Can I safely stop 1 months cycle???

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Can I safely stop 1 months cycle???
4
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 10:17am
My husband and I are going on vacation for 5 days soon and wouldn't it figure I'm should be having my period during that time. Since this is a vacation that just my husband and I are taking without kids and long overdue, I'd like to be able to safetly stop my cycle for just this one time. Is it possible?? Please help?
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-04-2005
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 11:59am
Yes! If you are already taking the pill, just take the first 21 pills as usual, then throw away the last 7 (inert) pills, and start the new pack right away. Be sure to take the pills at the same time each day to avoid breakthrough bleeding. This works best with the one dose pills, if you are on a multi- phasic brand (the pills are more than 2 colors- standard one dose is 21 of one color, 7 of another), there may still be some light spotting even if you take them properly.
I hope this helps!! :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 1:16pm

Hi iamwolverinefan, welcome!

If you are on hormonal contraceptives you should be able to skip your period successfully by taking the active pills from two packs back-to-back. There is a section about skipping on different types of pills in the post about taking your pills correctly in our FAQs.

If you aren't on HCs there is still a way to delay your period for a few days. Ask your doctor about a regimen of progestin pills like Aygestin or Provera. Those pills are much stronger than the progestin-only-pills (like Micronor) used for contraception and can be taken to delay your period for a week or 10 days. And, just in case things don’t go quite as well as you hope they will you might want to take along some Instead www.softcup.com menstrual cups. Instead (it’s like a small soft domed diaphragm) can be worn to collect your flow and you can have intercourse while it is inserted.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have more questions, please ask. I hope that you and DH have a great vacation. Keep in touch and let us know how you’re doing.

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 2:19pm

Thank you for your reply. I am not on contraceptives as my husband has had a vascetomy 4 years ago. I am waiting for a call from my doctor's nurse. This regimen of progestin pills...how does that work. Do I take one week before I'm supposed to start? I guess when would I start taking the pills and just take until I get back from vacation?

Is it too late for me to ask my doctor for a contraceptive if they won't prescribe a progestin pill? ie, spotting and getting use to contraceptions again. We leave on 4/20/06. Yesterday would be my first Sunday after my last period. I was thinking of having the doctor prescribe a contraceptive for 2 months supply, until you mentioned the other option of progestin pills. I haven't been on contraceptives in so long I would rather not be on them, but am willing to do what I can to not be on my cycle during our vacation.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 4:44pm

Since with DH's vas. there is no concern about pregnancy you could start BCPs right away but there is about a 3 cycle interval while your body adjusts to the hormones in your pills. While adjusting the likelihood of side effects, breast tenderness, nausea, irregular bleeding etc while not a given, is greater. See the posts in our FAQs about common pill side effects, irregular bleeding and taking your pills correctly. I think if it were me I would go for the progestin pills.

If you are pretty sure when your period will start I think I would wait until a day or two before that to start the progestin pills to make sure your vacation is covered.

Give your doctor a call and see what s/he advises about BCPs vs. progestin only and when to begin if you decide on the progestin. Let us know what your doctor says, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill