Should you postpone your period to travel?

I'm planning a trip soon, but unfortunately, it coincides with my period. Is there any safe way to postpone it, doctor? (Thao Ngan, Ho Chi Minh City)

Reply:

Menstruation is a normal phenomenon in the development of women. Typically, the menstrual cycle lasts from 21-35 days, with 3-5 days of bleeding. During each cycle, the average amount of blood lost is about 50-80 ml. Hormone levels in the body fluctuate, so before menstruation, women may experience stress, anxiety, and abdominal pain.

Many women complain that these days coincide with trips and vacations, causing them to endure pain and discomfort, preventing them from fully participating in fun activities. Some even wish to postpone their period during this time.

One way to delay menstruation is to use birth control pills. Women should take birth control pills containing estrogen and progesterone hormones before their period. The reason is that at the end of the menstrual cycle, the levels of these two hormones drop suddenly, causing contractions, shedding of the uterine lining, rupture of blood vessels, and bleeding, resulting in menstruation. Therefore, supplementing estrogen and progesterone hormones in a timely manner will be a way to delay menstruation.

This is considered a safe method. However, when using birth control pills to delay menstruation, some issues should be noted, such as:

The medication can cause some unwanted side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache, chest pain, muscle aches, weight gain, etc. Short-term use of birth control pills can cause the uterine lining to thicken, leading to bloating and water retention, especially in the lower abdomen. This discomfort only subsides when the medication is stopped. Additionally, sudden hormonal changes can cause blood vessels to rupture and the lining to shed rapidly, resulting in a longer and heavier menstrual period in the future, potentially harming your health.

Delaying menstruation should only be considered for adult women. It is not recommended for teenage girls. Hormones are not yet stable during puberty, which can cause menstrual irregularities in subsequent cycles.

Regardless of the reason for temporarily stopping menstruation, you should have a gynecological examination, especially consulting a doctor before using any medication. Do not misuse or self-medicate. This can lead to many serious health problems such as amenorrhea, decreased libido, and impaired vision.

Women should take the medication daily, starting 7 days before their expected period, at a specific time. The dosage is one tablet per day until further delay is no longer desired. Typically, menstruation will resume 2-3 days after stopping the medication. If menstruation does not return within 15 days of stopping the medication, a specialist should be consulted for examination and treatment.

MSc. Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Thao
Doctor at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City