Inducing Menstruation

I drank the Goya nectar and it worked!

Have you ever had a late period, knowing that you weren't preggers, but struggling with all the yucky side effects of PMS all the same, without any end in sight? I have. As someone with PCOS (maybe) infrequent or non-existant periods have always been a problem for me. I'll get bloated, have mood swings, cramps, fatigue and, alas, no period.

I've done a lot of research on inducing your period and have found that there are, surprisingly, some remedies that really work (or, at least people say they do and in one occassion, they have for me).

1. Papaya. Vitamin C suppresses the production of progesterone, thereby allowing the lining of the uterus to shed more easily. I have taken Vitamin C supplements without any effect, but the papaya trick worked for me. My dear, sweet mother picked me up some papaya juice one month when I was having menstruation issues. After drinking it, next morning I had by far the absolute worst cramps I've ever had -- I literally could not walk -- but I think it was worth it, because my period came that day. The trick is papaya juice is very difficult to find in the UK. In the US, where there are large Hispanic populations, you can usually find it in the ethnic food section of the supermarket with the Latin ingredients. It is possible that it the papaya and the period were just a coincidence, but the fact that I've never had cramps before makes me feel that there was a definite correlation.

2. Parsley tea. I am trying this now -- there is a fresh, hot cup of parsley tea on my coffee table as I type! I will report back on it's efficacy, however, I have read reviews claiming that it does work. One reviewer wrote that it "tastes like ass" but the taste is actually nice to me. It reminds me of the great Hungarian dishes with parsley in it that my father used to make.

Here is the method. It is recommended that you use fresh parsley.

1. Pour hot water (not boiling) over a few sprigs of parsley.
2. Wait for 2-3 minutes.

Some recommend using the parsley as a vaginal suppository but I will not discuss this here. That is a bit too much for me: I don't want to turn my vag into a some strange stewing pot of fragrant roots and herbs.

I have heard that adding honey makes it taste better, but to me that would be gross! Just suck it up, drink it and we'll see what happens!

EDIT: Verdict on parsley tea: It did NOT work for me.