Irregular Periods which are medically known as oligomenorrhea, are quite a common problem for women. They can be really troublesome.
Irregular periods are caused due to multiple factors such as weight loss, lifestyle, and different types of medical conditions that a female might be going through. Irregular periods can result in increased stress levels and tension, which can affect your overall health and mood.
Causes of irregular periods
Every woman has a different physiology and may get irregular periods or skip a period for various reasons. Here are some of the most common causes of skipped or missed periods:
- Pregnancy
Unplanned pregnancy is possible, and the only way to be 100% sure of not conceiving is to abstain from having sex. You may not realise that you are pregnant as every woman may not get the tell-tell symptoms right from the beginning. When you are pregnant, your body stops the process of menstruation and focuses on developing a healthy foetus. - Stress
Stress can negatively impact a woman’s menstrual cycle by prolonging, shortening, or stopping it altogether. People who have a hard time navigating the everyday stresses of life are recommended to engage in calming activities or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). - Sudden weight loss
Excessive or sudden weight loss may cause your period to stop suddenly. Severely restricting your diet may be responsible for stopping the production of certain hormones that are necessary for ovulation. People who are underweight or have suddenly lost an excess amount of weight may be recommended by their general physician to follow a tailor-made diet for them to avoid any health problems. Eating disorders may also be responsible for skipped or irregular periods. - Being overweight
The body of an overweight individual may produce an excess amount of oestrogen, which is a hormone that helps in regulating menstrual cycles. Excess oestrogen can affect your regular menstrual cycle and may also cause your periods to stop. - Contraceptive pills
You may have heard that having a contraceptive pill can have some side effects on the body. Contraceptive pills may cause you to miss a period every so often; however, this is usually not a cause for concern. Some contraceptive pills are hormone-dense and may affect your normal menstrual cycle. Once you stop using contraceptive pills, your menstrual cycle should ideally return to normal; you should consult a doctor if the problem persists. - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
When a woman has PCOS, she may not be able to menstruate regularly. PCOS is a very common condition that may be responsible for as many as 1/3 cases of missed periods.
Best Home Remedies to Induce Periods Immediately
 1. Ginger Tea –
Consumption of tea alongside ginger or ginger in other forms is one of the best home remedies to induce periods. Ginger tea has herbs with magical properties that stimulate menstrual flow, resulting in menstruation. Nonetheless, unlike parsley, consumption of excess ginger might have negative side effects, such as the formation of acidity.
A combination of parsley and ginger tea is one of the good home remedies for delayed periods. Ginger is known to promote contractions by increasing the temperature around the uterus, which makes the period come quicker. One can consume ginger with tea alongside the addition of honey which makes it beneficial for your overall health as well.
If you don’t like to consume tea or don’t feel like drinking tea infused with ginger, you can simply boil freshly grated/grounded/chopped ginger in water for a few minutes and drink this water. You can also use honey to sweeten this beverage and sip it when its warm for 2 to 3 times a day. Doing this regularly for a few days before the expected date of your periods or when you have missed it can help induce periods.
2. Nuts –
You might be surprised to know, but consumption of nuts can induce periods early as well. Snacking on almonds and walnuts is a fantastic way to get ready for your period week.
Both of these types of nuts are high in fibre and protein, and their ability to induce internal heat can be used to regulate and induce early periods. A couple of them before your period can help your health and induce early periods as well.
3. Turmeric –
Consumption and use of turmeric are some of the best home remedies to induce periods early. Turmeric is also an emmenagogue, meaning it can increase blood flow in the uterus and pelvis.
Turmeric has an antispasmodic impact on the body, causing the uterus to expand and menstruation to begin early. Consumption of turmeric alongside milk or coffee can be really beneficial for you.Â
The anti inflammatory and antispasmodic properties of turmeric also help in relieving menstrual cramps. Adding turmeric to your daily diet can be helpful, but if you are looking for home remedies to get periods, you can try consuming ¼th teaspoon of turmeric with honey/jaggery/milk twice a day for a few days before the expected date of your menstruation.
4. Dates –
Dates are one of the best fruits to generate heat during winters. They also happen to be beneficial for those women who are looking to induce their periods early.
During menstruation, drinking warm milk with additional dates can be very soothing. Taking it every night before bed throughout the winter months will undoubtedly benefit your menstrual health, moving you away from irregular patterns helping you get periods early in case you do have irregular cycles.
5. Jaggery –
Jaggery is another food that is consumed to generate heat within the body during the wintertime. Consumption of Jaggery is one of the best and natural ways to induce periods early.Â
If you consume jaggery alongside milk or after your regular meals, it can work towards fixing your irregular period cycles as well.
6. Beetroot –
Beetroot is high in iron, calcium, and folic acid, among other nutrients. Beetroot can help with water retention and bloating, which are frequent problems for women during their periods. Beetroot consumption is a good home remedy for periods to come early.Â
7. Foods high in vitamin C –
Foods that are high in vitamin C can work towards inducing periods early. Vitamin C in high doses can cause menstruation by raising estrogen levels in the body. Increased levels of this hormone cause uterine contractions, which allow bleeding to occur.
Vitamin C can also help to lower progesterone levels, which can contribute to uterine wall disintegration and early induction of periods, also fixing the irregular cycles.
Vitamin C-rich foods, such as citrus fruits, kiwis, and vegetables like tomatoes, broccoli, and bell peppers, can also be included in your regular diet. Consumption of these foods is one of the most popular home remedies to get periods early.Â
8. Parsley –
Parsley is abundant in vitamin C and apiol, which may aid in the stimulation of uterine contractions and help towards inducing periods early naturally.
Apiol, on the other hand, can be poisonous in high doses and is especially harmful to pregnant women. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have renal difficulties, you should try to stay away from parsley consumption.Â
9. Coffee –
Even simple coffee consumption serves as a good home remedy to get periods early. Caffeine in coffee has been shown to boost levels of estrogen, causing your periods to arrive earlier also breaking irregular cycles. Caffeine is also a substance that is used to treat menstrual discomfort.
10. Fennel Seeds –
Fennel seeds can be cooked in water to form a fragrant tea that should be drunk on an empty stomach every morning to help regulate your period and keep your flow healthy. This is one of the oldest and most trusted home remedies for the early arrival of periods.Â
11. Salmon –
Consumption of salmon is not only beneficial for your health but also for period flow and cycles. Salmon has the ability to improve and stabilize your hormones, resulting in the elimination of menstrual problems and irregular cycles.
Other varieties of fish, as well as fish oil, can help you regulate your period and induce them early so that you are not stressed.Â
12. Sesame seeds –
13. Aloe vera –
14. Yoga –
- Surya namaskar or sun salutation
- Bhujangasana
- Dhanurasana
- Vajrasana
- Halasana
- Badhhakonasana
- Paschimottansana
15. Cinnamon
This sweet spice can help in regulating insulin levels in the body that can affect the hormones in a woman’s body and her menstrual cycle. Women with PCOS can have higher than usual levels of insulin in their bodies and irregular periods; cinnamon is known to regulate menstrual cycles. Cinnamon could be used as a supplement and may be effective in treating some women with PCOS.
Drinking cinnamon tea or incorporating cinnamon in your regular food preparations is one of the best natural ways to get periods.
Tips on regulating irregular period
Regular menstruation plays a key role in maintaining a woman’s overall health. Apart from the home remedies to get periods early that are mentioned above, here are some tips that one can use to regulate their menstrual cycle:
1. Reduce stress
Stress can be the culprit for delayed or missed periods according to a study. Cortisol, a hormone released when you are stressed, is likely responsible for irregular periods. This hormone is known to affect the release of specific hormones before ovulation that are responsible for a normal menstrual cycle in animals. One can practice any of the following to promote relaxation:
- Performing breathing exercises
- Working out regularly
- Engaging in a hobby
- Meditating and being mindful
- Reducing workload
- Eliminating known stressors
- Warm baths or sauna
- Masturbating or having sex
2. Reducing exercise in case of adolescent athletes
Female athletes who are in their adolescent often experience amenorrhea during training, but this isn’t normal. Generally, the reason for skipped periods in such females is the low availability of energy. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as an underlying condition or reduced food intake. If this is you, consider reducing the amount of exercise, increase high-energy food intake, and engaging in activities that promote healing. It is also a good idea to consult a gynaecologist if you have been struggling with your menstrual health.
Apart from this, you can examine your diet and see if it is lacking any nutrient. Eating a balanced diet may not be directly related to regulating periods, but it plays an important role in maintaining optimum health, which may affect your reproductive health as well. Additionally, getting enough healthy fats and proteins and ensuring proper sleep is essential.
When to consult a doctor?
Many women who experience amenorrhea frequently usually search ‘how to get period immediately’, which may or may not work depending on various factors. When the problem persists, you should consult a doctor and seek help in case of any of the following:
- You suspect that you are pregnant
- You experienced the symptoms of early menopause or stopped having periods before the age of 45
- You have missed three periods in a row
- You experience bleeding in between periods or during/after having sex
- Your periods changed suddenly
- You have post-menopausal bleeding for more than 12 months
- You are on hormone replacement therapy and experience bleeding
The doctor may ask you about any of the following to understand your case to get to a diagnosis:
- Your sexual history
- You and your family’s medical history
- Any recent changes in your weight
- Pre-existing conditions
- Your diet and lifestyle habits
- An emotional crisis
Generally, your doctor will wait for your periods to return to normal on their own with diet and lifestyle modifications. However, some people may require additional testing and treatment to have regular periods.
Irregular Period Treatment
Irregular periods before any kind of special occasion or event can be really frustrating to deal with. It is critical to take proper diet and take care of your health in order to avoid irregular period cycles and not. Home remedies to get periods early can help you, but it is important to address the main cause of the problem. If your periods are still delayed, you might need to consult a doctor. It can be a sign of an underlying issue.Â
You may find yourself wondering about how to get periods immediately if you have missed your date. The home remedies to get periods early that are listed above can be helpful in some cases, but there is no guarantee. Additionally, if someone consumes too much of the ingredients mentioned above, they risk having certain complications. Thus, it is always better to focus on improving your overall health by following healthy diet and lifestyle before trying different home remedies to get periods and consult a gynaecologist if nothing works.
- Â Menstruation. MedlinePlus[Internet].
https://medlineplus.gov/menstruation.html .Accessed April. 18, 2023. - Your menstrual cycle. OASH, Office on Women’s Health[Internet].
https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/your-menstrual-cycle .Accessed April 18, 2023. - Comparison of Herbal Medicines Used for Women’s Menstruation Diseases in Different Areas of the World. National Library of Medicine[Internet].
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8854496/ .Accessed April 19, 2023.” - Menstrual health: An Ayurvedic perspective. Herbal Reality[Internet].
https://www.herbalreality.com/condition/menstrual-health-ayurvedic-perspective/ .Accessed April 19, 2023. - Hurry Up Already! 13 Natural Methods and Myths to Get Your Period. Greatist[Internet].
https://greatist.com/health/how-to-induce-period .Accessed April 20, 2023.”
Delayed Period Home Remedies - FAQs
How can I get regular periods naturally?
If you face irregular periods, it's essential to know that it is not just a normal condition. Irregular periods may be due to hormonal imbalance, stress, lack of sleep, excessive weight or physical activity. As you're underage and might be not physically active, irregular periods can indeed be a symptom of stress, so you should try to find the reason behind the stress.
What causes a delay in the period?
A delay in the period is caused by hormonal changes in a woman's body during a menstrual cycle. Usually, the length of period cycles varies from woman to woman. Generally, menstrual periods are supposed to appear every 28 days. But if the interval is between 21 to 45 days, it is considered normal. However, if the period is absent for more than 45 days, it is referred to as amenorrhea. Some of the factors responsible for delay in the period include stress, excessive exercise, weight loss, irregular meals, smoking, drinking, oral contraceptive pills, and some medications. However, in most cases, delay in the period is related to the body's hormonal imbalance.
How can you tell if your period is coming soon?
The key is to be aware of the subtle changes in your body. Before your period starts, you might experience several symptoms. For example, you may notice that you are experiencing mood swings, headaches, cramps, and breast tenderness. Periods tend to be lighter during the first few days. It is advisable to keep track of the menstruation cycle.
How to use turmeric to get periods?
Mixing ¼th teaspoon of turmeric powder with warm milk and drinking this mixture twice a day for 2 to 3 days before the expected menstruation date is one of the best uses of turmeric to get periods immediately if they are delayed. This emmenagogue herb has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties that not only help induce periods, but also relieve other symptoms of periods such as menstrual cramps.
Does ginger tea help your period come faster?
Yes, drinking ginger tea regularly can be a home remedy to get periods overnight. Ginger is highly effective in managing menstrual disorders and promoting good reproductive health for women. You can drink fresh ginger juice with water thrice a day for two days before your expected period date or drink hot water infused with fresh ginger by boiling it and adding honey to sweeten it.
How can I make my period come ASAP?
Indian home remedies to induce periods can come in quite handy when you need to get periods ASAP.
What to do if periods are not coming?
If you are experiencing delayed periods, you must do some of the natural home remedies to induce periods immediately. The above article mentions 14 best home remedies to induce periods.