A cocktail made from gelatin and ibuprofen has reportedly become trendy on TikTok recently. The reason ? This mixture would allow you to delay your period by a few hours, or even a few days. Is this really possible?
“I drank two ibuprofens and some gelatin… and it stopped my period,” rapper Cardi B boasted in an interview in 2019. While the video has been around for a long time, it recently got talked about again from her after an Internet user tried this wacky cocktail to delay her menstrual period. 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?
@lightweightlyssie Idk who came up with this but like it worked for 8 hours #smart #hack #period #fyp #girls ♬ original sound – Alyssa Jeacoma
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 Cleveland Clinic website. Prostaglandins are the substances that help trigger a woman’s menstrual cycle each month. But taking ibuprofen can delay periods by a day or two at most and the effects may be different from one woman to another. There is no guarantee that it will work for everyone. In addition to this, 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 Healthline site.
Conclusion, if you want to delay the arrival of your period, it is safer to consult a doctor or your gynecologist.