[Texinator]

Maybe you should move your question to the Ask Women thread, Tex.

I just figured, since we're already talking about ways to shorten periods, I'd ask if this one such way. Of course, I'm sure Mes' boyfriend and other men would be delighted if lots of sex during menstruation means halving the time that the menstruation lasts.

[ItsASecret]

Does sexual activity, whether masturbation or intercourse, have any affect on your period, either by making it shorter or by at least making it less uncomfortable?

If there was an effect it would only be physically due to the stress release that sex brings, proving that sex is a method of stress relief for that woman (if sex is a burden or chore it can make cycles worse).

I've heard that orgasms are supposed to clear out the uterus of blood and old tissue faster, which means the period is shorter and the cramping is less. Some women swear by it, others respond with "What are you talking about?", though with the latter I don't know if it doesn't work for them or if they just don't want to engage in any sexual activity while menstruating.

Meh, helps some women and others not even a little bit. The contractions from an orgasm are the reason any period symptom relief would happen. Contractions themselves will not absolutely make your period shorter nor will it completely clear anything out but the overall feeling and effect from an orgasm canvalleviate pain and cramping that may be causing period stress and therefore make the cycle more easy to cope with even if it is not shortened.

[FortunsFoole]

Have you thought of maybe going in to see a naturopath? I know there are some herbs that can help with balancing things out like this. Over time they can help pretty significantly, in my experience at least. I've had combinations of herbs regulate me more quickly than even fertility drugs did.

[Mes T]

HA. LLE. LU. JAH.

I've given up on this whole idea shortly after I started this thread, but last month again I was again fed up with my dang period, so I went and did some quick online research aaaaand...

I don't know if it's one thing, or a combination of the few things I've tried, but IT'S WORKED!! My period was shorter this month by a good 2-3 days. It's still long, but 2-3 days shorter? After just these tiny modifications, which I can increase next month? HALELLUJAH.

Here's what I've done. All of these things, when searching on the net, were popular suggestions for shortening your menstrual cycle. I wanted as much effect as possible so I tried them all at once.

1. I drank red raspberry leaf tea a few days before and during my period. This helps to strengthen the lining of the uterus, and is most commonly used for very pregnant women to ease childbirth but... apparently it can also help shorten menstruation!

2. I exercised, a weeee bit. I don't exercise normally, though I wish I did. Well around the time of my period I went on maybe two jogs and a couple long walks.

3. I reduced my intake of sugar and meat... a weeee bit. I reduced my caffeine intake substantially.

4. I changed from tampons to a menstrual cup. Lots of people claim that menstrual cups shorten your period as compared with tampons, and I can see why! Doesn't irritate your vagina with stupid dyes or whatever they have in tampons, doesn't dry it out, leaves everything up there well alone... Not to mention those cups save you soooo much money on tampons and pads, they're reusable, they leak less... Omg.

Okay I think that's everything, I'll post again if there's something I've forgotten...

Some of y'all weren't believers, but seriously, here I am with a significantly shorter period with minimal modifications to my daily life and no expensive, risky, side-effect-ie hormone pills anywhere in the picture.

PRAISE THE MENSTRUAL LORD, is what I say!

[Ashlee T.]

Glad to hear your having some luck Mes!!!

[ItsASecret]

My period was shorter this month by a good 2-3 days. It's still long, but 2-3 days shorter? After just these tiny modifications, which I can increase next month?

Maybe it works, but it would have to happen every single month from the exactly the same things that you did this single month and with other women doing to same exact things you have been doing as well in order to possible say it is a saving grace (I am just going to call it that because that is how I would consider it lol)....otherwise it can be chalked up to the common "periods vary every cycle"....which is not all that bad because in all it was shorter lol. I would love to get rid of the darn thing altogether if I could.

[CHANDLERS WISH]

Grow old It's a Secret faster and your wish will come true

Messssss I have to hand it to you, to experiement and try anything, everything, natural to shorten this, it's like a possessed woman on a mission Na, I mean when you have a goal you go for it.

I do think excercise helps I don't know why but it does.

Way to go, keep going, if it shortens to the way it is now, each month for a few you did it girlfriend but don't expect it to shorten more, because then you will feel let down and if it goes back, take heart and keep working sometimes like everything it takes time for the body to adjust ok....hugs

[ItsASecret]

Grow old It's a Secret faster and your wish will come true

lol well I have started, I got some grey hairs coming in.

[Mes T]

LOL ItsASecret. Optimism woman, optimism!

I am going to try to do the same thing next month and the month after, etc... We know that there are so many things out there that affect our cycles, so why not try to take control of some of it.

And this, if anything, is a great motivator for me to make some healthy changes to my lifestyle. Hmmm shorter periods and overall hotter bod hmmm... I like. LOL!!

[ItsASecret]

If you find a way to stop it completely without taking the specific type of birth control that does prevent it for a year let me know! Even getting it down to a single day would be great. If I was not so lazy and did not absolutely loathe working out I would also try to experiment with exercise but yeah...too lazy lol. Do all the exercise work for me MesT so I know if it is worth it to even try working out some day!!! lol