 5 days out of the month of unpleasantness, and if you are able, it is a better option to plan your events around those days. But if this is not possible, or you really do suffer terribly during your period, there are options available to stop your period, even if it is just temporarily.