A Question for the Ladies

[chell]

This is for those of you who take the pill. Have you ever started a new pack immediately after your last week 3 pill? My doctor said it is fine to do if I want to skip a period, but I just want to know if anyone has done it and if there were any problems.

The only reason I take the pill is so that I will have a period regularly, instead of once a year. But I think I want to skip my next one just because my bladder gets WAY over active during my 4th week of pills. And I don't want to have a constant full bladder while traveling.

If you have done this have you had any problems with additional cramping, etc?

Thanks!

 

[CEDmom]

I'm not on the pill now but I did this a few times when I was. I never had any problem.

 

[chell]

Thank you CEDmom. I've been on the pill since '91 (with a few years off here and there) but I had never done this before.

 

[Michelle]

Yep, I've done it many times, with the blessing of my ob/gyn. Not a problem at all.

 

[EdiePA]

They're coming out with new birth control pills where you take them continuously for three months and then have your period only four times a year. Doctors have been prescribing them this way for years -- one of the drug companies has just jumped on the bandwagon to market them this way.

It's quite safe and very adventageous when you're someone whose period always seems to want to fall on vacation!

HTH
Edie (a pharmacist when she isn't on the DIS)

 

[dvcfamily41801]

I did this in July when DH and I went to WDW. It was the first time I did, and I have been on the pill for about 10 years went off for 2 and then back again. Well, without going into way to many details, it was fine for the first few days but then my body was just messed up. I did get my period while on vacation, which lasted about 3 weeks after we got home I decided to go off after that, figuring my body needed a break....and well maybe who knows what

I am sure what happened to me was a total fluke, I had heard about people doing it all the time without any problems

 

[GailT]

I do that all the time if I am going to get my persiod when i am going on a trip, it works just fine for me

 

[KaterBell]

I did this so I wouldn't have it for my honeymoon on the DisneyCruise!

Thing is, I didn't have it for the wedding/honeymoon, but for the entire 3 weeks beforehand... I was spotting the whole month. ( background, i had been on the pill for about 5 years before that, too , no problems whatsoever)... and then I did it again last summer to shift so I wouldn't get it over our June Disney trip, and again, i was spotting for the whole 3 weeks before. I guess I just don't have good luck with this.

Although, like others, I've heard that others do this without any problems. Good luck to you! It's not an unhealthy thing to do, but for me it was frustrating.

 

[jamsmom]

I want to know more about the one they are coming out that EdiePA mentioned. I have been on Alesse-28 for about a year, but still have break through bleeding. Not really a big deal, but........... I have to go back soon since the prescription is out.

I have heard of people going straight to a new pack skipping week four. A good friend of mine had all kinds of problems, but she has problems anyway. I would talk to your doctor- maybe depending on what you are on.

 

[FreshTressa]

I did and I spotted through it, but no other problems.

That is a really weird thing I have never heard of....having a full bladder during that time. I wonder how common that is.

 

[Michelle]

Carol, it's called Seasonale and was just approved by the FDA:

Seasonale

Keep in mind that women on oral contraceptives aren't having true periods anyway, since they are not ovulating...the whole monthly thing with BCPs was just so that women would feel like they are on a "normal" cycle. It does sound like there is more breakthrough bleeding with the four-times-a-year period, but it does sound convenient.

 

[kayeandjim00]

I have also done this many times with my DR's blessing - no trouble at all. It's great to have that option when it's going to fall during a vacation!

They're coming out with new birth control pills where you take them continuously for three months and then have your period only four times a year. Doctors have been prescribing them this way for years -- one of the drug companies has just jumped on the bandwagon to market them this way.

I will be first in line for these pills!!!

 

[chell]

Originally posted by FreshTressa
That is a really weird thing I have never heard of....having a full bladder during that time. I wonder how common that is.

I have bladder problems and the pressure from the swelling that goes along with it makes the situation even worse.

 

[Jeafl]

I've done it in the past with no problems whatsoever. It might depend on the kind of pills you are on though. I am on estrogen-free ones now, they are all progestin (sp?) and the doctor said it wouldn't work with these because all 4 weeks are the same pill anyway (there are no placebo pills in my pack).

 

[worm761]

i have done this for the past 3 years. i continuously take birth control pills so as not to have a menstrual cycle. i was on ortho-cylcene. all of the pills have the same amount of hormone in them. i had been on ortho-tricyclene but my DR said that it wouldnt work because the hormone in the pills is gradually lessened through out the month. she said that i needed the other ones. when i brought up the idea to me doc, she told me that she had been doing it for years and that there was nothing wrong with it.

 

[katerkat]

I tried this with Yasmin - skipped May's period so I wouldn't have it on my honeymoon in June - and I bleed straight through May until the day of my wedding. But there might have been some added stress then. If I were to do it again, I'd calculate it in advance, so if I end up bleeding for a month again, at least it won't be the month I was trying to NOT bleed!

I've heard good and very bad things about taking the pill continuously, like the new 'get your period three times a year' pills. Like any drug, research it beforehand!