Patient's question:
I'm getting married next month, but it happens to be my period during the wedding. What should I do? Are there any ways to delay it by a few days?Doctor's answer:
Secret Remedies to Alter the Menstrual CycleWhenever a long holiday or major exam is approaching, especially when one finally gets a chance to "live it up," it's frustrating to coincide with those few days each month when women are "not in the mood." At such times, many women often turn to doctors for "secret remedies" to change their menstrual cycle, hoping to either bring it forward or delay it to avoid the inconvenience of menstruation. Will they get what they wish for?
We know that menstruation is a regular, cyclical uterine bleeding in women, one of the external signs of reproductive maturity. This bleeding results from the maturation of ovarian follicles, ovulation, and the formation of the corpus luteum, along with changes in the endometrium from proliferation to secretion, followed by its shedding. This process is regulated by the neuroendocrine system through the production of estrogen and progesterone, so altering any step in hormone production will change the menstrual cycle. In clinical practice, when doctors encounter women with normal menstrual cycles who strongly request a change and fail to be persuaded otherwise, they typically use estrogen or progesterone to regulate it. These "secret remedies" can be summarized as follows:
(1) Methods to advance menstruation: Starting from the 16th day of the menstrual cycle, intramuscularly inject 20mg of progesterone daily or orally take 10–12mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate for 5 days. Menstruation will typically occur 3–7 days after stopping the medication.
(2) Methods to delay menstruation:
① Contraceptive No. 1 (, Nethidroe) or No. 2 short-acting oral contraceptives: Start from the 5th day of the menstrual cycle, take 2 tablets daily for 2 weeks, and increase the dose to 4 tablets daily starting in the 3rd week.
② Fukang tablets (ethisterone) or Funing tablets (megestrol): Orally take 10mg of progesterone daily starting from the 16th day of the menstrual cycle.
③ Mifepristone (mifepristoe): A non-hormonal option. Start from the 5th day of the menstrual cycle, take 25mg daily for the duration.
Important Notes:
- Methods ①, ②, and ③ must be taken continuously until the "critical period" is passed, after which menstruation typically occurs within 7 days of stopping the medication.
- It is worth noting that excessive use of sex hormones may disrupt future menstrual cycles, so these methods should not be used long-term or excessively. If menstrual irregularities occur, consult a gynecologist promptly.
- Some people may experience side effects similar to early pregnancy when first taking sex hormones, such as dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.
- Contraindications include: women over 40, those breastfeeding, patients with hypertension, diabetes, liver/kidney diseases, thyroid disorders, thromboembolic diseases, or breast/gynecological malignancies or suspected tumors.
In summary, artificially altering the normal menstrual cycle is not advisable, as the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. Doctors do not recommend using these methods in daily life. Therefore, it is best to consult your family doctor before attempting any "secret remedies." (Excerpted from China Family Network)