From the article: No More Periods: The Safety of Continuous Birth Control
Hormonal contraception can allow you to control when and if you have a monthly period. Studies show most women would prefer a missed period or extended menstrual cycle if given the choice.
When you use the pill, you don’t have a REAL period - it’s withdrawal bleeding and is NOT needed to maintain gynecologic health.
What’s your opinion of using extended cycle pills to skip periods or shorten how many times your period comes? Do you feel it's unnatural to skip periods while taking the pill? Do you need the security of a monthly period? Would you feel comfortable extending your menstrual cycle length while on the pill? Share Your Opinion
The Difference in My Life!
- In the past, I have had such terrible periods – they were so painful that I often missed 1-3 days of work each month because I was in such severe pain. My periods also triggered bad migraines. My doctor suggested that I use my birth control pills to skip my next few periods to see if that provided any relief. The difference was like night and day!!! I eventually switched to Lybrel (a pill that you take everyday, all year long, so I never get a period anymore). Though it would be nice to know for sure, each month, that I am not pregnant, this little bit of uncertainty is well worth the relief from all the pain that was associated with my monthly periods.
- —Guest Janna
Not Sure
- It would be tempting to try to use my pill to skip a period… maybe if I had a reason. I know that my roommate has skipped her period with her birth control pills because she was supposed to get her period during a trip with her boyfriend. I think that I would be willing to do this, but I would be hesitant to use some of the extended cycle pills where I would consistently be skipping periods. I’m not in a relationship right now, but in the past, it was reassuring to know (for sure) each month that there was no bun in the oven!
- —Guest Olivia
Less Expense: A Win-Win
- Let's be practical (and forget all the moral debates on this issue). My Seasonique pills cost the same as regular pills. Only having my period 4 times a year helps to save me lots of money - think about what you will save on sanitary pads and tampons if you only bleed for a few days each year (my average period is 4 days - 4 times a year - that's ONE box of tampons!!!). In a time of economic crisis, this is a great way to reduce my expenses. Plus, its also better for the environment. A win-win situation for all!!!
- —Guest Thrifty Gal
It is Easy!
- Its easy to skip. I do it all the time. What you do is if you're on a 28 day pack, skip your sugar pills and start a new pack. If your on a 21 day pack, just start a new pack. Just continue to your next pack. REMEMBER TO SKIP YOUR SUGAR PILLS - these pills do not have hormones, so the lack of hormone in your system triggers your withdrawal bleed (i.e., fake period). If you start your next pack instead, your period won't come... awesome!
- —Guest Jordan
I really want to
- My periods are incredibly painful and heavy, and every month I find myself throwing child-like tantrums because I become so annoyed with feeling so sick.I would love to stop them, I am only 16, but at least I wouldn't have to worry so much. All I have to do is just convince my mother to buy me these pills and I'll be free.
- —Guest Maree
ABSOLUTELY!
- I've been taking Yaz for years and have been skipping the 4 sugar pills for years, I am 43 and the Yaz works great for adult acne! I feel it also helps keep my hormones level and may help perimenapausal symptoms. I do not schedule a period break, I feel no need, I do not plan on becoming pregnant. My use of ibuprophen is minimal, I used to live on it during my periodn and my first 2 period days were so heavy; I hated day trips during them! Also, my period used to be on a 25 day cycle so they came frequent. This changed my life, can't blamee my bad moods now on PMS! Say goodbye!
- —Guest ChIrissy
No Shame
- I would absolutely, positively feel comfortable skipping my period! When I get my period, it is always at the worst time!! Even my 1st period came at a bad time, I was going to ask out my crush, but all my confidence was gone because of it. I am a virgin, and I don't want to take "the pill" because I don't want to get pregnant, that's what condoms are for, I just want my period to pick a day, and if at all possible not happen. And if science has come up with a solution, I'm going to think about going on it, and living a life, not worried about getting my period (it never picks a week or a day it jumps around).
- —Guest Dreamer121
Yes
- I would love to skip my period, are you kidding me?
- —Guest Angie
I would love to stop myperiod!
- As my periods are very heavy and lengthy. I would say yes! I also get severe cramps, backaches, headaches, and pmdd that makes me suicidal. I currently take ortho evra, but am considering lybrel to get rid of them altogether. My only worry is that since it took 5-6 trials of different pills to find the one that worked for me I don't know how well it will work on my symptoms, but I guess the only way to find out is to try. It sure would save money on pads and tampons though!
- —Guest Nora
awesome!
- For all of you that think that there is a risk to skipping your period, think again. I just recently did the Susan G. Komen breast cancer run. After the run, they had tents set up with different health practitioners and what not. Well, I walked up to the Moffit Cancer Center booth. It's the center for women's oncology. There were doctors & NP's from the center handing out trivia cards and if you got the trivia question right you spun the wheel and won a prize. My question was something about ovarian cancer and I can't quite remember the question. But I remember asking her a about birth control and the risk of ovarian cancer. She told me that the fewer periods I had in my lifetime, the less likely I was to get ovarian cancer. So I think that's an awesome tip to know. So now, I'm on a monophasic birth control pill called lessina which allows me to skip the placebos and go straight into the next pack without interruption & it decreases my risk of cancer! :D Works for me! **Note from Dawn Stacey: all combination birth control pills allow you to skip the placebo week and go straight into the next pack!
- —Guest jordanj
would i feel comfortable?
- I'm not sure because because I may forget I'm on the pill and begin panicing that I'm pregnant - I mean I'm only 15.
- —Guest sunshine2244
And the risk? (Dawn Stacey responds)
- I find the assertions that this is without risk infuriating, because all the cited studies supporting the safety of this approach have been short-term. Can anybody make a scientifically-supported statement that this is safe over the long-term? No. Because it hasn't been studied. OC is a hormonal intervention, and the evidence on it is a mixed bag (raises the risk of some cancers, reduces others). Some women love the Pill, other women are absolutely miserable on it. What we can say for sure is: -every woman responds differently -the information on long-term risk is inconclusive which is exactly why these kinds of general declarations of safety are so alarming. Health professionals should be honest with women - we just don't know! - then let them make an informed decision. We forget what happened with DES and thalidomide at our peril. ****From Dawn Stacey = no drug has been studied more than the pill - there have been mores studies over longer periods than any other medication. Research on the pill is what changes the whole FDA-approval process requiring safety studies. For years and years, research has consistantlt concluded that there is no medical reason to have a period when you are on the pill. Women who use any pill do not have periods, so it is no different when using an extended cylce pill. The periods "built-in" to pill use are withdrawal bleeds - the uterus sheds a little due to the decrease in hormones - it is not the same thing as an actual period. I thank you for your passion on this topic; however, it is important that you are informed with the right information! And yes, research does scientifically-support the safety with long-term use.
- —Guest Stephen
I wish my body would let me
- I was on the pill for about 6 years and regularly tried to skip periods because I was doing sport 5 days a week. My body never allowed me. On the second week of the new packet, my period would come. I gave up on it and even though I suffered lots of cramps, migraines etc during my period. I then tried Implanon (implant) and it was great - at one stage, I went 6 months without a period!! I'm now trying Nuva Ring and going to see if I can skip periods with it. Haven't tried yet, but I will be this time as I'm going to be at the beach during it. It may not be natural, but it's a great convenience, and helps my anemia greatly to skip :)
- —Guest Kayla
Have been doing it for YEARS
- I have been manipulating my birth control ever since I was 19yrs old in college. Having a great understanding for the way hormonal birth controls work I saw no problem with skipping my period month after month while on the Pill. As a broke college student it was much cheaper to not have a period I.e. The cost of sanitary products and not to mention less of a hassle. I was advised once around age 21 To take periodic "birth control holidays" for a month or two every few years to monitor my normal hormone level. I do practice my holidays, but usually only when I am switching from one form of BC to another. Now 5 years latter I am still skipping periods for months at a time on the Nuvaring and have been reasured time and time again by medical professionals that there is nothing wrong with this practice. The benefits are wonderful. Did I mention I have less migrains due to less hormone withdraw!! Who wouldn't skip periods if they had the choice!
- —Guest BIRDIE
Periods
- I would rather not have a period. I had my daughter 4 years ago, and was advised by my doctor to switch birth control options. I have been on the Mirena and dont like having a period.
- —Guest Ethel
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