Sometimes, your period and your life schedule just don’t sync up. Maybe you want to get your period before you go on vacation to make sure it’s worry-free, or before a stressful week filled with deadlines. Maybe you're looking for your period to come for the very first time.
Here's what you need to know about inducing your period.
So, can you make your period come? The great news is, you can actually induce your period. The bad news: if you’ve never gotten your period, you can't make your period come sooner.
You can read more advice about your first period here. Even better, download our free period guide and invest in a couple of pairs of period panties so that you're completely prepared for what's ahead on your puberty journey.
For those of you who have gotten your period, we’ll go over some ways that could help induce your period and make it come faster here.
Please remember: these methods for inducing a period won’t work for everybody, but they’re the best options you have to make your period come sooner. Plus, in the first few years of having your period, you period may be irregular.
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Foods that induce periods
Pineapple
Pineapple is one of the most cited 'period-inducing’ foods. The fruit contains an enzyme called bromelain, which can soften your uterine lining. Your period starts when your uterus begins to shed its lining, and pineapple can help speed this process up and get your period to come sooner. It’s important to note that pineapple is also known to increase red and white blood cells, which boosts blood flow and can make your period heavier, so perhaps it might be better to skip the pineapple once your period actually starts.
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Herbs
For the witches and granola folks out there, there are herbs that help make your period come faster. A family of herbs called emmenagogues have been known to stimulate blood flow in your pelvis and uterus. Specifically, these herbs help soften your cervix, which can induce your period. Some emmenagogues include parsley, ginger, rosemary and sage. We recommend having these herbs in tea form or mixed in with meals– eating them on their own may not be the most delicious dinner.
Image via Instagram (@littledrill)
Vitamin C
Progesterone is the hormone that makes sure your uterus continues to thicken. Without progesterone, the lining in your uterus will thin and begin to shed. Vitamin C is known to reduce the level of progesterone in your body, meaning it can help encourage uterine shedding! If you’re into this method, it may be time to pour a nice big glass of orange juice and hope your period gets here early. Fun fact: oranges are also known as a ‘heat-inducing’ fruit – they can actually increase the temperature of your body, which can help make your period come faster.
Further reading: How to know when your period is coming
Image via Instagram (@littledrill)
We’ve only highlighted a few key foods here, but other foods that are often cited as period-inducing delights include papayas, honey, cinnamon, turmeric, coffee, dates, bananas and chocolate. Dig in if you want to make your period come a bit sooner!
Stress reduction and exercises to get your period early
High levels of stress can prevent your period from arriving on time, so it’s important to try and keep yourself stress-free if you’re trying to induce an early period. Everyone has their own ways of de-stressing, but if you’re stuck on how to chill your brain out, try some movement or exercise, a proven method to lower stress levels in the body.
Exercise releases endorphins in your brain that can relieve stress and also reduce your estrogen levels. This is a good thing because estrogen is what makes your uterine lining start to thicken (not to be confused with progesterone, which keeps your lining thick after estrogen kicks off the process).
Image via Instagram (@littledrill)
Inducing your period with birth control pills
If you’re on birth control, this is the most obvious option, as it’s been proven you can both induce your period and skip it using birth control. To get your period faster one month, switch to your placebo pills (or sugar pills) sooner. However, we recommend speaking to a physician before trying this, and please note that this is only an option if you’re already on the pill!
Is it harmful to induce your period?
With the exception of birth control pills, all of these processes are natural remedies and will not harm your body when trying to make your period start. If none of these methods help your period come early, your body is probably trying to tell you something, so you should listen. Once again, if you’re considering using birth control to jumpstart your period, or for any other reason, talk to a loved one and consult with your physician to figure out what’s best for you and your wellbeing.
Signs your period is coming
If you were successful in getting your period to come faster, you may start to experience some of the classic symptoms of its impending arrival. Signs your period is coming are both physical and emotional. Let’s go over some of the big ones.
Physical
There are a lot of things going on inside your body in the days leading up to your period, and it will show. You may experience some serious bloating and cramps (need to get rid of those? We got you), and thanks to all those hormones, you may notice some new acne showing up, especially around your jawline. If you have them, your boobs can become enlarged and sensitive and you might feel tired all the time. Or you might not feel anything at all– just be prepared for any outcome.
Emotional
As your period start date gets closer, you might find yourself more irritable and emotional than usual. It’s possible that suddenly everyone is annoying, you’re crying a lot more for seemingly no reason, or you may just feel a bit out of it. It’s natural, it’s normal, you’re still the best, just take a deep breath and remember that this, just like everything else, is all temporary. Another thing that might be going on is intense food cravings. We say: honor them!
These symptoms are all very inconvenient, yet all very normal. Period symptoms manifest differently for everyone, and the longer you have your period the more you’ll get to know how your body and mind reacts to it. Consider getting a period tracking app (we’ve got some great suggestions here!) or paper calendar or notebook – this will help you keep track of your cycle, see what symptoms you experience before and after your period, and predict the arrival of your next one (and maybe plan your life around it).
So that's it: A few tips on how to make your period come faster. But remember, every body is different, and there are no guarantees! And if you have any concerns about irregular periods or delayed periods, chat with your doctor who can help figure out why your period is late or inconsistent.
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