info on delaying or postponing your period while on the pill

Well heres the situation my boyfriend is coming to visit me in a week and a half and the day he comes I should have my period, (that sucks!)I started the pill about 3 months ago and I was wondering how you can delay or postpone your period. How should I go about this? and is it safe to do this?

[JustAskJulie]

Since you are on the pill it is quite easy. If you read the info that comes with your pill packets it will most likely say that it is ok to do so and explain that you can do so by simply skipping the week of placebo pills (the week that you would normally start your period).

[Brit_Pair]

Or you start your next packet as soon as you've completed your last one, if your pills are the type where you stop taking them altogether for a week so that you can have your period.

[Miss_Piggy]

Is it safe?

From what I gather, it's generally okay to take birth control pills continuously for up to 3-4 months in order to postpone periods. I'm not sure what the side effects are if any. It's probably best to talk to your doctor about it before hand.

~Piggy

[TeamSoBe]

My wife has tried this three times for the same reason that you're suggesting. It's true that it's easy to alter the timing of your period. Unfortunately it also does cause some real bad side effects in her. She sometimes has bad PMS issues and all three times that she has done this trick with the pills it has thrown her hormone balance completely out of whack for weeks afterward. She also still had spotting during one of the times. It might work fine for you but don't assume that there is no risk of side effects. We tried it three times just to make sure that the side effects were not a coincidence but she has vowed never to attempt that trick ever again. It wasn't worth it.

[Vespertine]

When I was on birth control pills I took them on a continuous cycle...only allowing my period to cycle 3 or 4 times a year.

BUT---under the supervision/advice of my doctor.

I had horrible migraines that were only present during my period and this was one way to manage them and try to break the cycle.

I did this for about two years with no side effects.

I know a few women who manipulate their pills so they can be "period free" for vacations and such. Talk with your doctor and he/she can advise you if the birth control you are prescribed can overlap a cycle.

Good luck!

[HotCoupleGnS]

I have tried this a few times, but it only works if your period only starts on those placebo pills. After I tried it a few times, my period started starting about 2 days before the placebo pills. So, it made it impossible to do that, since I didn't want to stop on any of the real pills. Now my period is all whacked out, & I am having it like every 2 to 1 & a half weeks! I thought the pill was supposed to regulate it, but it isn't!

[Nikita87]

VESPERTINE is right. I also took a continous cycle of pills bc of migraines. I didnt have any side effects from doing it either, but I would recommend you do it under the supervison of your doctor.

[Vespertine]

Originally Posted by HotCoupleGnS

Now my period is all whacked out, & I am having it like every 2 to 1 & a half weeks! I thought the pill was supposed to regulate it, but it isn't!

Poor you!

It is time to change BC pills!

Something in that pill dose isn't right for your body--that shouldn't be happening. If I were you, I'd call my OBGYN & see about trying a different type of pill.

[TxCouple98]

there is a new bc pill out there that you only get your period 4 times a years. i am due to see my doc in sept and hope to get put on it

I have also done the skipping it one month and don't recall any major probs with it...

[JustAskJulie]

I've done this many times. When I was on pills with the placebos I didn't take them, I would just stop taking pills for a week. Now the ones I take don't have the placebos anyway. I would say that I skip the period week altogether (jump from one pill pack to the next) at least 3 or 4 times a year and haven't had any bad side affects from doing so.

[Latin Sensation]

Hello Ladies! I am on Seasonale - the pill that you have your period only 4 times a year. It is great!
The only side effects are that around my period I still get some cramps and might have some very, very light spotting - not even spotting just a little pink on the toilet paper...

Seasonale is the exact same thing as Levora - only in a different package. So if you are already on Levora you can take them in a continous cycle without harm to your body.

I don't know about all other types of pills though... Hope this helps.

[Pepper & Drew]

I'm on generic Ortho-Novum and I only have 4 periods a year because I skip the green pills. I've not had any problem with spotting or cramping...it's wonderful. I asked my Dr. about it and you don't have to be on any certain pill in order to do it.