How to make your period come faster: Safe and natural tips
- Updated Jan 30, 2025
- Published
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Created with Nataliia Yermolovych, MD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist
Many women find themselves wanting to induce their period to sync up with an upcoming event or to manage an irregular cycle. This might be possible with natural and safe methods such as moderate exercise, stress-relief practices like yoga and meditation, eating foods believed to support menstrual health, and maintaining a balanced diet. If your cycle is delayed or irregular, it’s always best to consult a trusted healthcare provider.
Waiting for your period to show up can sometimes feel like it’s taking forever. The idea of trying to induce your period may seem like an easy fix, but it’s important to remember that your body knows best. In some cases, missing your cycle could be due to an underlying issue like hormonal imbalances or stress.
For those of you wondering how to get your period back on track, we’re here to explore some safe natural tips to encourage it to show up. We will also list the situations where speeding up your period may not be safe and debunk common myths about period induction.
Femia helps you understand your symptoms and when to take action
Why might you want to induce your period?
We’ve all been there: an important event is coming up at the same time as your period. It might be a long-awaited vacation, a wedding, a sports competition, or any other occasion where you’d rather not be dealing with menstrual symptoms. You might just need relief from bloating, mood swings, or intense cramps. Or if your periods are irregular, you might want to induce one as a way to regulate your cycle.
Before trying one of the ways to make your period come faster, it’s important to make sure it’s safe to do so. If you are pregnant, have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hormonal imbalances, or are dealing with a lot of stress, inducing your period may not be a good idea.
👉Find out more: Can you get pregnant without a period?
Natural ways to encourage your period
If you’re wondering what makes your period come faster, there are natural ways to encourage it. These methods may not work for everyone, but they are safe to try and can enhance your overall well-being. So, how to make your period come faster naturally?
Exercise
You can use exercise to stimulate your period. Moving your body improves blood circulation and reduces stress levels. Try exercises like light cardio, walking, or gentle stretching to encourage your body to relax and balance your hormones.
Be mindful of the intensity: moderate exercise can make your period come faster, but putting a strain on yourself with intense exercise can sometimes have the opposite effect and delay your period.
Dietary changes
How to get your period to start by eating? Certain foods have long been associated with inducing a period, although there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support these claims. We’re talking about foods high in vitamin C, like lemon, oranges, bell peppers, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, fennel seeds, carrots, and beetroot.
These food choices may support uterine health, increase blood flow to your uterus, and raise estrogen levels. If you want to try inducing your period through food, we recommend incorporating one or some of these foods into an already balanced diet rather than focusing on them exclusively.
Relaxation techniques
Stress is notorious for disrupting hormonal signals that regulate ovulation, causing your period to come late. Trying to relax and be more mindful could be a way to make your period come faster.
We all find different techniques for relaxing, so take on a personalized approach. You will get the most out of a self-care routine that includes techniques you know work for you personally.
If you are not sure how to relax, here are a few suggestions. You can try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to help calm your mind and body. Even simple self-care practices, such as taking a warm bath or spending time in nature, can help reduce stress and support hormonal balance.
Sex
Can sex make your period come early, really? It might. Sexual activity, especially orgasms, may increase blood flow to the uterus and cause mild uterine contractions. While this might theoretically influence the menstrual cycle, there is no direct evidence to confirm that it can induce menstruation. Speaking of stress relief – sexual pleasure might be another way to relax and unwind.
Keep in mind that these methods are most effective when coupled with a healthy lifestyle. If your period is significantly late or irregular, it’s a good idea to speak with a trusted healthcare provider to check for any underlying issues.
👉Find out more: Does period sex make you more attached? Exploring the emotional and spiritual aspects
When inducing your period may not be safe
While looking to find out how to get your period faster, stop for a second. Making sure your period doesn’t come during your vacation may seem like a priority, but you should always think about your well-being first. Here is when inducing your period may not be safe:
- If you suspect pregnancy. A missed or delayed period can be an early sign of pregnancy. Attempting to induce your period while pregnant may be dangerous to you and the baby. It’s important to first take a pregnancy test and make sure you are not pregnant.
- If you have underlying medical conditions. Conditions like PCOS, thyroid disorders, or other hormonal imbalances can disrupt your cycle. Inducing a period without addressing the root cause may just mask symptoms and prevent you from getting supportive treatment.
- If your periods are consistently irregular. Having an irregular menstrual cycle could signal a more serious reproductive health issue, such as endometriosis. Instead of treating the problem by yourself, it’s best to reach out to a trusted healthcare provider and get the care you need.
- If you’re experiencing severe stress or rapid weight changes. High levels of stress or significant weight loss or gain can mess up your hormones and meddle with your period. A healthcare provider can help determine whether these factors are affecting your cycle and recommend the best solution.
- If you’re unsure of the cause of the delay. Trying to induce your period without understanding why it’s late could potentially worsen the situation. It’s always a good idea to consult a healthcare provider to rule out serious issues before thinking how to start your period.
Femia helps you understand your symptoms and when to take action
Myths about inducing periods
Myth: Eating pineapple or papaya will make your period come faster.
Fact: Pineapple contains bromelain, and papaya is thought to increase estrogen levels. These fruits are often claimed to induce periods, but there is no scientific evidence to back this up. If you like pineapple or papaya, definitely add them to your diet, but don’t rely on them as methods for how to make your period come faster.
Myth: Herbs and supplements are guaranteed ways to induce a period.
Fact: Some herbal remedies, like parsley tea or dong quai, are often suggested as methods for how to induce your period. However, the safety and efficacy of these remedies haven’t been scientifically proven. Taking large doses might even be harmful. Before taking any herbal supplements, it’s best to check it with a trusted healthcare provider.
Myth: Extreme exercise will bring about your period.
Fact: Intense physical activity may disrupt hormones and delay your period, especially if you are dieting and not eating much. It’s better to do moderate exercise, which can often stimulate circulation and help you feel less stressed. As a result, moderate exercise might actually help bring about your period more quickly.
Myth: Warm baths or heating pads will make your period come.
Fact: Taking a warm bath is a great way to relax your muscles and alleviate premenstrual cramps, but there’s no evidence that it can trigger your period. A warm bath could help your period come faster if it is a part of your self-care routine, as it might help you relax and relieve stress.
Myth: You can force your period to come on demand.
Fact: The start of your menstrual bleeding is determined by complex hormonal processes and there’s no guaranteed way to make your period arrive quicker. Trying too hard or using unsafe methods to induce it can do more harm than good. Be patient and try to honor your body’s natural rhythms.
Questions from the Femia community
Are there risks associated with trying to induce a period?
Yes, using unverified herbal remedies or extreme methods can come with risks attached. For instance, taking high doses of herbs can lead to hormonal imbalances, digestive issues, or even liver damage. Certain supplements or drastic lifestyle changes may interfere with your natural cycle and worsen underlying health conditions. It’s important to stick to safe, evidence-based methods and consult with a trusted healthcare provider before trying to induce your period by yourself.
How long should I wait before seeing a doctor for a late period?
If your period is more than two weeks late or if irregular periods are the norm, it's a good idea to consult a healthcare provider. A delayed period could be an early sign of pregnancy, hormonal imbalances, or underlying medical conditions like PCOS, thyroid issues, or stress. Waiting for several weeks can only prevent you from getting the right diagnosis or supportive treatment. If you’ve missed more than one cycle or if your cycle is always irregular, make sure to contact your trusted healthcare provider.
Can hormonal birth control be used to control period timing?
Yes, hormonal birth control is often used to regulate menstrual cycles. Pills, patches, injections, or IUDs can balance hormone levels and positively impact ovulation and menstruation, which helps make periods more predictable. However, you should always discuss this method with your trusted healthcare provider to ensure the method is right for you. They can recommend the best type of birth control based on your health needs and preferences, and help you understand how it might affect your cycle and overall health.
What happens if I try to induce my period but it doesn’t work?
If the natural methods we discussed fail to give you the desired result, there isn’t much you can do to make your period come faster. Although it’s not fun to think about, an underlying issue could be causing the delay. It’s always best to reach out to your trusted healthcare provider to make sure you are not dealing with PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, or some other medical issue. A trusted healthcare advocate can also create a specialized recommendation to help regulate your menstrual cycle long-term.
The bottom line
If you’re wondering how to make your period come faster or how to get your period to start, stick to safe, natural methods like exercise, dietary changes, relaxation, and having sex. These methods are safe to try, but remember that success is not guaranteed.
Myths about getting your period faster, such as relying on herbal remedies or eating pineapple and papaya, often lack scientific support and may even pose risks. Instead, focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoid unsafe or unproven methods.
Delayed or missed periods can sometimes be caused by underlying health issues, such as hormonal imbalances, PCOS, or other medical conditions that require proper diagnosis and treatment. It’s best to reach out to your trusted healthcare provider to find out the root cause of your symptoms and find ways to best support your reproductive health.
References
- Galan, Nicole. “How to Make Your Period Come Faster: Methods and Myths.” Medical News Today, 29 Mar. 2019, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324830.
- Huhmann, Kimberly. “Menses Requires Energy: A Review of How Disordered Eating, Excessive Exercise, and High Stress Lead to Menstrual Irregularities.” Clinical Therapeutics, vol. 42, no. 3, Mar. 2020, pp. 401–07. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.01.016.
- Petrine, Jéssica Pereira Castro, et al. “The Impact of Mental Health and Psychological Stressors on Menstrual Cycle Modulation: Exploring the Influence of Age and Hormonal Contraceptives.” Archives of Women’s Mental Health, Aug. 2024. Springer Link, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-024-01499-1.
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