Having a period on your wedding day is less than ideal. Thinking purely logistically, having enough sanitary items to hand and actually being able to change them whilst wearing your dress is enough to cope with. Some are dealing with more serious issues such as heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods or medical conditions like endometriosis, known to cause incapacitating pain and painful sexual intercourse. It’s not hard to see why one might choose to delay their period and this feature is about guiding brides through safe ways to do this.
The options
This really depends on the individual. Firstly, if you are experiencing any significant problems with your period, then it’s a really good idea to see your GP or ideally, a gynaecologist. Long term problems often need a long-term treatment. This could be with hormones in the form of a contraceptive pill or a one-off procedure such as a hysteroscopy (done to treat simple things like polyps or fibroids) or a laparoscopy (key hole operation to treat endometriosis or other painful cysts on the ovaries).
If, however, you are simply looking to delay your period for the big day, then there are two ways to do this:
The combined contraceptive pill
This is the common contraceptive pill and almost certainly either you’ve already tried it or know someone taking it. It gets its name because it contains both oestrogen and progesterone (the female hormones). You take it for 21 days and then have a 7-day pill-free break during which time you experience a period. You can therefore time it so that you don’t do your 7-day break during your wedding. Equally, you can take two packets back-to-back to avoid the 7-day break altogether. Not only does it have the added advantage of being a contraceptive, it can also help with symptoms such as PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome).
You could start taking it at any point before your wedding, but I’d recommend starting 6 months out. There are so many different options of this pill available containing varying levels of oestrogen and types of progesterone so it’s worth finding one that suits you. Some can also address other issues. For example, if it contains cyproterone acetate it’s great for tackling issues such as acne and excessive hair growth seen in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
The period delay pill
If you’re not looking for anything long term, then norethisterone can be a good option. This is a progesterone only pill that you start taking 3-4 days before your period is due. Having a higher level of progesterone in your body stops your period from happening. Usually, you take it for 2 weeks after which point the fall in your progesterone levels results in a delayed period. Delaying your period for a one-off event is not harmful.
It’s a good idea to do a trial run a few months before your wedding. A few women get side effects such as breast tenderness, mood changes, nausea or headache. You can then decide if it suits you and if you want to use it for your big day. It’s also worth remembering that unlike the combined pill, norethisterone is not a contraceptive.
Where to get the pill/norethisterone
Both options are only available via a prescription and so you need to see either your GP or family-planning clinic. This is a safety precaution as for some women who have a high blood pressure, a BMI over 40, are smokers or have a history of blood clots, these options would not be recommended.
Other things to consider
Both options have no effect on fertility. In my experience women are particularly concerned that taking the combined pill for a prolonged time will mean it will take them longer to get pregnant but I promise, it absolutely wont.
If you are flying off on honeymoon after your wedding, both options are also safe. They carry a very small overall increased risk of blood clots (about 5-12 in 10,000) so for flights longer than 4 hours, it’s a good idea to stay hydrated, take regular walks and consider wearing compression stockings.
Related Articles: Getting Pregnant After Your Wedding – a Doctor’s Perspective
