Summer is many people’s favourite time of year for all sorts of reasons, ranging from the sunshine and long daylight hours to the chance to play summer sports like tennis. But for some, this is an extra special occasion.
The summer is wedding season and while not everyone who gets married will choose to do it at this time of year, there are obvious reasons for doing so. These include the greater likelihood of a nice sunny day for the pictures and good weather on honeymoon, unless of course, you are jetting off to somewhere that’s sunny all year round.
However, there is one aspect of the timing of your wedding that could cause a problem whenever in the year you have it – your period.
According to Brides.com, there is much to be said for planning your wedding around your period, since if it happens soon before your wedding then you will be clear of it and in a happier place as you marry and head off on honeymoon.
However, you may find that because of errors in timing, a period coming later or earlier and throwing your calculations out of sync, or constraints on the availability of your wedding venue, you will be due to be on your period when the big day arrives.
Some may consider this manageable, such as if your periods are usually light. But having a tampon in under a big dress, plus the risk of any blood getting on a pristine white garment on the day when it will be photographed loads of times, may make the prospect anything but appealing.
Beyond that, there is the issue of sex. Not every woman wants or likes to have sex during their period, so your wedding night and honeymoon may not be as much fun as you hoped. Nor do you want to deal with blood and tampons while dashing to the airport.
For all these reasons, you might want to consider taking a period delay pill, which means you can enjoy the day and the start of married life before menstruation starts.
The pill works through the use of norethisterone, an artificial hormone that acts in the same way as progesterone in delaying menstruation.
During your cycle, it is the drop-off in progesterone after ovulation – if fertilisation does not occur – that leads to the womb lining falling away and the period starting. This means that by maintaining high levels of a hormone that needs to be low for menstruation to happen, you can delay it.
However, not everyone can take this pill. In particular, it is not designed for those taking the combined oral birth control pill. If you are using other forms of contraception, or not using any as you hope to get pregnant soon, you can take it.
There may be other occasions when you might need this pill too. After all, you might be a bridesmaid instead and find that you, too, will handle the day a lot better without period cramps, the risk of leakage and all the other issues that come at that time of the mon