Delaying Your Period With Birth Control Pills
Are you interested in having fewer periods? Its possible with birth control pills. Find out how and get answers to common questions about using birth control pills to delay or prevent periods.
Traditional birth control pills are designed to mimic a natural menstrual cycle. A traditional pill pack contains 28 pills, but only 21 are activecontaining hormones to suppress your fertility. The other seven pills are inactive. The bleeding that occurs during the week you take the inactive pills is withdrawal bleeding, which looks like a period. This is your bodys response to stopping the hormones. If you skip the inactive pills and start a new pack of active pills right away, you wont have this withdrawal bleeding.
The bleeding that occurs while you take the inactive pills isnt the same as a regular period. Nor is the bleeding necessary for health. This is good news if you take birth control pills and want more control over your menstrual cycle, either for personal or medical reasons.
Delaying your period can treat or prevent various menstrual symptoms. It might be worth considering if you have:
In addition, menstrual bleeding is sometimes simply inconvenient. You may want to postpone your period until after an important exam, athletic event, vacation, or special occasion, such as your wedding or honeymoon.
Breakthrough bleeding usually decreases with time, but there are some things you can do in the meantime:
Your doctor might recommend a schedule such as the following:
What Are The Treatment Options For Heavy Periods
There are various treatment options available for women who have very heavy periods, including medication, hormonal contraceptives and surgery. Knowing about the advantages and disadvantages of each can help make it easier to choose an appropriate treatment.
If very heavy periods become too much of a problem, treatment can help you to cope better. Different types of medication can reduce the bleeding and related problems. If one medication doesn’t work, it is usually possible to try out other kinds.
Hormonal contraceptives like birth control pills or intrauterine devices affect the menstrual cycle and lessen the amount of bleeding. Any fibroids or polyps that are found to be the cause can be surgically removed. If the effects of heavy periods are particularly bad, other procedures can be considered.
The choice of treatment and best time for treatment will depend on whether a woman is planning to become pregnant. The most effective treatments all limit a woman’s ability to get pregnant either temporarily, like the pill, or permanently, like the surgical removal of the womb .
But as long as the heavy periods arent causing anemia, they dont necessarily need to be treated. Some women learn ways to prepare as well as possible for heavier days. But its a good idea to see a doctor and try to find out what the cause is.
Number : When Do You Get Your Period On Birth Control
So the pill was designed so you’d get your period during the time you take the placebo or “sugar” pills, also called inactive pills. This commonly happens for a week at the end of a standard pill pack.
Though you may be supposed to get a period during the placebo week, it doesn’t always happen. You can be late or early, or never see it come at all. The UK National Health Service says that irregular bleeding, like bleeding between periods, is common when you’re first starting to take birth control.
That said, there are carefully designed times you’re supposed to get your period while on birth control. Note this varies depending on the type of birth control that you take. The combined oral contraceptive pill are the most common.
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Do I Get A Real Period On The Contraceptive Pill
Nope. The bleeding you get when youâre on the pill is not the same as a menstrual period.
Your period on the pill is technically called withdrawal bleeding, referring to the withdrawal of hormones in your pill, and in your body. The drop in hormone levels causes the lining of your uterus to shed . This bleeding may be slightly different than the period you had before taking the pill. It also may change over time while taking the pill.
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You Can Get Pregnant Before You Even Get Your Period Again
When your body realizes youve stopped taking the birth control , you might begin to ovulate, which means you can get pregnant right away, she says.
No period in sight? Says Dr. Dweck: Number one, two, and three on the list of why someone isnt getting their period after coming off the Pill for a while is pregnancy, pregnancy, pregnancy.
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Can Anybody Take Birth Control Pills
Almost all teens can take birth control pills. There are only a few reasons why your health care provider might feel that you need to choose other methods of birth control. These reasons are called contraindications.
Contraindications for taking combined birth control pills include:
- You have a genetic condition that increases your risk of blood clots or a history of blood clots.
- Migraine headaches with aura , or neurological symptoms
- Certain kinds of heart disease
- High blood pressure that is not controlled with medication
- Surgery or any other condition that prevents you from moving or getting up and walking
How To Keep Track Of Your Menstrual Cycle
You can use a menstrual tracker like Flo to keep track of your cycle. Period tracking apps let you log your symptoms and determine when you should expect your period. This can also take some weight off your mind, since you wont have to remember when your period is due to arrive. The app will do it for you!
Overall, as long as youre taking it correctly, birth control is highly effective at preventing pregnancy and those missed periods can happen now and again.
If youre not sure, take a pregnancy test to ease your mind. Adding some relaxing activities to your life and staying healthy can help get your cycle back to normal.
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When To See A Doctor
If your period lasts longer than a week, consider calling a doctor for advice. Depending on your symptoms, they may suggest setting up an in-person appointment for a physical exam.
On the other hand, if you think youre showing symptoms of a rare cause or if youre pregnant, see a doctor immediately.
If you experience severe heavy bleeding and youre soaking through four or more pads and tampons in a 2-hour period, go to an emergency room right away.
Why Is My Period 2 Weeks Late But Pregnancy Test Negative
However, it is common to get a false negative in the first few days after a missed period. The amount of hCG in your body increases daily in early pregnancy. If you test too early, there might not be enough hCG for a positive test. Testing one week after a missed period is most likely to give you accurate results.
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Remember: Everyones Cycle Is Different
No two menstrual cycles are exactly the same. Some periods can last one day while others last a week, and the time in between periods can vary too.
The average cycle lasts 28 days however, this doesnt mean that something is wrong if yours doesnt last that long.
Cycles can range in length from around 21 days to as long as 35 days.
Cycles shorter than 21 days typically signal that ovulation may have occurred earlier than normal or not at all.
Cycles longer than 35 days indicate that ovulation isnt occurring or its occurring irregularly.
A period thats longer than 7 days can also signal that ovulation hasnt occurred.
Now that you know the basics, youre probably wondering whats causing your period to be longer than usual. There are many different plausible causes, and theyre typically manageable.
How Long Does Your Period Last On The Birth Control Pill
Birth Control Pill Woes! Period Lasting 3 Weeks, Extremely H Kate Smith answered this Irregular Periods Or No Menstruation After Coming Off The Birth Control Pill: What Now? I started birth control almost exactly a month ago , and I am sexually active, although my boyfriend and I always use condoms.
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Removal Of Fibroids Or Polyps
Surgery may be necessary if benign growths in or on the wall of the womb are causing heavy periods. Doctors can remove fibroids through the vagina or abdominal cavity. This operation is called fibroidectomy or myomectomy. The uterus is not removed during this procedure, so the woman can usually still get pregnant afterwards.
Starting A New Medication Or Supplement
Starting a new medication or supplement can interfere with birth control and cause breakthrough bleeding.
Medications and supplements that can cause breakthrough bleeding
- certain antibiotics
Always speak with your doctor before starting a new medication or supplement. This is especially important if youre on the pill.
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Symptoms Of Missed Period On Birth Control
When you miss your period on birth control, it is important to be aware of other symptoms. A missed period may occur in tandem with symptoms that are similar to premenstrual symptoms or early pregnancy, such as:
If you miss your period and experience any additional symptoms, plan on taking a pregnancy test and following up with your primary care physician.
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Are There Any Serious Side Effects Of Birth Control Pills That I Should Be Worried About
Most teens who take birth control pills have few or no problems. If you do have any of the following problems, call your health care provider right away.
Remember: ACHES
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- Chest pain , cough, shortness of breath
- Headache , dizziness, weakness, or numbness
- Eye problems , speech problems
- Severe leg pain
Blood clots: A blood clot in your leg or lung is a very rare but serious side effect. If you suddenly have pain or swelling in your leg and/or shortness of breath and/or chest pain, see your health care provider right away or go to the emergency room. If you have a history of blood clots, you should not take the Pill. Tell your health care provider if anyone in your family has ever had blood clots, especially when they were young. The Pill increases the risk of blood clots by three to fourfold, which is less than with pregnancy. Blood clots are more likely to develop if youre also a smoker, overweight, having surgery, or sitting on a plane for a long time. To lessen your chances of blood clots, dont smoke, and if youre on a long plane trip, get up, walk around, and drink lots of water. If you do smoke, it is important that your doctor knows about your smoking before you start the pill. If youre scheduled for surgery, and wont be able to move around much after surgery, ask your health care provider about stopping the Pill for 3-4 weeks before surgery and after the surgery until you are walking around normally.
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Whats A Menstrual Period Anyway
Your period during a natural menstrual cycle happens because your uterus is shedding its inner lining.
The bodys natural process is to have your uterine lining become thicker in anticipation of fertilizing the egg . When it finds out no fertilization is happening, it sheds that lining.
No baby is coming to protect and nurture in there, after all! The unfertilized egg, along with blood and tissue, passes through the vagina and inevitably shows up on your tampons and pads. This whole process is controlled by the rise and fall of your bodys hormone levels, specifically estrogen and progesterone
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How To Start Taking Birth Control Pills
You may start the pill on any day of the month. Talk to your health care provider to choose what day is best for you to start.
Combination pills: If you start combination pills within five days after the start of your period, you will prevent pregnancy right away and do not need to use a back-up method of birth control. If you start taking the pill at any other time throughout your menstrual cycle, you will need to use another method of birth control for the first seven days.
Mini-pills: You should use another method of birth control during the first 48 hours of use, after which you will be protected from pregnancy. Remember that taking the mini-pill at the same time each day is essential to prevent pregnancy.
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The Best Start Time Depends On The Birth Control
Different types of birth control have different recommended start dates. When you start your birth control will determine whether youre immediately protected against pregnancy or not.
- Combination birth control pills: Start within the first five days of period for immediate protection. If you start a combination pill mid-cycle youll receive pregnancy protection after seven days.
- Progestin-only birth control pills : Start at any time. It provides protection after two days.
- The patch: Start within the first five days of period for immediate protection. It provides protection after seven days if started mid-cycle.
- The NuvaRing: Start within the first five days of period for immediate protection. It provides protection after seven days if started mid-cycle.
- The depo shot : Start within the first seven days of your period for immediate protection. It provides protection after seven days if started mid-cycle.
When Do You Start Bleeding On The Birth Control Pill
No matter which birth control pill you are taking, you may experience irregular spotting or bleeding during the first few months of taking the birth control pill. This is more common when you are taking progestin-only pills , compared to combination pills that contain estrogen and progestin.
Instead, what you experience as a period on birth control is called withdrawal bleeding. This bleeding occurs as a response to your body not receiving the same hormones during the rest week at the end of your 21-day pack. That means that if you continue taking the pill and skip the rest week, you can skip your periods too.
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