...So I'm certain this isn't recommended and I'm not suggesting I'll try this, but myself and a friend of mine were having a debate on what this would do.
The question is this:
If you were on a birth control like Ortho Tri-Cyclen, where there are three weeks of active pills and one week of inactive pills, if on the fourth week you were to start a fresh pack of the active pills (rather than the inactive pills) what would happen? Would it hault your period? Would it still be an effective means of birth control? Would it mess up your system?
2006-12-12 12:56:51 · 4 answers · asked by M. V. 2 in Health ➔ Women's Health
The period you have while on birth control pills isn't a real period at all, it's called withdrawal bleeding and only happens when you stop taking the active pills, and there is actually no medical reason to bother with it.
When they designed the pills they thought they would be more acceptable to women if they maintained the "natural cycle" by making you bleed once a month.
It's one of the few medicines where you are told not to take it for a quarter of the time. Wierd, hah? You're actually less likely to get pregnant if you take the pills continually as there is no drop in hormones to bring about ovulation. You're at greatest risk of getting pregnant if you miss a pill in the first week after a withdrawal bleed.
If you are planning to take the pills continuously, talk to your doctor first. They may recommend a lower dose pill, since it doesn't have to cover seven days of no pills. Having a break every three months is still a good plan, it's still vaguely possible to get prgenant while on the pill, and if you don't have a withdrawal bleed when you stop taking the pills, then it can be a sign of pregnancy - same as missing a natural period.
Check out www.fewerperiods.com.
2006-12-12 13:48:46 · answer #1 · answered by Seraphim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it would hault your period, yes it would be an effective means of birth control, and no it shouldnt mess up you system, it will change your cycle. No it wouldnt be good to do all the time. This is sort of how the depo shot works.
2006-12-12 13:01:23 · answer #2 · answered by Mrs Baker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can do and it won't mess with the birth control. However, I would only skip occasionally
Think of Seasonale--with that pill you only get your period 4 times a year
2006-12-12 13:00:09 · answer #3 · answered by discmiss1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My gyno told me that I could do that with the OrthoTriCyclen Lo, but only do it for 3 months then have a period. I've heard of it being done. Never tried it myself.
2006-12-12 13:00:01 · answer #4 · answered by SamIam82 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋