Should I delay my period to travel?

I have plans to travel soon but unfortunately it falls on my period. Is there a safe way to postpone it, doctor? (Thao Ngan, Ho Chi Minh City)

Reply:

Menstruation is a normal phenomenon in the development of women. Normally, the menstrual cycle lasts from 21-35 days, of which 3-5 days are menstruation. During each cycle, the average amount of blood lost is about 50-80 ml. Hormone levels in the body change, so before menstruation, women may feel stressed, anxious, and have abdominal pain.

Many women complain that these days coincide with the time of going out, traveling, having to endure pain, discomfort, and not fully participating in fun activities. Some people want to delay their "red light" days during this time.

One way to delay menstruation is to use birth control pills. Women should use birth control pills containing the hormones estrogen and progesterone before menstruation. The reason is that at the end of the menstrual cycle, the levels of these two hormones suddenly decrease, causing contractions, shedding of the uterine lining, rupture of blood vessels and blood flowing out to form menstruation. Therefore, timely supplementation of estrogen and progesterone hormones will be a way to delay menstruation.

This is a solution that is considered safe. However, when using birth control pills to delay the menstrual cycle, you need to pay attention to some issues such as:

The drug can cause some unwanted side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache, chest pain, muscle pain, weight gain... Short-term use of birth control pills can cause the endometrium to thicken, the body to become heavy and retain water, especially in the lower abdomen. Only when stopping the drug, this uncomfortable condition will end. In addition, sudden hormonal changes can cause blood vessels to rupture, the endometrium to peel off quickly, so the next period may last longer, the amount of blood will be heavier, causing harm to health.

Menstruation should only be delayed for mature women. Girls in puberty should not do this. During puberty, hormones are not yet stable, which can cause menstrual disorders in subsequent cycles.

Regardless of the reason for your menstrual period stopping, you should have a gynecological examination, especially consult your doctor before using any medication, do not abuse or buy medication on your own. This can lead to many serious health problems such as: amenorrhea, decreased libido, decreased vision...

Women should take the pill daily, 7 days before the expected period, at a certain time. The dosage is one pill per day until the delay is no longer desired. Usually, stop taking the pill for about 2-3 days and menstruation will reappear. After stopping the pill for 15 days without menstruation, you need to see a specialist for examination and treatment.

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

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