How Can You Delay Your Period?

1.08.2010 | By: J. P.

Are you on vacation but you have your period? How can you delay your period? Let’s see what the doctors have to say.

You can delay your period to a later date, but you always have to talk to your gynecologist or GP first. (Photoxpress)

Change in the weather can affect your cycle

It is summer time and you can only think of your summer vacation. The one thing you don’t want to worry about is your period. Although most women have their periods every 28 days, on average, the length of the menstrual cycle depends on a woman’s physical and psychological state and is influenced by a number of external factors. So, a change in your menstrual cycle is often triggered by going on a vacation to a place with a different climate. It usually happens that your cycle is shortened and your period is early, but being in a new environment can also delay your period. If you are a few days late, you don’t have to worry about it, but if it goes on for a week or more, it is advisable to see your GP or gynecologist. Absence of your period could be a sign of pregnancy, illness, hormonal imbalance and so on.

No swimming! Well, maybe just a little…

Doctors don’t recommend swimming if you have your period, because your cervix is slightly open. This allows menstrual bleeding to pass through, but the opening also allows microorganisms to enter your vagina. These microorganisms are normally found in the cervix and are harmless as long as they stay there, but if they come in contact with your cervical mucus, they cause a very unpleasant infection, especially if your reproductive organs are infected. In fact, the most common infection in women is the infection of cervical mucus. The infection can also be caused by swimming in a pool, a river or in the sea. If you just can’t do without swimming, do it on the fourth day of your period. It is also not advisable to swim with a tampon. Although they block water from coming into the womb, tampons contain a lot of microorganisms, and are a great source of infection. The growth of vaginal bacteria rapidly increases when you use them, so your vagina becomes a perfect environment for infection. You are less likely to get an infection if you regularly change tampons, especially when you come out of water.

Sit in the sun and practice good hygiene

Many women follow doctors’ advice and don’t go swimming during their period, but they still make one mistake. They want to work on their tan, so they expose their abdomen to the sun. The heat makes their blood vessels wider, which causes a heavier bleeding and discharge. Since tanning is almost obligatory when you are on your summer vacation, do it in a sitting position early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid strong sun. Most women know they have to practice good hygiene if they have their period in the summer heat. The best thing is to take a shower. If it is really hot outside, make sure that the temperature of the water is at least 30° C.

Can I delay my period?

You can delay your period to a later date, but you always have to talk to your gynecologist or GP first. Women who take oral contraceptives simply start the next pack without any break and take the pills for as long as they want to delay their period. The pills have the same effect. When you stop taking them, your period starts within a few days. It is not advisable to shorten your menstrual cycle by skipping the pill. You can also delay your period if you don’t use oral contraceptives. A week before the start of your period start taking the pills prescribed by your gynecologist or GP, for as long as you want to delay your period. Your period starts again in two to seven days after the last pill. But watch out as this isn’t a birth control method. It just allows you to delay your period for a few days. The method shouldn’t be used on a regular basis because it can destroy your hormonal balance or pose a threat to the fetus. You should also never take someone else’s pills, but only the pills your gynecologist or GP prescribes you.