For some women, periods are just a minor annoyance. For others, it can disrupt their daily life with pain, heavy bleeding, and other nasty symptoms. No matter which category you fall into, it’s probably safe to say that you would choose not to get your period if you could. But what you may not know is that with hormonal birth control,
skipping your period is actually an option! IUDs, birth control shots, and birth control pills can all be used to stop your period. The advantage of the pill is that you can use it to plan when you want to skip or have your period. Here’s what you need to know about it: You should always check with your doctor first, but medically-speaking, there’s no reason you need to have a monthly period. Menstruation
isn’t physiologically necessary, so there’s no harm in skipping it. In fact, skipping your period with the pill is just as safe as taking hormonal birth control in the first place. Many women choose to skip their period with birth control to help manage menstrual symptoms, such as headaches/migraines, cramps, mood swings, and painful periods. It can also be very beneficial not to have a period if you have a condition that is
worsened by it, such as endometriosis, PCOS, ovarian cysts, or anemia. Plus, skipping your period saves you money on menstrual products and is just more convenient for life in general. The only real drawback to skipping your period is the possibility of random breakthrough bleeding. This is more common within the first few months of not menstruating, and typically happens less over time as your body adjusts. It will also be more
difficult to know if you are pregnant when you skip your period. All you have to do to skip your period with the pill is skip the placebo week and take an active pill everyday. Just remember to have enough monthly packs on hand to account for the extra active pills you’ll need. To resume your normal periods again, simply take your monthly pack as normal without skipping the placebo week. Alternatively, you could also switch to a
pill that suppresses your period for three months at a time (extended-cycle/continuous regimen pills). For more information about birth control, how to use it, and the different options available to you, schedule an appointment with South Avenue Women’s Services. Our caring, compassionate medical professionals will be happy to discuss which option is
right for you and provide you with a prescription or procedure for your chosen contraceptive. Call us today at 585-271-3850 to make your appointment! This fact sheet is a guide to taking the Pill continuously. Your doctor may have recommended that you take the Pill continuously to reduce the number of menstrual periods you have each year, or to try to stop your periods completely. Reducing the number of periods may be recommended if you have heavy or painful periods, or symptoms such as seizures, dizziness, asthma, headaches or mood disturbances that worsen with your menstrual cycle. Skipping periods may also be an option for people with an intellectual or physical disability who find it difficult to manage their periods. Using the Pill to skip periods is safe and won’t cause long-term problems. What is the Pill?The Pill, also known as the oral contraceptive pill (OCP), combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) or birth-control pill, is a daily medication that contains hormones to change the menstrual pattern and to prevent pregnancy. Most pill packets have 21 hormone pills (active pills), and seven sugar pills (hormone-free pills). Some newer types of the Pill have 24 hormone pills and four sugar pills. A menstrual period (sometimes called a withdrawal bleed if you are on the Pill) usually starts a couple of days after taking the sugar pills. This is a result of the fall in hormone levels. Sugar pills have no active ingredients; they are simply included to help you stay in the habit of taking one pill every day. Continuous use of the PillThe Pill is usually taken so that a menstrual period happens every month, copying the pattern of a normal menstrual cycle. This is called cyclical pill use. Continuous use of the Pill is when the sugar pills in the packet are skipped. This means that your period will also be skipped. How to start taking the Pill continuouslyIf you are not already taking the Pill, it is usually best to start the first month by taking all the pills in the first packet, including the sugar pills. You can expect to get a period this time around. Following this period, only take the hormone pills and skip the sugar pills. Move straight onto the next packet after you have taken the last hormone pill in a packet. When you take the Pill, it is important to try and take it at the same time every day. If you are already taking the Pill in the normal cyclical way, you can change to continuous usage by simply skipping the sugar pills when you get to them and moving straight to the hormone pills in the next packet. Breakthrough bleedingSometimes breakthrough bleeding can occur, even though you are taking the Pill continuously. If the bleeding is light or just ‘spotting’ that lasts for two or three days, keep taking the hormone pills daily as you have been. If the light bleeding continues for more than three or four days, or is more like a moderate or heavy period that lasts for more than a day, a four-day break from the Pill is recommended. This involves taking no pill (or taking sugar pills for four days). During this time, you should experience a proper period. Start taking the active pills again after four days. Do not use this technique more than once in any four-week cycle. If you miss two or more active tablets, the pill is much less effective as a contraceptive. You can use pain relief (e.g. Ponstan, Naprogesic, ibuprofen etc.) if you have any period pain during the breakthrough bleeding. Usually the episodes of breakthrough bleeding become less and less frequent, until eventually you may only have one or two periods per year, or none at all. What to do if you forget a pillIf you forget to take a pill, take it as soon as you remember. If this is within 12 hours of the usual dose time, it is considered a late pill. Late pills are still effective as contraceptives. If it is more than 12 hours after the usual dose time, take the forgotten pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking two pills on the same day. The Pill is less likely to protect you from pregnancy if it’s more than 12 hours late. Continue to take the Pill daily at the usual time after a late or forgotten pill. When to see a doctorIf you are taking the Pill continuously to skip periods, go back to your GP or gynaecologist if:
Key points to remember
For more information
Common questions our doctors are askedIs taking the Pill continuously effective for contraception? Yes. If you can successfully skip a period, then you know that your ovaries are ‘switched off’, and that you have good contraception in place. Is the Pill only for contraception? No. Many people find that there are added benefits to taking the Pill. It can make your periods less painful and lighter, which can lower your risk of anaemia (low levels of iron). The Pill can reduce the severity of acne, the risk of ovarian cysts, problems with fibroids, and it can help with endometriosis. The Pill can also give some protection against developing ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, bowel cancer, and osteoporosis. Are there any risks associated with taking the Pill? The Pill may cause some weight gain, headaches and mood changes in some women. Health risks are rare, but the Pill is not suitable for people who have some types of migraine, a history of blood clotting, liver problems, high blood pressure or severe heart problems. It is extremely important not to smoke cigarettes if you are taking the Pill. Will the hormones in the Pill affect my fertility in the future? No. Your fertility will not be affected by taking the Pill continuously or cyclically. After you stop taking the Pill, you are no longer protected from becoming pregnant. Is it safe or ‘natural’ to skip my periods? Yes. Skipping periods is quite safe. Pregnant women do not have a period for
nine months and breastfeeding women may not have a period for up to two years, depending on how often they breastfeed their baby. It is quite natural to skip periods. It is common for those who have many babies and who breastfeed their babies for extended lengths of time to have less than 50 periods in their lifetime. Some specialists recommend having a period at least once every three months, in order to shed the lining of the uterus, but you should discuss this with your doctor. Developed by The Royal Children's Hospital Gynaecology department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers. Reviewed March 2018. Kids Health Info is supported by The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. To donate, visit www.rchfoundation.org.au. What happens if I skip the placebo pills and start a new pack?Skipping the non-hormonal birth control pills (aka placebo pills, “sugar” pills, or reminder pills) in your pill pack won't cause any side effects. The non-hormonal pills are just there to help you remember to take your pill every day and start your next pack on time.
When should I skip my period on birth control?The month before you want to skip your period, start a new pack of birth control as you normally would. When you get to the placebo pills, or the week off, skip that step and instead continue straight to day 1 of a new pack of birth control pills. This will give you 6-7 weeks straight without a period.
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What happens when you skip your period on birth control
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