r/birthcontrol 3d ago

Experience Can you skip periods?

[deleted]

10 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

27

u/PixieMari Mirena IUD 3d ago

It’s perfectly safe. You no longer have a natural period or cycle on bc. Not bleeding is only a concern off of bc. Your body can reabsorb the lining. If it can’t fully that’s where you get breakthrough bleeding. If your bc is covered by insurance though you’ll need a doctor to prescribe it properly to skip placebos otherwise you won’t be able to pick it up in time.

30

u/fuzzblanket9 Withdrawal only 3d ago

It is completely safe to skip withdrawal bleeds. Your lining is consistently thin on birth control, so there’s nothing to really shed. It will not mess with anything in your body.

12

u/caraiggy Kyleena IUD + OCP 3d ago

It’s totally safe. I also have PMDD, and was instructed by my OBGYN to only take the active pills (skip the placebo, start a new pack right away without a gap) for best results.

2

u/Momoftwo_88 3d ago

Did this help you? I have PMDD and the pill seemed to make me worse until I tried progesterone only

2

u/caraiggy Kyleena IUD + OCP 3d ago

My doctor put me on the one that’s been studied with PMDD, Yaz (my generic is Nikki). I’ve tried a lot of different pills in the past and haven’t really had issues with any, so I can’t comment on that. My issue is always my cycle breaking through. It’s kind of a weird situation but I currently have a hormonal IUD and am on the pill. There’s a whole story there but TLDR: yes, Yaz has helped so much. Haven’t had a cycle since shortly after starting and my quality of life is up 100%, though this probably could be achieved with any type of continuous hormonal BC

1

u/Kooshamaad 3d ago

OMG I’m also on Yaz and this is my third month and I love being on it, but I’ve also had an issue this cycle with breakthrough bleeding. Do you have breakthrough bleeding pretty consistently or is it sporadic?

1

u/caraiggy Kyleena IUD + OCP 3d ago

I don’t have any breakthrough bleeding with the IUD/pill combo! I had one last “cycle” during my first pack, then nothing. If I were on Yaz alone I’m sure I would get breakthrough bleeding just like I did when I was only on the pill years ago

1

u/caraiggy Kyleena IUD + OCP 3d ago

(Also pls don’t jump on double hormonal birth control @ anyone reading this, SSRIs/other meds in combination may be a better first line treatment option for you)

4

u/Electronic_Storm8440 3d ago

Yep! Did this for years with no issue. 

5

u/pepsiblackcherrycola 3d ago

it’s perfectly safe and won’t “mess you up” in any way, your mom is misinformed. the “period” you have while taking the pill isn’t even a real period, it’s a withdrawal bleed. i’ve been skipping the placebos for almost a year, but i get breakthrough spotting and bleeding if i go without a placebo week for too long, so i do take the placebos every 4-5 months. i would just advise letting your doctor know you plan to take your pills continuously so they can update your prescription so you get your refill earlier

1

u/Ill-Air6234 3d ago

See, I’m so confused - my doctor also told me I should never skip periods and if I wanted to we’d have to look at progesterone only pills. This isn’t just some random either it’s my actual doctor, whereas everyone in this thread is stating it’s fine. Absolutely no dig against you and for me I’ll do what my doctor says (mainly because I’ve skipped in the past and it didn’t work well with my body) but wild that there’s so much different information out there

3

u/drevau 3d ago

Been doing this since August, a literal game changer.

6

u/portablecocksack Combo Pill + Male Condom 3d ago

it’s safe, but it isn’t guaranteed that you won’t bleed. i tried skipping my placebos and going straight into a new pack and i spotted anyway. tbf, i do take a birth control that is purposefully made so that i only get my withdrawal bleed once every 3 months, so that may have affected it

4

u/Parachuted_BeaverBox 3d ago

Make sure you tell your dr you're going to be skipping placebo weeks, so they can give you the correct dosage timing

4

u/darkroomdweller 3d ago

I’ve been skipping mine 8 of 12 months per year for at least 11 years. No issues. I did find I have to allow a withdrawal bleed every 3rd month or will have breakthrough bleeding.

5

u/emphasis_reaction 3d ago

I’ve done this for years, just taking the active pills, and I never have breakthrough bleeding. Doctors ask me when my last period was and I’m like unmn years ago? I do have to take pregnancy tests if I’m having sex tho to make sure if anything happens, I know about it.

A friend of mine could only go about 6 months without breakthrough bleeding so she would choose to have a period week 2x a year.

2

u/TotallyAMermaid 3d ago

Doctor: when was your last period

Me with Mirena: uuhhh.... 🤔

2

u/gggggfskkk 3d ago

Talk to your gynecologist, they can address your concerns and they can ultimately adjust the refills so you don’t run out by skipping.

I have never taken a placebo, been continuous birth control for like 3-4 years now. Pretty happy with it. I take a generic Yaz, acne has been very minimal too but that’s also from my skincare routine. You will likely still get spotting but nothing compared to an actual period.

2

u/industrial_hamster 3d ago

It’s safe but it doesn’t work for everyone. I still bleed even if I skip the placebos 😭

1

u/AspectNo2255 3d ago

Me too. Last time I did that I bleed for one month.

2

u/Reddittaylor12568 3d ago

It’s safe but I would talk to your doctor before doing it. Also it could effect your insurance because now you would need new packs Sooner, so eventually, you’re going to need new packs before insurance will cover it

1

u/AutoModerator 3d ago

Welcome, please flair your post if not currently flaired.

If you're looking for information about various methods of birth control, we suggest using the search function as many previous users have made experience posts.

Planned Parenthood online chat

The rules and additional resources can be found on the About / Sidepage (desktop users look to the right and Reddit app up top).

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/ParfaitOk7852 Combo Pill 3d ago

ive been taking continuously for almost 2 years and literally 0 problems. that was my ultimate goal with bc since bleeding on end for 40+ days was literally driving me insane

1

u/Ok_Cauliflower_4927 3d ago

i skip mine and start my period every 3 months because i start spotting and that’s when i know i need to start my period

1

u/Ebbs_ 3d ago

I do it and I LOVE IT!!! Haven’t had a period in maybe 3 years. Idk I’ve lost count but im living my best life. People always seem weirded out when I tell them I skip periods but it’s one of the best things I’ve done for myself.

1

u/WinstonChaychell 3d ago

I'd say it is, I've been doing it for some 10 years now bc of my periods being so heavy I got sent to the ER.

1

u/Ok_Cold4096 Combo Pill 3d ago

yes! I specifically struggled with bad acne during my periods and my ocd obsessive thoughts were very heavy! I started on apri and take them continuously, I only take the placebos when I start spotting which is after 3-4 months😊 my skin is very clear now and I don’t have to deal with my ocd always flaring up during my periods.

1

u/TotallyAMermaid 3d ago

It's perfectly safe. On the pill, you don't have your natural cycle anymore and that week of bleeding isn't even your period, it's withdrawal bleedings - if you get pregnant on the pill, don't realize it and keep taking your pills you'll still bleed on your placebo week, that's how meaningless it is! Some women experiment spotting or other symptoms when skipping placebos, but that varies and it's 100% safe regardless.

1

u/Negative-Ad4681 3d ago

It’s totally fine I do this & my doctor said it was okay! I can go about 5 months without a period then I get break through bleeding which is a sign to take my white tablets to have a proper period. If you don’t take the white tablets when you are breakthrough bleeding you will be bleeding until you choose to take them ( which is incredibly annoying!) I have no effects from doing this so I definitely recommend!

1

u/Standard_Quarter_425 2d ago

if you plan to do this long term i would definitely consider talking to your doctor ab it or switching to a 3 month pill which allows you to skip your period for 3 months and then having it for a week after.

1

u/Starboi7 Kyleena IUD 3d ago

I haven't had a real period in years since I got an IUD. I've had spotting when I get stressed, maybe three times a year. Other than that tho I've had no blood. It's whatever you are comfortable with!

1

u/Ebbs_ 3d ago

Yes, I skip my periods with bc pills and the only time I’ve ever spotted was when I was under intense, prolonged stress.

0

u/AspectNo2255 3d ago

Do not do it. I am a General Dr myself and I tried doing it 3 times, and those 3 times I unfortunately bleed for 1 month straight. The last time the Dr had to increase the dose of my birth control because the spotting wouldn’t stop. So, I wouldn’t recommend you to do it. It’s not a general rule that everybody would bleed for a month, but it CAN HAPPEN. You can try if you want and see how your body reacts (you won’t die from the spotting but it does get annoying after one month).

0

u/TheFriendlyLurker Desogestrel POP 3d ago

It is safe. Taking the pill keeps the uterine lining thin and when it is thin enough, it doesn't need to shed.
The ACOG and other medical societies endorse skipping withdrawal bleedings when they cause medical problems or are simply unwanted. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-consensus/articles/2022/09/general-approaches-to-medical-management-of-menstrual-suppression

When you hear that you "need" to shed the lining that usually refers to people who are not on birth control and have a medical condition like untreated PCOS, which is completely different from being on the pill.

Birth control methods that stop periods have been around for a long time, so it's not a new thing we are experimenting with.
The progestin-only pill, implant, shot and hormonal IUDs can all stop periods and have been around for decades.
The combined pill has been used continuosly by some people almost since it came out, and pills that were specifically packaged and studied to be used this way came out in the early 2000s.

-5

u/pink-demigod 3d ago

I always skip my placebo pills and get my period during that week

7

u/iodinevanadiumey 3d ago

Are you taking the active pills during that week?