Stopping Your Period for a Night: What is and isn’t Possible

No one wants a special evening to turn into a ménage à trois with Aunt Flo. But as frustrating as it can be to have your period coincide with your plans, there’s no reliable way to stop your period for a single night after it’s already started. You’ve probably come across all kinds of claims that doing this or taking that will stop your period on command. Using apple cider vinegar or gelatin are popular ones that come up a lot. But, alas, these are purely anecdotal and not backed by science. While there’s no way to stop your period for a night after it’s already begun, there are ways to end your period faster. And with some notice, you can alter your cycle and skip a period. 

Make it End Faster

When your period coincides with your plans, you may be able to make it end faster. The following tips may help by inducing uterine contractions, which can help your uterus shed its endometrial lining. But it’s unclear if they can end your period noticeably faster. Still, they’re worth a shot.

Have an Orgasm

Doesn’t sound all that bad, does it? Uterine muscle contractions during orgasm can help remove blood from the uterus. Having an orgasm through masturbation or any other type of sexual contact that get you there may help your uterus shed blood faster. However, it’s unclear if having an orgasm will make your period noticeably shorter. But orgasms have other health benefits, too, including relieving painful period cramps. 

Take Ibuprofen or Naproxen

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can wreak havoc on your stomach’s lining, so your doctor is unlikely to recommend that you do this too often, if at all. But studies have shown that high doses of NSAIDs can slow heavy menstrual flow by about 28% to 49%.

Minimize Your Period’s Impact

You may not be able to stop your period for a night, but there are ways to get your period symptoms under control to keep them from putting a damper on your plans. Give the following a try:

• Ibuprofen. Taking OTC ibuprofen can help relieve cramps for a few hours at a time. It may also help reduce blood loss. Naproxen and aspirin also work. Try taking them about an hour before you head out.
• Menstrual cups. You can skip pads and tampons and use a menstrual cup instead. Menstrual cups are worn inside the vagina and catch your period blood. They can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time and are reusable. 
• Period panties. These absorbent undergarments can be worn on their own or with tampons and pads as backup prevention. They’re designed to comfortable absorb the equivalent of two tampons’ worth of blood.
• Heating pad. It won’t slow your flow, but a heating pad can work wonders on cramps. Before you got out, apply one to your lower abdomen for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Masturbation. A quick masturbation sesh is an easy and enjoyable way to control your period symptoms. Let your fingers or a sex toy do the walking and give yourself and orgasm to relieve menstrual cramps and slow your flow.

Know Your Options for Next Time

With advance notice, you can try skipping a period next time you have plans and a period just won’t do. Hormonal birth control pills can safely reduce or eliminate periods in most women, but it’s a good idea to check with a healthcare professional first to make sure there’s no medical reason for you to keep your cycle as is. How you skip a period with birth control pills depends on the type you’re using. Keep in mind this method can still result in breakthrough bleeding, especially at first.

The Bottom Line

It may not be possible to stop your period for a night after it’s started, but there are things you can do to manage your bleeding and symptoms. With a bit of planning with a healthcare professional, you may be able to postpone or even skip a period altogether the next time you have big plans.