【Just Before Autumn Trips! Real-World Survey on Menstrual Cycle Shifting】87.5% of Users Felt They Successfully Delayed Periods, 64.5% Repeated Use 2+ Times — Voices from Users and Top Use Cases Revealed

Clinic Fora Group, which offers both in-person and online medical consultations, has analyzed the usage patterns and open-ended feedback from 200 women who have actually experienced menstrual cycle shifting—defined as taking birth control pills to delay menstruation—based on a nationwide survey of 400 women aged 18 to 44.

Open-ended responses included comments such as, "I had no idea something so unpredictable could be controlled so easily—I wish I had known this earlier," and "I used to think it was something to avoid, but now I realize it’s a much more accessible medication than I imagined."

Cumulative usage frequency shows that 64.5% of respondents have used menstrual shifting two or more times, with 26.5% using it four or more times and 18.5% six or more times. Regarding effectiveness, 63.0% said they successfully delayed their period as planned, and 24.5% said they were able to delay it to some extent—combining for 87.5% who felt they successfully shifted their cycle. Only 2.0% said it did not work well.

The most common scenario for using menstrual cycle shifting was "domestic travel or visiting hometowns" at 43.0%, followed by "live concerts, festivals, or events" at 16.0%, "important work, interviews, or presentations" at 13.0%, and "exams, tests, or certification" at 9.5%, indicating broad use beyond just travel.

In 2026, Silver Week will be a five-day holiday from Saturday, September 19 to Wednesday, September 23. Autumn is a busy season with overlapping schedules including festivals, sports events, weddings, and qualification exams. However, the method to advance menstruation requires starting medication within five days of the start of the period, making it difficult to arrange at the last minute.

This press release features insights from Clinic Fora physicians on user feedback, real-world usage patterns, and the ideal timing for medical consultation based on planned events.

【Overview of the 'Survey on Menstrual Cycle Shifting'】

・Survey Content: Survey on menstrual cycle shifting

・Target Respondents: 400 women aged 18–44 nationwide (currently menstruating)

※Evenly split: 200 with experience using pills for menstrual shifting / 200 without experience

・Survey Period: July 23 (Thu) – July 27 (Mon), 2026

・Survey Method: Online survey (conducted by Neomarketing)

※When citing these results, please credit "Survey by Clinic Fora."

※Percentages are rounded to the second decimal place, so totals may not sum to exactly 100%.

※Unless otherwise noted, all figures in this release are based on respondents who have used pills for menstrual shifting (n=200).

※First release: "70% Affected by Periods in 'Domestic Travel/Home Visits,' 40% in 'Beach/Pools' — Doctors Explain How to Delay Periods Using Moderate-Dose Pills and Key Precautions" https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000071.000096150.html

※Second release: "About 76% of Non-Users Feel 'Anxious' About Menstrual Shifting; ~1 in 5 Says 'Not Sure What’s Wrong, Just Feels Scary' — Doctors Explain 7 Common Concerns" https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000073.000096150.html — also recommended for reference.

Key Survey Findings

・Finding ①: User feedback includes "I wish I had known earlier" and "It’s more accessible than I thought."

・Finding ②: 64.5% have used it two or more times, showing high repeat usage.

・Finding ③: Top use case is "domestic travel/home visits," but also widely used for work and exams.

・Finding ④: Satisfaction centers on experiences like "I could enjoy myself fully" and "freedom from stress."

・Finding ⑤: Over one in three users received prescriptions via online consultations.

Finding ① User Voices: "I Wish I Had Known Earlier," "More Accessible Than Expected"

200 women who have used birth control pills for menstrual shifting were asked to freely describe positive experiences or impressions.

Responses such as "I wish I had known earlier" and "more accessible than expected" highlight the gap between pre-use perceptions and actual experience. As mentioned in the second release, 76.0% of those without experience feel some anxiety about menstrual shifting. Meanwhile, 82.5% of those who actually used it also had concerns beforehand. Of those, 74.5% responded that "it was less concerning than expected (anxieties were resolved)," indicating that the presence of anxiety does not significantly differ between experienced and inexperienced individuals.

※Non-users of menstrual shifting: n=200 ※Users of menstrual shifting: n=200 ※Users who had concerns before use: n=165

Age

Open-ended Response

34 years old

I had no idea something so unpredictable could be controlled so easily—I wish I had known this earlier.

33 years old

I used to think it was something to avoid, but now I realize it’s a much more accessible medication than I imagined.

37 years old

I was skeptical about whether I could really shift my period, but being able to avoid it during an important event allowed me to enjoy the occasion without menstrual stress—so I’m glad I used it.

44 years old

I dance, and being able to avoid my period during events meant I didn’t have to worry about costumes or movements.

37 years old

I could go on a hot spring trip without worry since my period and schedule were shifted. Also, less luggage and no concerns about leakage during long trips.

39 years old

Taking the pill at a fixed time was a bit bothersome, but I was able to fully enjoy my plans.

28 years old

It was great to go through the period without discomfort or leakage.

28 years old

Knowing exactly when my period will come reduced my anxiety.

32 years old

Side effects were severe, so I stopped.

※Excerpts from open-ended responses (n=200). Only obvious typos and formatting have been adjusted for readability. Content remains as originally stated.

※Effects, efficacy, and side effects vary individually.

※This survey did not target Clinic Fora patients but was conducted via a third-party panel. It does not represent the outcomes of specific treatments.

Finding ② 64.5% Have Used It Two or More Times, with High Repeat Usage

Respondents were asked about their total number of times using birth control pills for menstrual shifting.

64.5% reported using it two or more times, 26.5% four or more times, and 18.5% six or more times.

Regarding whether they successfully shifted their menstrual timing:

63.0% said they shifted as planned, and 24.5% said they shifted to some extent—totaling 87.5% who felt they succeeded. Only 2.0% said it did not work well.

Additionally, 88.0% expressed satisfaction with the outcome (43.5% very satisfied + 44.5% somewhat satisfied), and 79.0% said they would use birth control pills for menstrual shifting again (36.0% definitely + 43.0% if the opportunity arises). (n=200)

※Effects, efficacy, and side effects vary individually. Please consult a physician before use.