Sometimes, periods and life schedule just don’t sync up. Maybe your teen wants to get their period before they go on vacation to make sure it’s worry-free, or before a stressful week filled with deadlines. Maybe they're looking for their 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 when you want it to? The great news is, you can actually induce your period. The bad news: if your teen has never gotten their period, they can't make their period come sooner.
You can read more advice about first periods here. Even better, download our free period guide to learn everything there is to know about periods and puberty so that your teen is as prepared as possible.
Our advice? If you think your teen's period is on its way, be prepared! Invest in a couple of pairs of period underwear so that they're completely ready for their period. No leaks to see here!
Here are some methods that could help induce a period and make it come faster:
Please remember: these methods for inducing a period won’t work for everybody, but they’re the best options to make a period come sooner. Plus, in the first few years of having a period, it may be irregular.
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 a period heavier, so perhaps it might be better to skip the pineapple once your teen's period actually starts.
Herbs
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 the 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.
Shop Kt by Knix reusable period underwear kits, pads, and more to worry less about leaks.
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.
The more you know: How to know when your period is coming
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 help make your teen's period come a bit sooner!
Stress reduction and exercises to get your period early
High levels of stress can prevent your teen's 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.
Further reading: Kt explains How to Use a Tampon
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 the uterine lining start to thicken (not to be confused with progesterone, which keeps the lining thick after estrogen kicks off the process).
Inducing a period with birth control pills
If you’re on birth control, this is the most obvious option, as it’s been proven to support with both inducing a period and skipping it. For your teen to get their period faster one month, have them switch to 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 they'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 teen's 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 teen's period, or for any other reason, consult with your physician to figure out what’s best for your teen and their wellbeing.
Signs your teen's period is coming
If your teen was successful in getting their period to come faster, they may start to experience some of the classic symptoms of its impending arrival. Signs their 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 of the body in the days leading up to getting your period, and it will show. Your teen may experience some serious bloating and cramps (need to get rid of those? We got you), and thanks to all those hormones, they may notice some new acne showing up, especially around your jawline. Their boobs can become enlarged and sensitive and they might feel tired all the time. Or they might not feel anything at all– just be prepared for any outcome.
Emotional
As your teen's period start date gets closer, they might find themselves more irritable and emotional than usual. It’s possible that suddenly everyone is annoying, they're crying a lot more for seemingly no reason, or they may just feel a bit out of it. It’s natural, it’s normal, they're still the best. Just remind them to 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 someone has their period the more they'll get to know how their 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 your teen keep track of their cycle, see what symptoms they experience before and after their period, and predict the arrival of their next one (and maybe plan their 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 teen's period is late or inconsistent.
