manipulating my period

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
manipulating my period
3
Mon, 11-08-2004 - 1:26am
the beginning of next month is my bf's birthday and a big concert for me where i will be singing a solo. unfortunately, i will also have my period during this time. i have heard about people manipulating their pill so they can work their period around a vacation. i was looking for advice about how to go about this and if it is a good idea. shoudl i only take two weeks of my active pills and then my reminder pills and then four weeks of active and then remiinder and go back to the old routine? does anyone have experience with this? i am interested to know if what kind of side effects could happen such as breakthrough bleeding and such. i have not had any problems with breakthrough bleeding, but the pill does seem to effect my mood sometimes. i've also only been on the pill for like 5 months. any advice would be appreciated. thanks for your time!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 11-08-2004 - 7:45am
If you're taking a monophasic pill, meaning that all of the active pills are the same dose and color, it's pretty easy. You don't want to take fewer than the recommended number of days of pills, but you can take more. So at the end of this pack, instead of going from week three to your inactive week, you would start week 1 of a new pack. Some women will have bleeding anyway because of the length of time on active pills, but some women have good success going back-to-back and skipping the inactive week between packs.

If you're taking a triphasic pill like Ortho Tri Cyclen (or Lo), Triphasil, Estrostep, or Ortho Novum 7/7/7, you would take the third week of a new pack instead of the inactive week. It's more difficult to skip a period with a triphasic pill because of the changing hormone doses which can allow enough of a hormone drop to trigger a period anyway.

There really aren't any different side effects involved with skipping a period this way except that you will have to be sure you're prepared for breakthrough bleeding.

If you have any other questions, please ask!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2004
Mon, 11-08-2004 - 12:24pm
I'm sorry to barge in, but this post has me a bit confused, as I can relate. I have been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for over 4yrs (on & off) and I have skipped my periods using the FIRST method you explained...and I haven't had any problems. To elaborate, I take the first 3wks of active pills in the pack. Instead of proceeding to the 4th week of inactive pills (placebos), I immediately begin a new pack, beginning w/ the week 1 pills, not the 3rd week as u suggested. I haven't had any breakthrough bleeding or problems getting my period the next cycle. Are you telling me that this may cause a problem w/ my health or otherwise?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 11-08-2004 - 3:13pm
Hi angel0612, welcome!

Good for you! I'm glad you can slip your period successfully on OTC when you take it that way. Taking OTC as you do does not affect your health. However, for some women the drop in progestin going directly from week three pills to week one pills will trigger their pill-period. That is why this board recommends keeping the dose the same or increasing as the weeks progress while you are trying to skip on a triphasic pill. Even then skipping doesn't work for everyone. Thanks for posting.

Take care,

      Jill