Pills and taking them longer to stop per

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2004
Pills and taking them longer to stop per
2
Thu, 09-09-2004 - 6:43pm
Can you keep taking birth control pills for an additional week to prolong your period? And if so, any known side effects??
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2004
Thu, 09-09-2004 - 7:12pm
Ok, here's a few things: First, you shouldn't try this unless you've been on BCPs for at least a few months. Also, it doesn't always work. For me personally, I can only skip a period every few months.

Now, how to do it: When you finish the active pills in your current pack (as in when you finish week 3), start taking the new pack right away and then go on as normal (as if you'd just had your period).

Known side effects: Really only that you might get BTB if it doesn't work, at least as far as I know!

So anyways, hope it works for you!

Susan

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 09-09-2004 - 8:07pm
Hi kymmmie, welcome!

In addition to what Susan said you will stand a better chance of skipping periods successfully if you are taking a monophasic pill, one that has the same dosage of hormones in each of the active pills. Another thing is that is taking only one weeks worth of actives from a new pack will make the remainder of the pack useful only for extending another cycle or as back-up in case you loose pills. A partial pack of pills (the other 2 weeks) can't be taken consecutively and be as effective as taking a full pack correctly. Thanks for posting.

Good luck,

      Jill