Please help: BCP question

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2004
Please help: BCP question
3
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 1:57pm
Hi,

I have scoured the internet for some advice or information but have been unable to locate anything on this topic. I have in the past, on advice from my ob/gyn taken birth control pill packs back to back to delay a menstrual cycle. So, I know that is absolutely fine.

However, my question is: Has anyone tried or heard of anyone waiting an extra week after your period ends before starting a new pill pack? I would like to try this, but wonder if there would be any detriment besides, of course, the increased chance of pregnancy (which is not an issue in my case, my husband can just use condoms). I assume that it would just switch you to a 35 day cycle for one month. Does anyone have any thoughts on this subject? I would really appreciate it as I have not been able to locate any information online yet.

Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 2:51pm
Hi Pixiepony11, welcome!

Do you mean wait 2 weeks between active pills as a one-time thing or between each 21 pill pack? May I ask why you want to wait 14 days between packs?

Waiting 14 days between active pills will probably bring on side effects from going off hormones and then going back on hormones again. I think you could confuse your body bigtime! Not only that, if you went w/o hormones for 14 days it is very likely that you would ovulate. And, because that is a real possibility he should (in my opinion) be in condoms for at least 4 weeks every time you skip 14 days, for the second pill free week and for the entire new pack. Plus, condoms alone aren’t as effective as OCs so you need to use a good 2% N9 spermicide (not the stuff that comes with some condoms) with them to approach the effectiveness of BCPs. I can understand why you haven’t found much information. I think the hormone swings could be fierce not to mention the bother of nearly continuous use of condoms. Unless you just need to do it only once for some good reason, my advice is don’t do it, but that’s just me. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2004
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 3:34pm
Thanks for your advice.

Normally, I would just take another pill pack after the 21 days, but the thing is I'm supposed to be going off of the pill in May. (I have a doctor's appointment May 11). So, while I do not want to have my period while I am travelling on vacation, I can't take another whole pill pack in May because I'm supposed to be off it then. So, I have sort of a dilemna here.

Is it possible to just extend the cycle by seven days then, to 28 active pills, THEN go off entirely? Would you just get a period as normal?

Personally, I have gone on and off the pill a few times and I have never noticed any hormonal problems, so as long as it is not dangerous to my health, I don't think it would be bad if I did wait an extra seven days, just this one time.

As far as the pregnancy risk goes, I'm not even 100% sure I COULD get pregnant, but if I did, it would certainly not be a problem. We'll be looking into getting pregnant soon anyway.

In your opinion, what do you think is the better option? Delaying a new pack of pills by seven days, or extending by taking an extra seven pills at the end of the first pack?

Or maybe I'll just go off the pills entirely now! LOL Thanks for any help!! :-)

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 4:46pm
Ok, if you have taken your current pill back-to-back (tricycling) and that works well for you and you are going to stop OCs before early May, then I think I’d lean toward just taking the 21+7 (28) active pills in a row. Tricycling doesn’t work for some women so if you hadn’t done it successfully in the past and you have vacation coming up I might have opted for the delay. It’s great that going on and off hormones hasn’t seemed to bother you. Even so, our bodies change as we age so why cause any more fluctuations than necessary, right? Extending your active pills saves the bother of condoms too.

Good luck

      Jill