Skipping period for holidays

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2006
Skipping period for holidays
9
Mon, 12-04-2006 - 9:40am

Hi there!

I'm taking tri-cyclen, triphasic 21 days and so far this month I've taken the 1st week of pills plus one second week pill (sunday). I just realized this means I'll be getting my period when all the holiday fun starts (the 19th-23rd). I'd like to delay it until after new years. Is this possible since I have already taken one from week 2? Or can I get a new pack now, take the rest of this week 2 and another week two from a new pack.. and then take two, 3 week pills back-to-back?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 12-04-2006 - 4:20pm

Hi curiousj3, welcome back!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2006
Mon, 12-04-2006 - 7:25pm

My pill pack actually just says, "ortho tri cyclen" -no LO. It says " 0.035mg/.18/mg+ " on the pack. I can just finish this whole pack then? And (if I understand you correctly), my pharmacy should have a sample pack I can take after I finish the current one? I'm looking at my pill pack and the 3rd week pills all say "C 250" .. I'm assuming that is the highest dosage? So this sample pack has 21 pills of C 250? How does that work??

I've been taking these pills for about a year. At first I could just take packs back-to-back to skip my period and it worked but now I just get break through bleeding. It's hard to decide if I should just allow my period at it's normal time or risk bleeding.

Thanks again for all your help, you're a lifesaver!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 12-04-2006 - 9:15pm

>>I can just finish this whole pack then? And (if I understand you correctly), my pharmacy should have a sample pack I can take after I finish the current one? <<


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2006
Mon, 12-04-2006 - 9:40pm
Oh I see! I didn't realize there was "Ortho Cyclen" as a monophasic pill. I will try to get an appointment with my doctor asap and get a sample pack of that. I was probably break through bleeding before because of the drop in hormones from the 3rd week back to the 1st (when I took them back-to-back).
Do you think the Ortho Cyclen would be a good alternative in general instead of the triphasic type? It would make it easier to skip periods when I need to. Do you know the differences in side effects?
I wish my doctor would have explained all of this. Thanks again!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 12-04-2006 - 11:03pm

>>Do you think the Ortho Cyclen would be a good alternative in general instead of the triphasic type? <<


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2006
Mon, 12-04-2006 - 11:25pm
From my understanding, it's better to go through your pack like normal, and then when
it's time for the last week of sugar pills, just start a new pack then. This way you
won't get it until next month, but I think that's better than stopping now and changing
things. Hope this helps!
:)
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 12-05-2006 - 9:32am

Hi richelle_ortiz, welcome!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2006
Thu, 12-07-2006 - 6:44pm

Hi Jill!

I spoke to my doctor and she gave me a prescription for the ortho-cyclen. She did mention that if I switch to the monophasic type I may experience more moodiness and PMS symptoms. During the last week of my triphasic pills, I tend to get anxious and tired. Do you think this is from the increase in hormones or just the hormone change each week? Maybe my body would adjust to the higher hormone level if I was taking it continuously?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 12-07-2006 - 7:18pm

>>During the last week of my triphasic pills, I tend to get anxious and tired. Do you think this is from the increase in hormones or just the hormone change each week? <<


      Jill