Can you really delay your period?

“I drank two ibuprofens and gelatin…and it stopped my period,” she said. touted rapper Cardi B in an interview given in 2019. Although the video has existed for a long time, it recently made headlines again after an Internet user tried this wacky cocktail to delay her menstrual period. There TikToker Alyssa Jeacoma assures in a video that the cocktail would have worked on her. “I don’t know who came up with this idea, but it worked for 8 hours.” So myth or reality?

For ibuprofen, there is evidence that this medication plays a key role in delaying periods. “Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and naproxen (Aleve) reduce prostaglandin production“, explains obstetrician-gynecologist Rebecca Russell on the website of the Cleveland Clinic. Prostaglandins are the substances that help trigger the menstrual cycle each month in women. But taking ibuprofen can delay periods by up to a day or two, and the effects may vary from woman to woman. There is no guarantee that it will work for everyone. On top of that, you would have to consume a significant amount of anti-inflammatory to feel the effects. “Stopping periods would require a higher dose than recommended in over-the-counter bottles: about 800 milligrams of ibuprofen, every six hours, or 500 milligrams of naproxen, three times a day“, explains Dr. Russell. “It should be done very regularly“. Which can lead to potential health risksincluding kidney damage, stomach pain and stomach ulcers, and even bleeding.

As for gelatin, there is no scientific evidence that the drink can delay periods – just like other so-called tricks seen on social media like lemon juice, lentils or apple cider vinegar. “Drinking large amounts of gelatin may have side effects, such as bloating or digestive problems“, even specifies the site Healthline.

Conclusion, if you want to delay the arrival of your period, it is safer to consult a doctor or your gynecologist.