references
  
      Journal of Clinical Gynecology & Obstetrics: “The Effects of Ascorbic Acid on the Estrogen/Progesterone Levels in the Isolated Rabbit Uterine Muscle”
    
      Mayo Clinic: “Vitamin C”
    
      Office of Dietary Supplements: “Iron”
    
      BioMed Research International: “Herbal Medicine for Oligomenorrhea and Amenorrhea: A Systematic Review of Ancient and Conventional Medicine”
    
      U.S. Food & Drug Administration: “FDA 101: Dietary Supplements”
    
      PLOS ONE: “Lifestyle and Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea Among Spanish Female University Students”
    
      U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans"
    
      Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center: "Is it normal to miss periods?"

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

While vitamin C can't affect your period much, getting enough of the nutrient is important for your overall wellbeing.

Image Credit: Vasil Dimitrov/E+/GettyImages

Image Credit: Vasil Dimitrov/E+/GettyImages

  • Can It Start Your Period?
  • Does It Help With Your Period?
  • Does It Stop or Delay Your Period?
  • Other Vitamins

Per the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults should aim to eat the following dose of the vitamin every day:

‌People assigned female at birth: ‌75 mg ‌People assigned male at birth: ‌90 mg

  • ‌People assigned female at birth: ‌75 mg
  • ‌People assigned male at birth: ‌90 mg

There’s no evidence to suggest that taking vitamin C during your period can help you regulate an irregular cycle.

Similarly, there’s no research that supports the claim that vitamin C shortens your cycle.

Another rumor: Pineapple can prompt a period or even induce labor because it contains the bromelain enzyme. But there’s no research to back this up. “Neither canned nor fresh pineapple contain enough bromelain to induce labor or a period,” Sylvester Terry says. However, some medicinal herbs may affect menstruation. A March 2018 review of small human studies in ‌BioMed Research International‌ found that five traditional herbs may help regulate infrequent or missed periods:

Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) Mentha longifolia (wild mint) Paeonia lactiflora (Chinese peony) Sesamum indicum L. (sesame) Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree)

The researchers call for more rigorous research before drawing any firm conclusions, though. What’s more, these supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA, so talk to your doctor before trying any herbal products.

However, some medicinal herbs may affect menstruation. A March 2018 review of small human studies in ‌BioMed Research International‌ found that five traditional herbs may help regulate infrequent or missed periods:

  • Foeniculum vulgare (fennel)
  • Mentha longifolia (wild mint)
  • Paeonia lactiflora (Chinese peony)
  • Sesamum indicum L. (sesame)
  • Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree)

The researchers call for more rigorous research before drawing any firm conclusions, though. What’s more, these supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA, so talk to your doctor before trying any herbal products.

      Journal of Clinical Gynecology & Obstetrics: “The Effects of Ascorbic Acid on the Estrogen/Progesterone Levels in the Isolated Rabbit Uterine Muscle”
    
      Mayo Clinic: “Vitamin C”
    
      Office of Dietary Supplements: “Iron”
    
      BioMed Research International: “Herbal Medicine for Oligomenorrhea and Amenorrhea: A Systematic Review of Ancient and Conventional Medicine”
    
      U.S. Food & Drug Administration: “FDA 101: Dietary Supplements”
    
      PLOS ONE: “Lifestyle and Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea Among Spanish Female University Students”
    
      U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans"
    
      Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center: "Is it normal to miss periods?"