Being a woman is not easy. The number one reason why is because of periods. Normally a menstrual period lasts for 5-8 days but let’s face it – most of us have had 10-day periods.
Not to mention, heavy periods, painful periods, and those dreaded twice-in-a-month periods! Honestly with all that pain, blood and discomfort I don’t even know how we women cope in life.
But there are ways to shorten your period. You can make it last 3 days instead of 5. Don’t believe me? Well, here are 10 ways on how to shorten your periods. You can try them out and then come share your experiences in the comments below!
10 Ways on How to Shorten Your Periods
1. Limit Eating Meat/Dairy
I have definitely felt the impact of bingeing on meat products such as fried chicken, sausages and processed meats on my periods.
I remember the few times I got two periods in a month and they were always after I ate one too many sausages or splurged on fried chicken.
Many women have also noticed that eating a lot of dairy products made their periods longer and heavier.
Why? It’s because factory produced meats and dairy are pumped with hormones! Estrogen is the hormone found in these products which, if excessively consumed leads to issues like heavy and prolonged menstruation.
If you want shorter periods, try this experiment of limiting eating meat or dairy products.
I say limit because you don’t want to miss out on protein and iron that meat products contain. While some women can go all the way vegetarian or vegan to avoid meat for their heavy/long periods, it’s very hard so you can just try restricting your diet to organic meats not processed ones.
2. Take Iron Pills
Another remedy I have found works for shortening periods is iron pills.
Menstruating girls and women often suffer from iron deficiency anemia because of lost blood during periods. So, iron is something many of us should be supplementing on anyway.
My personal experience from taking iron is that I didn’t even feel like I was on my period. It was exam week and my periods were light, didn’t have any clots, didn’t bring any cramps with them and most of all, ended fast! The only thing that was different is that I felt my period was darker than usual, which isn’t a big deal.
3. Use Ibuprofen
I never thought of ibuprofen as a remedy to shorten periods (only to take cramps away) but it actually is quite a popular one!
I’m a bit skeptical about this because I don’t want to overdose by mistake and also end up with long-term effects like ulcers. However, many women say taking ibuprofen even stops their period completely.
According to AccessProject.org, you are supposed to take one to two doses of 200 mg ibuprofen three to four times a day. This is said to decrease your period flow from 25% to 30%. Do not excess the maximum dosage of ibuprofen recommended for 24-hours. Also, taking this kind of high dose ibuprofen can only be done for three days. Do not do this for over 3 days.
Caution: Always talk to your doctor first before taking high doses of ibuprofen. For some people, ibuprofen can trigger blood clotting disorders, digestive problems like ulcers and breathing problems as well! Be careful!
4. Exercise
Did you know that women athletes and those who exercise a lot regularly stop getting their periods altogether? It even has a term for it – athletic amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is the condition where a woman doesn’t menstruate.
The cause for this is thought to be low levels of body fat and also effects of exercise-related hormones such as cortisol (stress hormone) on the menstrual cycle.
So yes, another remedy for shortening your periods is to exercise regularly to keep your body fat in the normal ranges.
5. Cozy up with a Heating Pad (or Hot Water Bottle)
Hot water bottles and heating pads are one of my favorite remedies for menstrual cramps. Whenever I use them, I experience shorter, less painful periods with no clots!
This is because heat actually speeds up blood circulation which helps your period come out faster and easier (hence no clots). This leads you to having a shorter period than you would normally have.
6. Sip on Some Cinnamon Tea
Cinnamon is a spice we all love! And the good news is that it is amazing when it comes to menstrual health. For one, it is said to reduce menstrual cramps and apparently it helps stop your period faster too!
This warm spice helps close blood vessels in the uterus which slows down blood flow and ends your period sooner than you expected!
You can make cinnamon tea by steeping about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder in a glass of hot water for 5 minutes. Add honey or maple syrup for sweetness then sip it up! You can drink this continuously throughout the day.
7. Ditch the Tampons
Pads or tampons or cups? Everyone has their preference of which menstrual products to use. However, when you want to shorten the days of your period – pads are actually recommended because they allow the blood and tissue to flow out freely without blockages. This really does shorten the days of your period!
Menstrual cups also can achieve this effect since the cup stays suctioned up your vagina, collecting blood into it as opposed to a tampon which just absorbs blood and prevents tissue from flowing out freely.
8. Magnesium Supplements
We’ve already talked about iron supplements to shorten your periods, but here’s another good one – magnesium supplements!
What magnesium does is it creates a dip in estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen is one of the main female hormones driving the menstrual cycle. Low estrogen levels may lead to missed or irregular periods.
Taking magnesium on your period helps reduce the amount of blood you lose and also decreases bleeding so your period will end faster!
Cheeky Tip: Dark chocolate contains a lot of magnesium!
9. Turn to Grandma’s Herbs
What do you think women in the olden days did to shorten prolonged menstruation? They used herbs of course! Nowadays we don’t need to go foraging for herbs like our ancestors did because they are readily available in supplement or packaged powdered forms.
Herbs help by regulating hormones, inducing uterine contractions and reducing heavy bleeding. Herbs that can help shorten your periods include:
- Yarrow root – It reduces bleeding by contracting tissues and blood vessels. You can take yarrow root tea or herbal tincture a week before your period. For the tincture, mix 30 drops in 2 fluid ounces of your favourite juice and drink 1 to 3 times a day.
- Vitex – Also known as chasteberry, vitex can be taken in supplement form (a 20mg dose three times a day). It controls elevated levels of prolactin, a hormone released by the pituitary gland to trigger ovulation or menstruation. This can delay periods and shorten them.
- Red raspberry leaf – Best taken as a tea 3 times a day in your periods, red raspberry leaf helps reduce heavy periods and relieves painful cramps. Get red raspberry leaf tea here.
- Maca root – If you have a hormonal imbalance that is prolonging your periods and making them heavy, maca root may be useful for you. It is good for regulating hormones which support proper functioning of the ovaries. It can be taken in capsule form or as a powder added to smoothies and milk.
Note: Consult your doctor before taking herbs for your periods, especially if you have a serious or chronic reproductive or other health condition.
10. Guzzle Down Water
You probably do NOT feel like going to the toilet often when you’re on your period…
But, drinking a lot of water flushes your period out of your body faster AND helps lighten your flow.
It’s a good idea to keep a bottle of water near you at all times so you are well hydrated during your period. The bonus is that it’ll help end your period quicker than you imagined!
The above tips are just some of my favorite ways on how to shorten your periods. My periods have definitely reduced from 8 whole days! So, follow these tips and your period won’t last as long as it does. What other remedies have you taken for shorter periods? Kindly share in the comments below so we can all benefit. Thanks!
Hi i’m 11 and i’m on my period do i do some of the easy stuff i can do while i’m home today like drinking water heating pad and the other easy stuff?
Hey Zoey! Yeah, you can do the easy stuff! Wish you a happy period! <3
Please am having pain,the menstrual cramp is too much I can’t go out,5th day of the period now, what can I use
Hi, you can tey camomile tea and Ibuprofen pills with food that can help! If it feels really bad and you for long periods of time that you can’t go out maybe tey talking to your doctor or getting one to see what is really happening hope this helped!
Hi this is kyndall! I’m 9 and I’m on the ole’ period and I hate it can I guzzle down water and it will help more bc um..I’m in grade 4 and my friends and everyone don’t know I have extra hormones and it’s bothering me we are going to the hormone doctor but will the water thing help and my mama out of town and me my sister and my dad are at home together and as u know…I can’t rlly talk to my dad bout it but my babysitter and sister can help right??! Pls reply I need help!!?.
Hi Kyndall,
Yes, you can drink water and it’ll help! Please talk to your baby sitter and your sister, I’m sure they’ll give you good advice. Make sure to take some rest too. Take care <3
Hello! I am 13 right now, I am on my 4-5th (I think) and my last (well yk) was awful. I had really bad cramps, this sounds super gross, but I had clots. I don’t really talk to my mom that much and I am the oldest. The closest thing I have to a older sister is my best friend. And we had to move away from her :(. Anyway. Can you make a hot water bottle at home? And I know it says no tampons. But pads are just the most uncomfortable thing ever for me. Also, is it normal to have to use a S tampon? Sorry if this is alot.
Hi Rylee, I’m so sorry your last period was awful! It’s not gross, don’t worry about it! We’re both girls so you can think of me as your big sis 🙂 About the cramps and clots, I totally get it, hun. I’m so sorry 🙁 But yes, you can make a hot water bottle at home! DIY hot water bottle: Soak some clean dish or face towels with warm water and microwave until steaming hot. Carefully use tongs to put them in a ziplock bag, wrap the ziplock bag in a t-shirt or towel and apply it right below your stomach where the pain is. It’ll offer heat which helps dull the pain and help the period come out quicker with less clots. Hope this helps! Love you & take care! <3
My waterbottle solution is using my dachshund(works perfectly). 🤣
Please am having pain,the menstrual cramp is too much I can’t go out,5th day of the period now, what can I use
I’m on the second day of my period. And I have bad cramps but any tips on how to make it shorten before Saturday?
im so sorry if this is tmi but like is it normal for when u pee for period blood to like ooze out?:(
Hello. I am 14. I want to be able to go to the pool and things like that but I always am on my period for so long and I absolutely hate it. I am also a gymnast and closer to the end of the year we have to start wearing our leotards without shorts. I am really nervous to do so because all I use when I’m on my period are pads. I am afraid of using tampons because I feel like I will forget to take it out. And another thing is our competition leotards are light colors. So what if I start AT competition. And my periods last forever. My longest period lasted 2 months! I don’t know what to do.
I also am a gymnast and have the same problem, maybe you could ask your coaches about still wearing shorts with the leotards(which many professional do).
Hi..I’m in my 30’s and my periods were always very heavy,with hectic cramps and would last upto 9days at most..besides that, i would spot for an additional 3days before my actual period..
I recently started drinking ginger tea daily and 3times a day when on my periods. Now I don’t have any cramps,my flow isn’t heavy and they only last 4days now.
I hope it helps someone out there.🙏
Hi I’m 10, my period started a few weeks ago and ended the next week. I don’t want it to come back, any tips on how to stop it at least for a year?
Hey! So you really cant stop your period for that long of a time, I know that its hard and that getting your period isnt fun but i do have tips for your first period. So there’s this thing called period underwear, and i use it even when I’m 13! Its like a built in pad and it feels just like using normal underwear. Also use heating pads and take ibuprofen for cramps. Remember to dink lots of water and get exercise, its shortens your period. And its okay to have cravings, eat as many oreos as you want, just make sure to get some veggies in yout diet to, it helps with the pain and bloating😊 Congrats!!!!
Don’t we all wish that. Unfortunately that’s not how the world works. But you can use things to make it better, like eating eggs more, hearing pads( dogs also work) and sleep.
Dogs?
BTW I’m 12 so I understand the difficulty especially at school.