Question about birth control and the "monthly visitor"

You can start the next pack on the fourth week, rather than taking the placebos and it will usually prevent a period. 

 I used to do it all the time.  I don't think it causes a problem to stop your period.  The periods you have on BC aren't "real" periods anyway - they are withdrawal bleeds.  (Although it might differ depending on what BC you are you using... I am not an expert!)

i havve done it a couple times, and it works, the first time there is a little spotting, but that's really nothing.  You can take two packs in a row, so long as the pills are all the same, I know some bc pills have different chemical balances in each pill, if yours is the type of pill that all are the same colour, then you either have the sugar pills at the end, or no pills at the end (like mine) where you just don't take pa pill for a week, then you can skip it :)

 Yeah it works great for me.  You need a monophasic pill.  Gotta run to the dentist but I'll come back later...

If you aren't already taking the pill, you'd need to start it right away after your next cycle starts.  Then, the month before you're due I'd skip the placebos and then I'd do it again the month you're slated to go to the beach.  My problem with them is I always had such horrible mood swings on the pill that having my period would be easier than suffering through taking the pill!!!  If you're okay with the pill, then that tactic will work...maybe.  At worst, you may still have some light bleeding anyway.

I take my pill packs back to back with no break and haven't had a period in several years.  As mentioned above, it's not a "real" period and the only reason for the placebo week is to make the average person "feel better" about not being pregnant or whatnot.

It doesn't work with the tri-phasic pills -- you are pretty much guaranteed to spot if you go back to back with the tri's.  The monophasic pills are no problem at all, but sometimes you will still spot in the beginning, as your body gets used to staying on the pills all the time.

When I switched over to Loestrin 21, I actually didn't bleed even during my off week -- so I figured I may as well stay on them all the time and avoid the cramping yuckiness that I felt on the placebos.  I much prefer the constant steady stream of hormones.

Yeah it works fine for most people but you need to figure it out now especially if you need to change pills.  You need a monophasic.  Triphasic does not work and my experience proves it.  For me, it worked so well I had my doctor change my prescription so I get 3 months at a time and only one pack contains the placebo (previously I was skipping the placebo for 2-3 months at a time and then my prescriptions ran out before the year was up).  It works great for me, no spotting.  I have to have a period every 3-4 months or I spot, so that's when I let nature run it's course.  If I have a vacation planned, I schedule to have a period about 2 weeks before so I'm not pushing my limit while on vacation and risk bursting my bubble, so to speak.  Otherwise it works great.  I take a low dose generic.

KarissaKS

As mentioned above, it's not a "real" period and the only reason for the placebo week is to make the average person "feel better" about not being pregnant or whatnot.

Yeah, I always thought this was barmy.  I heard that the chaps (and they WERE chaps, no error!) who invented this whacko system actually thought women NEEDED to have periods, that it was a psychological thing and they would go mad if they didn't have them or something...  Um, yeah, right, having to stem the flow of feminine goop from my body once a month made me feel so much BETTER.... Hah.  I have a coil now and I never get periods and I love it. 

I'd love to skip the placebo week, but my insurance won't authorize me getting a refill prior to almost running thru the 4 week period. I'm going to have that changed at my next Dr.'s appt and have him give me a 3 months supply. I did it before with other BCPs though and it worked great but it did take a couple months.

I can do two months back-to-back but the three times I tried three months, I got spotting so I just skip every other one now. 

cakana

I'd love to skip the placebo week, but my insurance won't authorize me getting a refill prior to almost running thru the 4 week period. I'm going to have that changed at my next Dr.'s appt and have him give me a 3 months supply. I did it before with other BCPs though and it worked great but it did take a couple months.

Yeah, if you do the 3 months Rx you can get it filled ~10 weeks (85% or so) -- honestly, if it was just a matter of getting ahead by a bit, you can pay for one cycle out of pocket (generics are only $15-20 usually full-price) and just use that to be a head.  Costs a little more, but you save money by not buying feminine products!!

NicoleS

honestly, if it was just a matter of getting ahead by a bit, you can pay for one cycle out of pocket (generics are only $15-20 usually full-price) and just use that to be a head.  Costs a little more, but you save money by not buying feminine products!!

You know, that's a great suggestion. I'm not sure if I can get a generic though, but it won't hurt to check.

Re: Insurance issues --- My insurance doesn't cover BC for child prevention, but they *DO* cover it for cycle control.  My doctor wrote in a letter saying that my BC prescription was for non-birth control reasons and now they cover me for whatever she writes.  My prescription is for 4 packs of 4 weeks at a time for the period of one year.  I can refill my prescription pretty much as often as I want/need in that one year.  My current prescription runs out in May and I could go refill it up to that day and be covered for another four months, even though I just picked up a set last month.

I did run in to problems with my last doctor, who wrote the prescription out for 12 months of BC -- as by taking them continuously, I did run out early and would have to call in for an extension before my next yearly appointment.

KarissaKS

I did run in to problems with my last doctor, who wrote the prescription out for 12 months of BC -- as by taking them continuously, I did run out early and would have to call in for an extension before my next yearly appointment.

That's what happened to me.  I also switched to getting 3 packs 4 times a year (and each 3 pack has one placebo week, not one each month).  This is also nice b/c my insurance co-pay is just on the total refill, so it's $10 for 3 months b/c that's how much I get at a time.  Before, it was $10 a month b/c I got a month at a time.