Readers Respond: Would You Feel Comfortable Skipping Your Period or Having a Missed Period?

Responses: 29

Updated December 11, 2009

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I am 42 and started taking POP's last month about a week after my period. I have not had a period since! No spotting either (just sore breasts). I see no problem with not having a period while using the pill. No complaints here!
—Guest Miranda

I would rather never have a period again as it is no use to me. I have severe cardiac problems and a fetus would not survive long in my body anyway - so even if I did get pregnant, the chances of ending up with a healthy baby would be next to zero. I think they need quality long term contraception for women with heart disease, cystic fibrosis and other serious conditions.
—Guest MJ

I just started using birth control that limits my period to 4 times a year. Im doing it because my family has a history of being really fertile on or of birth control so it makes no difference to me. Im also doing it because Im starting grad college this fall and I dont want to deal with my period as often. As for not knowing home pregnancy tests are cheap.
—Guest Rae

I am 52 yrs. old and have been on continuous low dose BC pills for 10 yrs. and haven't had a period. I tried going off once to see how things would be, and the cramping and blood flow were horrendous, so I went back on. The research supports the safety of this regimen, so I'm in for the long haul until I'm in my later 50's when I'll go off to see if I'm in menopause. Not having a period has improved the quality of my life considerably.
—Guest johussion

I have been extending my pills for years. I probably go about 6 months without a period and then I go ahead and have one. IT IS THE WORST PERIOD!!! I bleed for about 2 weeks and cramp so badly. I am not sure if it is worth it.
—Guest Tracy

Some women don't have the luxury of having "normal" periods... thus making it an easy decision to skip my period each month. Per my doctor, and I quote her (as well as many other studies out there and well documented) "it is not necessary for a woman to have a monthly mentrual cycle." My doctor told me this - and I have read other studies backing this. I have endometriosis, and cannot even begin to describe the debilitating natire of my cycles. Lucky for me I found a pill that works for me, and does not cause me issue for skipping my periods....
—Guest Dgirl

I have been on Seasonique for 9 months. With this pill, you take pills everyday for 12 weeks, then you have your period (so you have 4 periods a year). Though it was a hard decision, I chose to stop using this pill. I loved not getting my period each month. It was so convenient and interfered less with my sex life. BUT, I also found myself a bit worried, what if I’m pregnant? I won’t know until the end of the 12 week pill cycle. This stress started to build each month. I finally decided that as much as it was great not to have monthly periods, the security that they bring (knowing that I am not pregnant) may be worth more – so, I will endure my monthly friend again, so I don’t need to endlessly worry about an unintended pregnancy.
—Guest Lexi

I skipped my periods for 6 month by doctors orders. I had cysts on my ovaries and wanted to get pregnant. My doctor suggested I skipped my periods for six months before I got married. I did and after I went off the pill I got pregnant 4 months later. YEAH!
—Guest michelle

I always skip my period. I recently had an implant taken out of my arm (birth control implant) and with the implant, I did not get a period for 3 years . WOO HOO. So, I see no problems using the pill to skip your period. Go for it!
—Guest bloody mary

Personally, I feel that it is not normal for a female to skip her periods. Firstly, you just never know if something may be wrong... you let it slide, and the time you find out what is really wrong with you it’s too late!
—Guest paballo

As much as I HATE it when my monthly friend arrives, I must admit that it is a relief to know that I am not pregnant. It would be tempting to try some of these extended cycle pills, but I think that it will just end up driving me crazy not knowing each month if the pills worked! I guess, for now, I will put up with the monthly bleeding for the assurance of knowing that there is no baby growing inside of me.
—Guest Glass Flower

I see no problem with skipping a period using birth control pills. My doctor explained to me that the very use of birth control pills already manipulates a women's monthly cycle. It seems to me that if you are already manipulating your cycle (so it is no longer "natural" with the hormones in the pill), what difference should it make if you use the pill to manipulate your period as well?
—Guest Chloe

Women are meant to have monthly periods. For me, I don't think it is right to mess with Mother Nature. It just sems wrong to try to skip your period. Women should just embrace that time of the month as part of their femininity!
—Guest HoneyBear

I used my regular birth control pills to skip my period during my honeymoon. What a lifesaver when my doctor explained this option to me. It was simple and easy to do - and I had the most amazing, romantic, and period-free honeymoon EVER!
—Maria

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