Women have to deal with their monthly period for decades, starting from their pre-teens all the way till their 40s or 50s. However, they do not need to be restricted by it their whole lives, as there is always the option to get period delay treatment from their local pharmacy for times they need it.
What is period delay treatment?
Period delay treatment comes in the form of tablets that work by preventing ovulation from occuring by maintaining high progesterone levels in the body. This means the uterus lining remains and does not break down like it would during a period.
The tablets need to be started a few days before your period is due and have to be carried on until you are ready for your period to come. Your bleed is likely to arrive around three days after stopping the pills.
Therefore, it cannot stop your period altogether but it can postpone it until it is a more convenient time for it to come.
Why would you want to delay your period?
There are many reasons why women, who might have had their periods since they were 12 years old, might want to have more control over when they turn up.
Some people even start puberty much earlier and have been restricted in their 28-day cycle for many years.
During this time, they might have had to skip swimming lessons, avoid wearing certain colours in case they have a leak, face acne breakouts at the worst possible time, suffer from fatigue, endure problems with their sex drive, and feel incredibly bloated without any warning.
Periods can also leave women feeling irritable, suffering from constipation or diarrhoea, with joint pain, struggling to sleep, and putting up with breast tenderness.
Many females also get extreme abdominal cramps during their period, resulting in them not feeling well enough to get out of bed in some cases.
Therefore, there are some occasions or events they might want to avoid these symptoms, including:
- Their wedding day
- Their honeymoon
- A major exercise competition
- A big race
- A special event you want to look and feel your best at
- Swimming
- A big exam or interview
- An important date
What are the other reasons doctors prescribe period delay treatment for?
GPs can also prescribe period delay treatment if they think it will help relieve some difficult menstrual symptoms. These include having heavy or painful periods, getting irregular periods, bleeding more frequently than every 28 days, or suffering badly from premenstrual tension.
They can also give it to women who have endometriosis, which is when the uterus tissue grows outside of the womb causing lots of pelvic pain. It can also result in painful sex, urination, or defecation.
Periods are also usually very heavy, while patients typically become fatigued and bloated, and may also feel depressed or anxious.
Taking period delay treatment can help in these circumstances by regulating hormones better.