Menstruation is the part of the female reproductive cycle where an unfertilized egg is passed out along with the lining of the uterus. It is accompanied by blood loss and can cause Cramps, discomfort and mood swings in a woman. Menstruation is a natural process which is controlled by the levels of hormones in the body and their interaction. It can also be affected by physical condition and environmental factors like stress or emotional problems. Menstruation is not necessarily regular as many people suffer from periods that vary above or below the normal 28 day cycle. This may be caused by a condition such as polycystic ovarian disorder which affects production of eggs as well as hormones.
If a person has a regular period, she is likely to know when her next cycle is due. This is an advantageous situation as one can plan one's life in such a way as to avoid any embarrassing situations. You may also need to postpone or advance your period so that it does not clash with a social event in your life.
Postponing your period can be done through natural or medical methods. Some people have a theory that states that hot foods which are either spicy or generate heat in the body cause menstruation to advance. If you wish to delay your period, the logical option is to avoid such foods. Spicy foods include peppers and garlic. Foods that generate heat in the body include some fruits like mangoes or papaya. A common remedy employed by women is to fry gram lentils and powder the resultant product. This powder can be consumed in a soup on an empty stomach. You can also try fasting and drink only water through the day. This will cause the hormonal balance in your body to change and delay the onset of menstruation. However, this will also tire you out as you will be starving your body of vital nutrients. All diet based remedies will affect the next two or three periods as well.
Finally, you can try to medically deal with this issue by taking oral contraceptive pills beginning from at least a week before your period is expected. These contraceptives can be used until the time when you don't want to extend your period any further. Postponing your period does have the risk of upsetting your body's balance and you may take months to return to having a regular period, so beware of this risk before attempting anything.
answered by G M