starting pill before period?????

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2004
starting pill before period?????
2
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 8:05am
I've been off BCP's for about 6 mos, but i'm in a new relationship now, so I'm getting back on them. My cycle this month is really long, I'm on day 37 and no period yet. I'm sure it'll start by the weekend, just in time for me to go see my bf. My question is, can I start a pack of pills now so I can skip my period this month, or is that not safe? I know you can start them on day 1 of your period, but will that stop the flow?

thanks!!

Nikki
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 12:06pm
Hi nikkise, welcome!

If I were you I wouldn't begin taking BCPs again until the first day of my period. The reason I say that is (aside from any possibility of pregnancy) if you are far enough along in your cycle to be expecting Aunt Flo this weekend then nothing you do now is going to stop her arrival and if she doesn’t show up you won't be protected until you have been taking your pills correctly for at least 7 days so you will have no hormonal protection.

If you start your pills on the first day of your period then you should be protected from day one, but starting on day one will not stop the flow. You can check the patient information leaflet that came with your pills to be sure that's what the manufacturer recommends. The only way you can skip your period (and not all women can) is to take your active pills continuously, from multiple packs, without taking the placebos.

It sounds as though this weekend might be a good time to try Instead, http://www.softcup.com/ a menstrual cup with a soft dome that catches your flow. You can have IC while Instead is inserted and your partner usually can't feel it. Instead cups can be found with the feminine hygiene products at your local pharmacy. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2004
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 4:05pm
In your situation, you might as well wait until your period comes. But just in case anyone's wondering, I guess it's not ALWAYS necessary to wait until your period comes. I was prescribed BC Pills for the first time a couple weeks ago and my doc said I could start right away. I decided just to wait until I started my period since I'm not sexually active yet; might as well follow the instructions exactly. But apparently it is okay to take it before your period comes because my doc said I could have.