We can say that very few ladies look forward to their periods every month. If you have a vacation planned or an amazing party to attend during your period, it can surely make your life painful and annoying. To avoid all this, there are a few simple tips you can try to get your period early. If you thought of canceling your party or vacation and sitting at home with a tub of ice cream, don’t worry. While there is limited evidence on how much these tips work, this article takes you through some natural remedies you can try to get your periods early.
In This Article
Why Is My Period So Late?
Women mostly complain about getting their period late. It can make you doubt that you might be pregnant. However, you can get your period late or miss it for reasons not necessarily related to pregnancy. These causes can range from hormonal imbalance to underlying conditions.
Hormonal changes and conditions such as PCOS, stress, excess weight, thyroid disorders, etc. can be the cause of a late menstrual cycle.
Usually, a woman has irregular periods when she begins her first cycle, and when she reaches menopause. Around both these times, it is relatively normal to have an irregular cycle.
Let us now see what causes an early period.
What Causes Your Period To Start Early?
It is considered fairly normal if you get an early period once in a while. But if you get an early period regularly, you might have to consult your doctor.
A woman’s menstrual cycle can be affected by factors such as a change in lifestyle, intense workout, stress, or any other underlying conditions. Sometimes, none of these causes might be contributing to an early period. In such cases, medical intervention is advised.
The major causes of an early period include:
- Imbalance In Hormone Levels: The menstrual cycle is governed by changes in the level of hormones in your body. However, if there is an undesirable change in these levels owing to birth control pills, you can get your period early.
- Menopause: As you approach menopause, you will have an irregular period that lasts for fewer days than usual.
- Poor Diet: Lack of a balanced diet can directly affect the regularity of your menstrual cycle.
- Medication: Medication like birth control pills or an emergency contraception drug may cause your period to start earlier as it affects the level of hormones in your body.
- Intense Workout: An intense workout affects your menstrual cycle when the number of calories burned exceeds what you have eaten. If your body doesn’t have the energy it needs, it cannot produce the right amount of reproductive hormones needed to ovulate.
- Stress: Stress can also cause your period to come earlier as it can interfere with the normal levels of hormones in your body.
Stylecraze SaysUsing hormonal birth control to get your period early is not usually recommended as it may increase the risk of blood clots or other side effects.
Let us now look at the factors that put you at risk of getting an early period.
Risk Factors
Women who have an early period effectively have two periods in a month. Following are the factors that can increase your risk of getting an early period:
- A family history of cysts, fibroids, or early menopause can make you susceptible to an early period.
- Lower abdominal pain that lasts for a few days
- Heavy flow during periods
- Pain during intercourse
How can you tell if your period is coming? Look out for the following symptoms.
Symptoms Your Period Is Coming
- Abdominal Cramps
Abdominal cramps are caused by contractions in the uterine wall, and this is called dysmenorrhea. It usually starts in the days leading to your period and can last throughout your cycle. Some women do not feel these cramps at all, while others feel a high-intensity pain that can hamper all their activities.
Cramps originate in the lower abdomen and can travel all the way down to your thighs and up to your mid-back.
Sometimes, cramps can be associated with conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroid, endometriosisi XA disorder in which cells similar to the lining of the uterus grow outside of it, causing severe pain and infertility. , etc. In such cases, the pain can be more intense. These cramps are known as secondary dysmenorrhea.
- Breakouts
Breakouts are common as you approach your cycle. This is because, as you near your period, your body undergoes hormonal changes. This causes the appearance of acne, pimples, or zits on your face, neck, or back.
- Tender Breasts
During the first and second halves of menstrual cycles, your body releases estrogen and progesterone respectively. Around ovulation, when the level of progesterone increases, your breasts enlarge and can feel tender, lumpy, and swollen. For some women, these symptoms can be very mild, while they can cause a lot of discomfort in others.
- Bloating
Hormonal changes near your period can cause bloating. This bloating can be attributed to increased retention of water and salt in your body.
- Bowel Issues
Bowel movement is susceptible to hormonal changes. You may experience the following problems as you near your period: nausea, flatulence, diarrhea, or constipation.
You are most likely to feel nauseous or constipated as you get closer to your date.
- Headache
When you are nearing your period, estrogen levels in your body rise. This can trigger the increase in serotonin that can set off migraines and headaches. This can cause migraines in women who are prone to headaches.
- Mood Swings
We are all well aware of the emotional symptoms of PMSi XA combination of signs and symptoms that occur in many women about a week or two before their period. . These include mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and depression. The hormonal changes are responsible for this.
Stylecraze SaysPeople above the age of 35 and individuals who smoke are at a higher risk of complications from birth control pills.
While having an early period once in a while is fine, if it happens frequently, you need to consult a doctor.
When To See Your Doctor
If the early period persists and you are in serious pain or discomfort, you must visit your gynecologist. Also, if you have had a history of a miscarriage, consult your doctor for immediate medical help.
We now know the basic facts regarding getting an early period. Let us move on to explore the natural methods of inducing an early period.
Natural Ways To Induce Period
1. Papaya
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Papaya has uterotonic properties, which means it stimulates contraction of the uterus (1). This may help in inducing your period early. However, there is no scientific evidence to back this claim.
You Will Need
- 1 ripe papaya
What You Have To Do
- You can cut a ripe papaya and consume directly.
- Alternatively, you can blend the fruit and prepare fruit juice for consumption.
How Often You Should Do This
Drink this juice once daily in the days leading up to your period.
Related: 39 Benefits Of Papaya For Skin, Hair, And Health
2. Vitamin C
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Vitamin C or ascorbic acid can increase estrogen levels in your body (2). Estrogen regulates your menstrual cycle. Vitamin C can decrease progesterone levels in your body, which results in premature shedding of the uterine lining and may cause an early period.
Caution: You must take supplements in the dosage as prescribed by your doctor as overdose can lead to dangerous side effects.
Related: Top 39 Vitamin C Foods To Include In Your Diet
3. Pineapple
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Pineapples have uterotonic properties and can induce uterine contractions in women (3). This helps facilitate the shedding of the uterine lining and causes your period to come faster. However, it is important to note that there is no scientific research suggesting that pineapples can induce an early period.
You Will Need
- 1 bowl of pineapples
What You Have To Do
- Have a bowlful of pineapples before your period.
How Often You Should Do This
Have it once a day as you near your period.
4. Carrots
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Carrots contain beta-carotenei XAn organic, red-orange pigment found in fruits and veggies that helps protect the body from free radical (unstable atoms) damage. and other bioactive compounds that can help you get an early period by inducing the shedding of your uterine lining (4). However, there is lack of scientific evidence to back this up.
You Will Need
- A bowl of fresh carrots
What You Have To Do
- Boil the carrots in water and consume directly.
- Alternatively, you can drink carrot juice once or twice a day.
How Often You Should Do This
You can follow this remedy1-2 times daily as you near your period.
5. Fennel Seeds
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Fennel seed extract can function as an emmenagogue (5), (6). This means that it may increase the flow of blood from the uterus, thus inducing an early period. More research is needed to establish fennel seeds as an effective remedy to induce a period.
You Will Need
- 2-3 cups of boiled water
- 1 tablespoon of fennel seeds
What You Have To Do
- Boil water in a saucepan.
- To this, add fennel seeds and let it simmer.
- Drink this solution after straining.
How Often You Should Do This
You can follow this remedyat regular intervals in the day.
6. Pomegranate
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Pomegranates can regulate the phasic activity of the menstrual cycle, thereby ensuring a regular period (7). Their estrogenic activity may help in inducing an early period. But this remedy lacks scientific backing.
You Will Need
- A bowl of pomegranate that is peeled
What You Have To Do
- You can add pomegranate to your daily diet.
How Often You Should Do This
You can follow this remedyonce daily before your period date.
Related: 20 Benefits Of Pomegranate Juice, How To Make It, & Nutrition
7. Turmeric
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Turmeric contains a bioactive compound called curcumin that works an emmenagogue (8). It may help you get your period faster by stimulating the blood flow to your uterus. However, there is no scientific research to establish this.
You Will Need
- A glass of boiled water
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
What You Have To Do
- Boil a glass of water and mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder in it.
- Consume when warm.
How Often You Should Do This
You can follow this remedy1-2 times daily about 1 week before your period date.
8. Parsley Leaves
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Parsley is a rich source of bioactive compounds that may increase the estrogenic activity in your body. It is also an excellent antispasmodic agent that can reduce the pain due to uterine contractions during an early period (9).
You Will Need
- Parsley leaves
What You Have To Do
- Steep a few parsley leaves in boiling water.
- Strain this and dry the leaves.
- Consume the dried parsley leaves three times daily.
How Often You Should Do This
You can follow this a week or 10 days before your period.
Related: Parsley: 10 Potential Benefits And Uses, Nutrition, How To Make Tea
9. Coffee
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Caffeine is the major component of coffee. It is known to exhibit properties that stimulate estrogenic activity (10). However, there is lack of scientific evidence that states that caffeine can help in inducing a period.
You Will Need
- 1 cup of brewed coffee
What You Have To Do
- Consume coffee as regularly as twice a day when you near your period.
How Often You Should Do This
Have slightly more coffee than you usually would until you get your period.
Caution: Do not consume excess coffee after your period due to the high content of caffeine.
10. Castor Oil
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Ricinoleic acid is a major component of castor oil. It is known to induce uterine contractions (11). This, in turn, may induce an early period.
You Will Need
- Warm compress
- 1/2 tablespoon of castor oil
What You Have To Do
- Gently massage some castor oil onto your lower abdomen.
- Use a warm compress on your lower abdomen
- Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this two times daily a week before your period.
11. Ginger
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Ginger is rich in bioactive compounds that can increase body heat and induce an early period (12). It exhibits antispasmodic properties that help alleviate other menstrual symptoms like abdominal cramps (13).
You Will Need
- 1/2 tablespoon of ginger juice
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Crush ginger to extract its juice.
- Add some honey to this juice and consume daily.
How Often You Should Do This
Follow this remedy two times daily a few days before your actual period date.
12. Sesame Seeds
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Sesame seeds contain bioactive compounds that can induce and regularize menstrual flow (14). Hence, consumption of sesame seeds may cause an early period.
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds
What You Have To Do
Consume a teaspoon of sesame seeds with honey.
How Often You Should Do This
You can follow this two times daily for about two weeks before your period.
Lifestyle changes, hormonal fluctuations, menopause, stress, activity levels, inadequate nutrition, and certain underlying medical conditions can make your menstrual cycle fluctuate, resulting in early or delayed periods. However, there may be certain instances where you may want to get your period early. In that case, you may apply certain home remedies that can induce periods. Papaya juice, vitamin C intake, pineapples, parsley, pomegranate, fennel seeds, and turmeric are some of the natural ingredients that can aid in stimulating the menstrual cycle. You may need to follow these remedies for a week or so before you get your periods, so planning and getting an early start may help prepone your periods.
Related: 29 Amazing Benefits Of Sesame Seeds For Skin And Health
Infographic: Home Remedies For Menstrual Cramps
Abdominal cramps or menstrual cramps can be a real villain during your period days. You may experience pain in the lower abdomen, stomach, upper legs, or lower back. Most women experience period pain during their menstrual cycle, which may affect their daily activities. However, there are home remedies that help reduce the pain.
Check out the infographic below for some remedies to help relieve menstrual cramps.
