Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHormonal Birth ControlVitamin CEmmenagoguesPapaya and PineappleStress ManagementHave SexExerciseStaying Safe
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Hormonal Birth Control
Vitamin C
Emmenagogues
Papaya and Pineapple
Stress Management
Have Sex
Exercise
Staying Safe
There is no guaranteed method to make your period come faster, but hormonal birth control is the most reliable way to manipulatemenstrual periodsin people who seek to. Some natural remedies and lifestyle changes also may help, although the research evidence is limited for claims about certain foods, exercise, or having sex.
It’s essential to consult a healthcare provider before trying these methods to induce your period, including any natural remedies or use of over-the-counter products likeOpill (norgestrel).They could interfere with pregnancy, medication, or health conditions.
Tashi-Delek / Getty Images
Usinghormonal birth controlis the most reliable way to control yourmenstrual cycle. This might include oral contraceptives (the pill), patches, injections, and implantable devices.
The pill is the most common way people can manipulate their period to induce, skip, or delay it.With oral contraceptives you can:
Reasons for why you might want to manipulate your period include:
Consult a healthcare provider before manipulating your menstrual period with hormonal birth control. They will let you know if it is safe to do so and help you manage possible side effects. Not all oral birth control works the same, so your provider may need to switch your medication.
Withdrawal Bleeds vs. PeriodsHormonal contraceptivesprevent ovulation. Bleeding that occurs when you are on hormonal birth control differs from an actual period. It is withdrawal bleeding due to the change in synthetic hormones from the medication.A “true” period is cyclical as the body sheds the uterine lining after ovulation without pregnancy.
Withdrawal Bleeds vs. Periods
Hormonal contraceptivesprevent ovulation. Bleeding that occurs when you are on hormonal birth control differs from an actual period. It is withdrawal bleeding due to the change in synthetic hormones from the medication.A “true” period is cyclical as the body sheds the uterine lining after ovulation without pregnancy.
Facts About Your Period: Bathing, Sex, Pregnancy, and More
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)is a water-soluble vitamin vital to your immune system and overall health.
One study shows that combiningoxaloacetateandvitamin C supplementscan help alleviate PMS (premenstrual syndrome) symptoms, anxiety, stress, and depression.However, no scientific evidence supports the use of vitamin C for inducing menstruation.
Foods that are high in vitamin C include:
The recommended amount of vitamin C is 75 milligrams per day (mg/day) for nonpregnant or non-lactating people. However, consuming extra amounts is relatively safe. Side effects of excessive vitamin C (over 2,000 mg/day) include diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps.
Vitamin C and ProgesteroneThere are theories that extra vitamin C could induce a period due to similar effects to progesterone. Progesterone levels increase after ovulation. If fertilization does not occur, progesterone and estrogen levels drop, triggering the menstrual period.
Vitamin C and Progesterone
There are theories that extra vitamin C could induce a period due to similar effects to progesterone. Progesterone levels increase after ovulation. If fertilization does not occur, progesterone and estrogen levels drop, triggering the menstrual period.
Emmenagogues (Period-Inducing Herbs)
Some herbs areemmenagogues, meaning they induce a menstrual period. People who practice Eastern medicine commonly use these herbs to make their period come faster.
Evidence of how emmenagogues work is purely anecdotal (based on personal observations), emmenagogue examples include:
Emmenagogues Are Not Safe During PregnancyEmmenagogue remedies—especially in large doses—should be avoided during pregnancy.Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks of miscarriage or fetal developmental problems.Early signs of pregnancycan include nausea and vomiting, breast tenderness, and frequent urination.
Emmenagogues Are Not Safe During Pregnancy
Emmenagogue remedies—especially in large doses—should be avoided during pregnancy.Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks of miscarriage or fetal developmental problems.Early signs of pregnancycan include nausea and vomiting, breast tenderness, and frequent urination.
Eating Papaya or Pineapple
While scientific evidence is minimal, there is a long-standing claim that certain fruits, particularly papaya and pineapple, are natural emmenagogues.Animal studies suggest papaya can affect progesterone levels, and pineapple may soften the cervix, triggering menstruation.
Consuming papaya or pineapple in large quantities can cause diarrhea or an upset stomach.
Techniques tomanage stressinclude:
Signs of Period Coming: Patterns Before Bleeding Starts
Have Sex (or an Orgasm)
There is no scientific evidence that says sex or anorgasmwill speed up your period, but it may be worth a try. Having sex or an orgasm may help your pelvic muscles relax and decrease stress.
Evidence shows that an orgasm (from sex or masturbation) increasesoxytocin. Oxytocin is a natural hormone that causes the uterus to contract.
There is also evidence that semen contains cytokines and prostaglandins that affect the female reproductive tract.Theoretically, it may help thin thecervixand could help induce a period.
Take Safety PrecautionsExposure to semen would require sex without a condom. You should only do this if you are in a monogamous relationship in which each partner has tested negative for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Use another form of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
Take Safety Precautions
Exposure to semen would require sex without a condom. You should only do this if you are in a monogamous relationship in which each partner has tested negative for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Use another form of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
Regular exercise can help to regulate your menstrual cycle and releaseendorphins, which help to relieve stress. It can also improve blood circulation, balance hormones, and relax your pelvic muscles.
However, the body can interpret too much exercise as stress, which may lower estrogen levels too much and lead to the absence of a period. If you’ve been intensely exercising lately, consider lighter exercises to see if that helps.
Exercise and Your Menstrual Cycle
Staying Safe When Inducing Your Period
Lifestyle modifications to manage your period can include stress reduction, getting enough sleep, and healthy diets and exercise; however, avoid overexercising, which can cause missed periods.
Taking medications, herbs, or supplements to induce periods without consulting a healthcare provider also may harm your health. If you are pregnant or think you could be pregnant, avoid these measures until you’ve talked with your provider, too.
If you change medications or how you take the pill, ask your healthcare provider if they suggest additionalnonhormonal birth controlfor a month or two. This includes condoms, a diaphragm, a sponge, spermicides, orPhexxi (lactic acid, citric acid, potassium bitartrate) gel.
Summary
Some people may want to make their period come faster for various reasons, including upcoming events or pregnancy concerns. Hormonal birth control is the most reliable way of manipulating a menstrual period. It’s important to consult a healthcare provider first to ensure it’s safe for you.
There are natural and alternative options like vitamin C, certain herbs and fruits, and having sex. But, the evidence is minimal or anecdotal. Managing stress and regular moderate exercise can help you regulate your period. If you are, or think you may be pregnant, avoid these techniques until you’ve discussed them with a healthcare provider.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill: What to Know.Schaumberg MA, Emmerton LM, Jenkins DG, Burton NW, Janse de Jonge XAK, Skinner TL.Use of oral contraceptives to manipulate menstruation in young, physically active women.International Journal Of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2018;13(1):82–87. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2016-0689The American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists (ACOG).General approaches to medical management of menstrual suppression.Obstetrics & Gynecology Clnical Concensus. 2022;140(3):528-541.Penn Medicine.Irregular Periods: Why Is My Period Late?National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin C fact sheet for health professionals.Tully L, Humiston J, Cash A.Oxaloacetate reduces emotional symptoms in premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Results of a placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial.Obstetrics & gynecology science. 2020;63(2):195–204. doi:10.5468/ogs.2020.63.2.195The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).The menstrual cycle: Menstruation, ovulation, and how pregnancy occurs.Jiao M, Liu X, Ren Y, Wang Y, Cheng L, Liang Y,et al.Comparison of herbal medicines used for women’s menstruation diseases in different areas of the world.Front Pharmacol. 2022;12:751207. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.751207Jazani AM, Hamdi K, Tansaz M, Nazemiyeh H, Bazargani HS, Bagher Fazljou SM,et al.Herbal medicine for oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea: A systematic review of ancient and conventional medicine.BioMed Research International.2018. doi:10.1155/2018/3052768Dosoky NS, Setzer WN.Maternal reproductive toxicity of some essential oils and their constituents.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(5):2380. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052380Anwar F, Ahmad N, Alkharfy KM, Gilani A.Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) oils.Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety. 2016:573-579. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-416641-7.00065-1Memudu AE, Oluwole TJ.The contraceptive potential of Carica papaya seed on oestrus cycle, progesterone, and histomorphology of the Utero-ovarian tissue of adult wistar rats.JBRA Assist Reprod. 2021;25(1):34-43. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20200023National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health.Bromelain.Nillni YI, Wesselink AK, Hatch EE, Mikkelsen EM, Gradus JL, Rothman KJ,et al.Mental health, psychotropic medication use, and menstrual cycle characteristics.Clin Epidemiol. 2018;10:1073-1082. doi: 10.2147/CLEP.S152131.National Institute of Mental Health (NIH).5 things you should know about stress.Caruso S, Mauro D, Scalia G, Palermo CI, Rapisarda AMC, Cianci A.Oxytocin plasma levels in orgasmic and anorgasmic women.Gynecological Endocrinology :The Official Journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. 2018;34(1):69–72. doi:10.1080/09513590.2017.1336219Rametse CL, Adefuye AO, Olivier AJ, Curry L, Gamieldien H, Burgers WA,et al.Inflammatory Cytokine Profiles of Semen Influence Cytokine Responses of Cervicovaginal Epithelial Cells.Front Immunol. 2018 Dec 4;9:2721. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02721.Awad E, Ahmed HAH, Yousef A, Abbas R.Efficacy of exercise on pelvic pain and posture associated with endometriosis: Within subject design.J Phys Ther Sci. 2017;29(12):2112-2115. doi:10.1589/jpts.29.2112U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Offices on Womens Health (OASH).Physical activity and your menstrual cycle.
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill: What to Know.Schaumberg MA, Emmerton LM, Jenkins DG, Burton NW, Janse de Jonge XAK, Skinner TL.Use of oral contraceptives to manipulate menstruation in young, physically active women.International Journal Of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2018;13(1):82–87. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2016-0689The American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists (ACOG).General approaches to medical management of menstrual suppression.Obstetrics & Gynecology Clnical Concensus. 2022;140(3):528-541.Penn Medicine.Irregular Periods: Why Is My Period Late?National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin C fact sheet for health professionals.Tully L, Humiston J, Cash A.Oxaloacetate reduces emotional symptoms in premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Results of a placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial.Obstetrics & gynecology science. 2020;63(2):195–204. doi:10.5468/ogs.2020.63.2.195The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).The menstrual cycle: Menstruation, ovulation, and how pregnancy occurs.Jiao M, Liu X, Ren Y, Wang Y, Cheng L, Liang Y,et al.Comparison of herbal medicines used for women’s menstruation diseases in different areas of the world.Front Pharmacol. 2022;12:751207. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.751207Jazani AM, Hamdi K, Tansaz M, Nazemiyeh H, Bazargani HS, Bagher Fazljou SM,et al.Herbal medicine for oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea: A systematic review of ancient and conventional medicine.BioMed Research International.2018. doi:10.1155/2018/3052768Dosoky NS, Setzer WN.Maternal reproductive toxicity of some essential oils and their constituents.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(5):2380. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052380Anwar F, Ahmad N, Alkharfy KM, Gilani A.Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) oils.Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety. 2016:573-579. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-416641-7.00065-1Memudu AE, Oluwole TJ.The contraceptive potential of Carica papaya seed on oestrus cycle, progesterone, and histomorphology of the Utero-ovarian tissue of adult wistar rats.JBRA Assist Reprod. 2021;25(1):34-43. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20200023National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health.Bromelain.Nillni YI, Wesselink AK, Hatch EE, Mikkelsen EM, Gradus JL, Rothman KJ,et al.Mental health, psychotropic medication use, and menstrual cycle characteristics.Clin Epidemiol. 2018;10:1073-1082. doi: 10.2147/CLEP.S152131.National Institute of Mental Health (NIH).5 things you should know about stress.Caruso S, Mauro D, Scalia G, Palermo CI, Rapisarda AMC, Cianci A.Oxytocin plasma levels in orgasmic and anorgasmic women.Gynecological Endocrinology :The Official Journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. 2018;34(1):69–72. doi:10.1080/09513590.2017.1336219Rametse CL, Adefuye AO, Olivier AJ, Curry L, Gamieldien H, Burgers WA,et al.Inflammatory Cytokine Profiles of Semen Influence Cytokine Responses of Cervicovaginal Epithelial Cells.Front Immunol. 2018 Dec 4;9:2721. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02721.Awad E, Ahmed HAH, Yousef A, Abbas R.Efficacy of exercise on pelvic pain and posture associated with endometriosis: Within subject design.J Phys Ther Sci. 2017;29(12):2112-2115. doi:10.1589/jpts.29.2112U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Offices on Womens Health (OASH).Physical activity and your menstrual cycle.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill: What to Know.Schaumberg MA, Emmerton LM, Jenkins DG, Burton NW, Janse de Jonge XAK, Skinner TL.Use of oral contraceptives to manipulate menstruation in young, physically active women.International Journal Of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2018;13(1):82–87. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2016-0689The American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists (ACOG).General approaches to medical management of menstrual suppression.Obstetrics & Gynecology Clnical Concensus. 2022;140(3):528-541.Penn Medicine.Irregular Periods: Why Is My Period Late?National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin C fact sheet for health professionals.Tully L, Humiston J, Cash A.Oxaloacetate reduces emotional symptoms in premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Results of a placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial.Obstetrics & gynecology science. 2020;63(2):195–204. doi:10.5468/ogs.2020.63.2.195The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).The menstrual cycle: Menstruation, ovulation, and how pregnancy occurs.Jiao M, Liu X, Ren Y, Wang Y, Cheng L, Liang Y,et al.Comparison of herbal medicines used for women’s menstruation diseases in different areas of the world.Front Pharmacol. 2022;12:751207. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.751207Jazani AM, Hamdi K, Tansaz M, Nazemiyeh H, Bazargani HS, Bagher Fazljou SM,et al.Herbal medicine for oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea: A systematic review of ancient and conventional medicine.BioMed Research International.2018. doi:10.1155/2018/3052768Dosoky NS, Setzer WN.Maternal reproductive toxicity of some essential oils and their constituents.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(5):2380. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052380Anwar F, Ahmad N, Alkharfy KM, Gilani A.Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) oils.Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety. 2016:573-579. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-416641-7.00065-1Memudu AE, Oluwole TJ.The contraceptive potential of Carica papaya seed on oestrus cycle, progesterone, and histomorphology of the Utero-ovarian tissue of adult wistar rats.JBRA Assist Reprod. 2021;25(1):34-43. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20200023National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health.Bromelain.Nillni YI, Wesselink AK, Hatch EE, Mikkelsen EM, Gradus JL, Rothman KJ,et al.Mental health, psychotropic medication use, and menstrual cycle characteristics.Clin Epidemiol. 2018;10:1073-1082. doi: 10.2147/CLEP.S152131.National Institute of Mental Health (NIH).5 things you should know about stress.Caruso S, Mauro D, Scalia G, Palermo CI, Rapisarda AMC, Cianci A.Oxytocin plasma levels in orgasmic and anorgasmic women.Gynecological Endocrinology :The Official Journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. 2018;34(1):69–72. doi:10.1080/09513590.2017.1336219Rametse CL, Adefuye AO, Olivier AJ, Curry L, Gamieldien H, Burgers WA,et al.Inflammatory Cytokine Profiles of Semen Influence Cytokine Responses of Cervicovaginal Epithelial Cells.Front Immunol. 2018 Dec 4;9:2721. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02721.Awad E, Ahmed HAH, Yousef A, Abbas R.Efficacy of exercise on pelvic pain and posture associated with endometriosis: Within subject design.J Phys Ther Sci. 2017;29(12):2112-2115. doi:10.1589/jpts.29.2112U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Offices on Womens Health (OASH).Physical activity and your menstrual cycle.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill: What to Know.
Schaumberg MA, Emmerton LM, Jenkins DG, Burton NW, Janse de Jonge XAK, Skinner TL.Use of oral contraceptives to manipulate menstruation in young, physically active women.International Journal Of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2018;13(1):82–87. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2016-0689
The American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists (ACOG).General approaches to medical management of menstrual suppression.Obstetrics & Gynecology Clnical Concensus. 2022;140(3):528-541.
Penn Medicine.Irregular Periods: Why Is My Period Late?
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin C fact sheet for health professionals.
Tully L, Humiston J, Cash A.Oxaloacetate reduces emotional symptoms in premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Results of a placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial.Obstetrics & gynecology science. 2020;63(2):195–204. doi:10.5468/ogs.2020.63.2.195
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).The menstrual cycle: Menstruation, ovulation, and how pregnancy occurs.
Jiao M, Liu X, Ren Y, Wang Y, Cheng L, Liang Y,et al.Comparison of herbal medicines used for women’s menstruation diseases in different areas of the world.Front Pharmacol. 2022;12:751207. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.751207
Jazani AM, Hamdi K, Tansaz M, Nazemiyeh H, Bazargani HS, Bagher Fazljou SM,et al.Herbal medicine for oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea: A systematic review of ancient and conventional medicine.BioMed Research International.2018. doi:10.1155/2018/3052768
Dosoky NS, Setzer WN.Maternal reproductive toxicity of some essential oils and their constituents.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(5):2380. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052380
Anwar F, Ahmad N, Alkharfy KM, Gilani A.Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) oils.Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety. 2016:573-579. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-416641-7.00065-1
Memudu AE, Oluwole TJ.The contraceptive potential of Carica papaya seed on oestrus cycle, progesterone, and histomorphology of the Utero-ovarian tissue of adult wistar rats.JBRA Assist Reprod. 2021;25(1):34-43. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20200023
National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health.Bromelain.
Nillni YI, Wesselink AK, Hatch EE, Mikkelsen EM, Gradus JL, Rothman KJ,et al.Mental health, psychotropic medication use, and menstrual cycle characteristics.Clin Epidemiol. 2018;10:1073-1082. doi: 10.2147/CLEP.S152131.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIH).5 things you should know about stress.
Caruso S, Mauro D, Scalia G, Palermo CI, Rapisarda AMC, Cianci A.Oxytocin plasma levels in orgasmic and anorgasmic women.Gynecological Endocrinology :The Official Journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. 2018;34(1):69–72. doi:10.1080/09513590.2017.1336219
Rametse CL, Adefuye AO, Olivier AJ, Curry L, Gamieldien H, Burgers WA,et al.Inflammatory Cytokine Profiles of Semen Influence Cytokine Responses of Cervicovaginal Epithelial Cells.Front Immunol. 2018 Dec 4;9:2721. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02721.
Awad E, Ahmed HAH, Yousef A, Abbas R.Efficacy of exercise on pelvic pain and posture associated with endometriosis: Within subject design.J Phys Ther Sci. 2017;29(12):2112-2115. doi:10.1589/jpts.29.2112
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Offices on Womens Health (OASH).Physical activity and your menstrual cycle.
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