Staying in Control

For several communities in India, menstruation is an excuse to treat women as `untouchables’ during those days, and they are denied the right to participate in social customs, family pujas, weddings and all sorts of religious ceremonies. Not only this is discriminating but also humiliating for the woman who is undergoing menstruation, which is a normal biological procedure.

“I had just turned eleven when I started having my periods. My grandma lived with us and she would object if I would serve her food or water during those days, making me feel like an untouchable,” rues 35-year-old Jagriti, software professional. “Even today when my periods are around any puja or festival, I try to delay it and thankfully there are pills for doing so,” adds she.

Let’s learn about the period delaying pills.

Most period-delaying pills are made of progestins, the hormone that accompanies estrogen in contraceptive pills. Progesterone is the hormone derived from pregnenolone a derivative of cholesterol. It thickens the cervical mucus and protects the lining of the uterus, thereby delaying the period for as long as you continue to take the pill.

Guide to usage

Start taking the delaying pills at least four days before the expected date of your periods.

Suitability

If your periods are regular and you don’t have any other complications, the delaying pills may be used effectively.

The period-delaying pills may cause some severe side effects if the woman has or has had;
• Thrombosis or sudden formation of blood clots
• If one has got an undetected ectopic pregnancy
In such cases it is necessary to consult a gynaecologist before taking the period-delaying pill.

Is it safe to take it while on OCPs?

In case you have been on OCPs for at least a month, you needn’t take the delaying pill. If you know in advance, simply plan your OCP routine and accordingly delay the dates of your menstrual cycle, in consultation with your gynaecologist.

However, if you have to urgently delay your periods and don’t know in advance; simply continue with a new pack of OCPs without the required seven-day gap. This is only if you are on the 21-pill pack.

In case you are on the 28-pill pack, simply skip the placebos; i.e.: the last seven pills (in most cases, they are of a different colour) and immediately start with a new pack.

By continuing with a new pack of OCPs, the body is tricked into believing you are pregnant (pseudo-Pregnancy state), thereby stopping ovulation completely. As a result your menstrual cycle will be postponed until the next month. The delayed period may be heavier than usual.

Side effects

If taken once in a while only for a single cycle, there aren’t any serious side effects to the pills. However some immediate possible side effects are heavier than normal periods, nausea, headaches and mid-cycle spotting.

Gynaecologists warn against the frequent use of progesterone pills to delay a period as they may trigger:
• Excessive hair growth and androgenic acne.
• Fatal Deep Vein Thrombosis.
• Anaemia due to heavy periods.
• Irregular periods

Reviewed by Dr. Kaushikee Dwivedi, senior consultant obstetrics and gynaecology
Max Hospital, Gurgaon.

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