How to make your period end faster

Whatever the circumstance, we know that periods can be inconvenient and there are times when you want to make it end as quickly as possible. One study showed that 59% of menstruating women in the United States said that they want to eliminate their monthly menstrual periods. Their reasons included less pain, lowering the burden of menstrual hygiene, and improving overall quality of life [1].

If you’re part of that 59% and trying to figure out how to make your period end faster, we’ll go through seven safe methods for shortening periods in this article. But first, let’s start with the basics:

How long is a typical period?

A typical period can last between two and seven days and averages about five days. Bleeding tends to be heaviest during the first two days, and you’ll lose about one to five tablespoons (20 to 90ml) of blood during each period. The average cycle length (the time from day one of your period to the day before your next period begins) is anywhere from 21 to 35 days. The textbook cycle length has always been thought to be 28 days [2]. However, research carried out by Natural Cycles found the average cycle length to be 29 days. [3] So if you’ve always thought your cycle was longer than the norm, you’re probably not alone!

It’s important to note that everyone’s body and experience with menstruation is unique, and how long your period lasts is a personal question that may have different answers over time. There are many factors like age, lifestyle, and underlying medical conditions that determine where you may fall within (or even outside of) these ranges. Some women have heavier or lighter blood flow, and others experience irregular periods, making it difficult to predict exactly when their period will start and end each month. Cycles also typically get shorter as we get older and approach menopause. [4]

This uncertainty of when your cycle might start or end each month, along with the sometimes burdensome premenstrual symptoms associated with menstruation, can make you wonder if it’s possible to make your period end faster. 

Can you make your period end faster?

While we want to make it clear that there is currently no way to stop or end your period once it has started, there are ways to delay your period, and ways to potentially reduce the number of days in your cycle. Let’s kick things off with how to prevent your period from starting in the first place.

1. Hormonal birth control

One of the most common and well-tested methods for stopping your period is hormonal birth control. There are many different types of hormonal birth control including the pill, the injection, the patch, the ring, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) that all work in different ways to prevent pregnancy. 

These methods contain synthetic hormones. These are released into your body in order to prevent pregnancy by changing the reproductive environment and in many cases, stopping ovulation. This lack of ovulation also means that you don’t get a monthly period. With methods like the patch and the ring that contain estrogen, you may still get a short, regular monthly withdrawal bleed. Progesterone-only options like the injection or the IUD can stop bleeding altogether, or for some, lighten their monthly flow.

Taking the birth control pill in a specific way can temporarily stop your period completely. If you’re on the progestin-only pill (the mini pill), you’ll have a 28 day pack of hormone pills. This continuous supply of synthetic hormones will prevent your period from starting. It’s common to experience random spotting or light bleeding while on the mini pill, but it won’t be as intense as a regular period.

If you’re on a combined pill (containing both estrogen and progestin), you’ll typically have a packet of pills that contains 21 hormonal pills and 7 sugar or placebo pills. You can simply keep taking the next pack of hormonal pills on day 22 and skip the inactive sugar pill week to “skip” that month’s bleed [1].

Fun fact: the monthly “period” you experience during the sugar pill week is actually also a withdrawal bleed and not a period. Keep in mind that if you run your pill packets together continuously for a few months, you might experience a type of irregular bleeding called breakthrough bleeding. This usually isn’t cause for concern, but it may defeat the purpose of avoiding a period or bleed altogether. This is why some people on the combined pill only skip a sugar pill week every now and then when they have a big event rather than doing it regularly every single month.

While birth control is a common way to prevent your period from starting, you can also explore the methods below that have been shown to lighten your flow and decrease the amount of blood lost during a period, potentially making it end faster.

2. Anti-inflammatory medications

Results vary from person to person, but taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin are common brand names of ibuprofen) can help alleviate menstrual symptoms like cramps and may also help lighten your flow. It’s a good idea to speak to your doctor about trying these medications with the intention of lightening your flow, especially if you’re planning to take them for a longer period of time.

According to Northwestern Medicine, your body produces a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin when you menstruate. This hormone stimulates the contractions (cramps) that help shed your uterine lining (the blood associated with your period). Ibuprofen slows the production of prostaglandin, which in turn should lessen cramps and lighten your menstrual flow [6].

It’s important to note that other over-the-counter pain medications like acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin is a common brand name for acetylsalicylic acid) should not be taken to reduce your period flow — it has an anti-clotting effect which can increase the amount of blood lost during menstruation. If you use medications for pain relief or decide with your doctor to use medication for lightening your period, be sure to stick to NSAIDs only [12].

3. Tranexamic acid

Tranexamic acid is another medication that has been proven to be more effective at treating heavy menstrual bleeding than NSAIDs, reducing blood loss by anywhere from 26% to 60% [13]. This can be a game-changer if you’re experiencing heavy flows that disrupt your daily life, but again, be sure to consult with your physician to make sure they won’t interfere with any underlying or pre-existing health conditions you may have. 

Tranexamic acid works by stopping blood clots from breaking down, thus reducing the chances of bleeding. While it may cause headaches, tiredness, and cramps, it’s an effective way to lessen the amount of blood lost during your period [12].

4. Herbal remedies

If you’d rather go a more natural route, there are a few herbs that may help lighten your period and alleviate other unpleasant physical symptoms associated with your period:

• Ginger: Small studies have shown that ginger may lessen blood loss in women experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding with minimal (if any) adverse effects [7]. This versatile root can be taken in many ways including in capsule form, as a tea, or eaten directly such as the pickled ginger you often get with sushi.
• Chamomile: This plant may also decrease the amount of bleeding during each menstrual cycle with minimal side effects [8]. The herb is also effective at managing some of the most debilitating PMS symptoms such as cramps and anxiety due to its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. Chamomile can have a mild sedative effect, so keep an eye on how it affects you when you take it — you may want to take it closer to bedtime if it makes you drowsy [9]. It’s commonly available as a tea, but can also be taken in capsule form if you don’t like the taste
• Frankincense: This aromatic resin hasn’t been studied as extensively as ginger and chamomile, but the limited available evidence suggests  that frankincense may be effective at decreasing both the duration of your period and the amount of blood lost during each period [10].

5. Vitamin B

Taking vitamin B, particularly B-complex and/or B12, can regulate cycles for women with abnormally long periods with heavy bleeding. More research is needed, but in a limited study, 43 out of 47 participants saw promising results. It's thought that vitamin B helps the body effectively metabolize estrogen, which in turn may help to regulate and even shorten periods [11].

Is it safe to stop or shorten your period?

With the methods listed above, yes, it is safe to try to stop or shorten your period. Although we’d always recommend talking to a healthcare professional to see if this is a suitable option for you, especially if you are taking other medication or have underlying health conditions.  

You may find it helpful to get clear on your goals by asking yourself certain questions as you’re considering shortening your period. These can look like:

• Why do I want to shorten my period?
• How long do I want to stop or shorten it for? Is this a one-time deal or a prolonged situation?
• What safe methods seem easiest to incorporate into my day-to-day life?

Once you feel confident in your decision, you can start exploring stopping or shortening your period with your doctor. We always recommend consulting with your healthcare professional before making any major medical changes like this.

What doesn’t work

Now that we’ve gone through what tends to work well for shortening or stopping periods, it’s time to dispel some internet myths about this topic. Let’s go through what hasn’t been proven to work when it comes to stopping your period:

Can drinking water shorten your period?

There has been little to no scientific evidence to support the idea that drinking water can shorten your period. Some posts and/or outlets claim that drinking extra water can help “flush out” the menstrual blood faster, but this hasn’t been proven. Others even suggest that drinking salt water or water with vinegar specifically can shorten your period — this is also false, and can make you unwell. 

While it’s always wise to stay properly hydrated to contribute to your overall health, there’s no evidence to suggest that drinking water can shorten your period. [5]

Can pads or tampons make your period end faster?

Your menstrual hygiene product of choice is a highly personal decision that should be made based on your comfort level and physical preferences. While some outlets suggest that tampons may hinder blood flow to a certain extent, there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that your menstrual product choice impacts your cycle length  [14].

You may still want to try a variety of period products to see which one makes you feel your best cycle to cycle (check out menstrual cups, period underwear and other period products), but this has not been proven to impact your cycle length overall.

Why won’t my period stop?

Prolonged periods have several potential causes, but you should always consult with your doctor to discuss your history and lifestyle to determine the most likely cause and chart a course for treatment. Bleeding for a long time, or having regular heavy periods that get in the way of your life can be stressful at best and scary at worst. It’s important you don’t try to “push through” and instead seek professional help as there may be something else going on. Plus, you deserve to live a life where your periods don’t get in the way!

Some conditions that may lead to unusually long periods include a hormonal imbalance, a bleeding disorder, uterine fibroids, or liver/kidney/thyroid diseases. Again, your unique situation may be different, and it’s important to consult a doctor if your period lasts more than seven days and/or if you have to change your pad/tampon every 1-2 hours due to the amount you’re bleeding [15].

Get to know your body with Natural Cycles

Tracking your cycle symptoms each month can help reveal patterns that emerge over time. These patterns can help guide your health journey, contributing to conversations with your doctor and empowering your personal health decisions. Natural Cycles is an easy-to-use tool that can allow you to learn more about your body and cycle. But Natural Cycles is more than a period tracker! It’s also a certified birth control app, that’s hormone-free and non-invasive. See if it’s the right option for you today.