I am attending a 4 day retreat event this summer and my period is due the day the event begins. Since my periods are heavy and usually involve two or so days of bad cramps, attending this event will be pretty much worthless if I'm on my rag, especially if it's the beginning of it. So I contacted my doctor to ask about birth control pills (I normally don't use the pills since I'm a lesbian and actual birth control is unnecessary) to shift my cycle. She said to just skip the placebo pills so I could skip my period for that month. The last time I tried this years ago, my body just ignored the pills and had a period anyway. Has anyone else had any experience with using birth control pills to skip a period and did it work for you?
Birth control pills to skip a period
04/17/2013
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I skip a period a one or twice a year. I have 28 day cycle pills, not the seasonal, 3-month ones. Everyone's body is different.
In my personal experience, my body will do fine with skipping a period. However, I notice that I need to take my later pills exactly when I need to (not 5 or 10 minutes off) because it has caused me some very minor spotting.
I could also be a bit different for you because you haven't been on pills in a while and it can take around 3 months to get used to them again. Either way, hope it works out!
In my personal experience, my body will do fine with skipping a period. However, I notice that I need to take my later pills exactly when I need to (not 5 or 10 minutes off) because it has caused me some very minor spotting.
I could also be a bit different for you because you haven't been on pills in a while and it can take around 3 months to get used to them again. Either way, hope it works out!
04/17/2013
I take Seasonique which is continuous birth control, and only have a period every 3 months. When I was first adjusting to it, I would still spot during the time of my "regular" period. Once my body got used to the new schedule, I don't spot as much - so you might just be aware that the first few times you do this there is a likelihood that you will spot.
It's hard to say exactly what will happen, and much of it depends on the exact pill formulation you are on (strength, type of hormone(s), etc). I'd say be prepared while you're away by packing enough period stuff just in case. It isn't going to hurt your body (the periods we get on the pill are fake anyway) but you may spot a fair bit.
Good luck!!
It's hard to say exactly what will happen, and much of it depends on the exact pill formulation you are on (strength, type of hormone(s), etc). I'd say be prepared while you're away by packing enough period stuff just in case. It isn't going to hurt your body (the periods we get on the pill are fake anyway) but you may spot a fair bit.
Good luck!!
04/17/2013
It depends on what pill you are on. Pills with higher amounts of estrogen and progestin will be more efficacious at preventing your period if taken continuously. What Mwar said is good advice; take the Pill at exactly the same time every day and it is more likely to work to stop your period.
It's perfectly safe to do this to prevent a period. But, it worked a lot better years ago, when the pills were stronger. Of course in the long run the newer Pills with less hormone in them are safer, but there is less wiggle room for missing doses, late doses and trying to prevent periods.
If you're lucky, you will just spot a little and not get a full period, but everyone's body is different.
It's perfectly safe to do this to prevent a period. But, it worked a lot better years ago, when the pills were stronger. Of course in the long run the newer Pills with less hormone in them are safer, but there is less wiggle room for missing doses, late doses and trying to prevent periods.
If you're lucky, you will just spot a little and not get a full period, but everyone's body is different.
04/17/2013
I am on a 28-pill cycle, but I simply take the 21 back to back as I please. It took me some adjustment to find the pill that was right for me, but I have a "period" about once every three or four months and that's it. This is with full approval from three doctors, including the one that I see for sexual health purposes.
Basically, as it's been explained to me, when you're taking the pill, you do not actually have a period in the standard sense of the term. What you go through is essentially withdrawal bleeding, and has no real benefits. I take a break from my pills every now and again to "clear things out," for lack of a better term, but as said above, it depends on the type of pill you are taking. I'm on a pill with very high hormone levels, as the lower-level ones (including some of the three-month cycles) caused me to spot constantly even when taking them properly, so this works very well for me.
I do agree with ensuring that you take your pills exactly when you're supposed to, but I think that you should do your best to make sure that that happens all the time, not just when trying to prevent a period. =)
Basically, as it's been explained to me, when you're taking the pill, you do not actually have a period in the standard sense of the term. What you go through is essentially withdrawal bleeding, and has no real benefits. I take a break from my pills every now and again to "clear things out," for lack of a better term, but as said above, it depends on the type of pill you are taking. I'm on a pill with very high hormone levels, as the lower-level ones (including some of the three-month cycles) caused me to spot constantly even when taking them properly, so this works very well for me.
I do agree with ensuring that you take your pills exactly when you're supposed to, but I think that you should do your best to make sure that that happens all the time, not just when trying to prevent a period. =)
04/17/2013
I use birth control to sometimes put off my period a week or two but never to skip one.
04/17/2013
I tried to edit, but I was too slow. Oops.
Another suggestion would be that if you're worried that the birth control pills won't work for sure, talk to your doctor about pain management options. My cramps were so bad that they would lead to migraines and vomiting, so I used to take these blue and yellow capsules (that I of course can't remember the name of) and as long as I took them on schedule as soon as I had the first hint of cramps, they worked wonders. If you prefer a natural remedy, I recently had this one recommended to me by someone who suffers from terrible cramps as well. That might be a more long-term solution to look into regardless of your decisions with respect to the retreat. =)
Another suggestion would be that if you're worried that the birth control pills won't work for sure, talk to your doctor about pain management options. My cramps were so bad that they would lead to migraines and vomiting, so I used to take these blue and yellow capsules (that I of course can't remember the name of) and as long as I took them on schedule as soon as I had the first hint of cramps, they worked wonders. If you prefer a natural remedy, I recently had this one recommended to me by someone who suffers from terrible cramps as well. That might be a more long-term solution to look into regardless of your decisions with respect to the retreat. =)
04/17/2013
Quote:
I'm betting the yellow and blue capsules were either Fiorinal or Firoacet or Firorinal with codeine?
Originally posted by
surreptitious
I tried to edit, but I was too slow. Oops.
Another suggestion would be that if you're worried that the birth control pills won't work for sure, talk to your doctor about pain management options. My cramps were so bad that they would ... more
Another suggestion would be that if you're worried that the birth control pills won't work for sure, talk to your doctor about pain management options. My cramps were so bad that they would ... more
I tried to edit, but I was too slow. Oops.
Another suggestion would be that if you're worried that the birth control pills won't work for sure, talk to your doctor about pain management options. My cramps were so bad that they would lead to migraines and vomiting, so I used to take these blue and yellow capsules (that I of course can't remember the name of) and as long as I took them on schedule as soon as I had the first hint of cramps, they worked wonders. If you prefer a natural remedy, I recently had this one recommended to me by someone who suffers from terrible cramps as well. That might be a more long-term solution to look into regardless of your decisions with respect to the retreat. =) less
Another suggestion would be that if you're worried that the birth control pills won't work for sure, talk to your doctor about pain management options. My cramps were so bad that they would lead to migraines and vomiting, so I used to take these blue and yellow capsules (that I of course can't remember the name of) and as long as I took them on schedule as soon as I had the first hint of cramps, they worked wonders. If you prefer a natural remedy, I recently had this one recommended to me by someone who suffers from terrible cramps as well. That might be a more long-term solution to look into regardless of your decisions with respect to the retreat. =) less
This guy?
Lovely stuff, BTW.
04/17/2013
Quote:
I mine looked a titchy bit more teal, but since I'm Canadian, I imagine that our formula is likely slightly different, so that probably explains it. The name does ring a bell, and I mean, I can't imagine that there are too many blue and yellow analgesics out there. It was technically my sister's prescription (I know, I know - sharing pills is bad), which is why I don't know what they were called.
Originally posted by
P'Gell
I'm betting the yellow and blue capsules were either Fiorinal or Firoacet or Firorinal with codeine?
This guy?
Lovely stuff, BTW.
This guy?
Lovely stuff, BTW.
04/17/2013
I have a friend that does that fairly regularly & she's never had a problem.
04/17/2013
Quote:
Oh, sometimes Canadian drugs are a little different, but not always. It's also known as Esgic and several other names. It's always good to know what drugs work for you, so you can tell your doc what works when you need something.
Originally posted by
surreptitious
I mine looked a titchy bit more teal, but since I'm Canadian, I imagine that our formula is likely slightly different, so that probably explains it. The name does ring a bell, and I mean, I can't imagine that there are too many blue and
...
more
I mine looked a titchy bit more teal, but since I'm Canadian, I imagine that our formula is likely slightly different, so that probably explains it. The name does ring a bell, and I mean, I can't imagine that there are too many blue and yellow analgesics out there. It was technically my sister's prescription (I know, I know - sharing pills is bad), which is why I don't know what they were called.
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04/17/2013
I don't use pills but I am on the depo shot and do not have a period at all. I will get the symptoms but no bleeding or spotting. I will also do a cleaning of my system after about 6 months so I can get all that yucky stuff out. It lasts for three months but if you don't go back for it you will end up with your period around that time. Something you can look into.
04/17/2013
I've never done that. I'm too scared it will harm my body. I've taken birth control for years.
04/17/2013
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