[Sportschosun Reporter Jang Jong-ho] During China's National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao), female students have reportedly turned to birth control pills and even dietary methods to delay their periods, drawing attention.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the Gaokao was held across China from the 7th to the 10th.
The Gaokao is a national exam taken by most Chinese high school students. It is seen as a test that has a major impact not only on college admission, but also on future careers and social opportunities.
According to Chinese statistics, girls now make up about half of students in secondary education. Many of them are likely to have their menstrual cycle overlap with exam dates. Liu Chengrou, an influencer in the gynecology field, estimated that about 30% of all female test-takers could have their periods during the Gaokao.
As a result, some female students are looking for ways to delay their periods, worried that their concentration may drop during the exam or that menstrual pain could interfere with performance.
On Chinese social media, users shared anecdotal remedies claiming that drinking apple vinegar or eating mangoes, blueberries, and durian could help postpone menstruation.
One female student said, "I drank a glass of apple vinegar every day from two weeks before the exam until the last test day, and I was actually able to delay my period." She added, "I feel that my problem-solving ability drops during my period. I wanted to take the exam without any issues."
However, short-term birth control pills were cited as the most effective method. Some test-takers chose to take them despite concerns about side effects, driven by pressure over their exam results.
Many women encouraged them, saying, "Short-term birth control pills are also used to treat gynecological conditions" and "They do not cause major harm to your health, so focus on the exam."
Not every case had a positive outcome, though. One student who suffers from severe menstrual pain said she started taking birth control pills a month before the Gaokao, but hormonal changes gave her severe headaches and actually made her exam condition worse. She claimed her actual test scores were about 40 points lower than her average on mock exams.
Gynecology experts also advise that short-term birth control pills can be used when it is necessary to adjust menstruation for special schedules such as exams. However, they say it is advisable to consult medical professionals and begin adjusting the menstrual cycle at least two to three months in advance to reduce the risk of sudden side effects.
Meanwhile, this year's Gaokao had about 12.9 million test-takers in China. That was slightly down from 13.35 million last year, but about 25% higher than 10 years ago. Competition in China is so intense that a single point can separate hundreds of students in the rankings, leaving test-takers under enormous pressure.
Jang Jong-ho, Sportschosun
