(Closed) I want to start BC to regulate my period, but can I control when my period comes

• Holly77
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: February 1998

@anonybee726:  I’m on the pill and I never take the sugar pills so I dont get my period. I usually aim to only have my period 3 or4 times a year! Works for me

• Holly77
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: February 1998

@anonybee726:  my doctor has told me that for me it’s fine to do.  

The pill I use is called Estelle 35

• This Time Round
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: December 2012

Hi @anonybee726:  Oldtimer here.  I popped in cause I read the title of your post.

YES the Pill for sure will allow you to have some control over when you have / get your period.  By either skipping the “sugar pills” or by taking fewer of them.

Lol, this is an OLD trick that women first discovered back in the 1970s, and certainly one that I myself prescribed to many a time.

When my first Hubby and I were Dating / Newlyweds (BEFORE Kids), I’d readjust things so my periods never upset any of our planned events (like Vacations, Camping Trips and the like) for years I had my period set to arrive on a Monday Morning, and be gone by Friday… used to call it the “Work Week”… and in that way, every weekend was ours to enjoy.

Nowadays there are actually BC Pills that are designed so women have fewer periods per year.

And there are definitely women who are happy with them

BUT there are also women who are choosing to self-manipulate to excess (some of my daughter’s friends do this), in that they think there is no issue with literally NEVER having a period.

It is tempting, but I wouldn’t go that route.

You should always speak with your Doctor (the person who knows you / monitors you and your health) about such things, and the proper use for the type of BC you are choosing to use.

As someone over 50, I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen something in my lifetime marketed to women as “a good idea / thing” when in fact a whole lot of research that spans decades hasn’t been done, so the side effects are not well known.

Our bodies, and our reproduction is pretty fragile things in reality… you don’t want to take too many risks doing stuff that could effect you long term … be that your ability to conceive, carry a pregnancy, have a healthy child, or even so much as have a long and healthy life.

(Part of the reason, most women opt to get off of chemical BC at some point in time)

Our bodies are meant to have periods… there is nothing wrong with telling them when you’d like that to happen… but not having one at all, probably isn’t the greatest of ideas for long term health.

Just my opinion.

• This Time Round
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: December 2012

The trick with “The Pill” is you have to go on it months ahead of time… (thinking here for example if a woman was a virgin, and planning to have sex the first time after her Marriage)

The Pill is not 100% effective right off the bat… it needs to be in your system, 1 or 2 months. By months 3 or 4 everything should be on a regular cycle.

You’ll have no spotting, break thru bleeding, or other possible issues in that regard, and it should be set down to a routine where after you stop the last regular pill in the pack, and start the sugar ones, that you’ll actually know which day (maybe like me right down to the hour) when your Withdrawl Bleeding / Period will come.

Ie… Every 28 Days… which is how I was able to know it would always be a Monday Morning.

So you need to be on it for awhile, before you start manipulating it.  To move it, if you find that your now NEW Natural Cycle, doesn’t line up with when your Wedding & Honeymoon is going to be.

My best advice, start The Pill a minimum of 6 months to a year out, then you’ll be in a position to address any issues that you may have with it (including if this turns out not to be the best birth control method for you… weight gain, mood swings, headaches, heart palpatations etc).  Then you’ll still have time to try something else / get used to something else.

Hope this helps,

• gramgeek
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: March 2013

@Holly77:  WHAT! Can you do that!? I didn’t know it worked like that! I have always had super regular period every month.

OP

I’ve been on regular BC pills (3 rows of BC and 1 row of sugar) for 3 years and have altered when I get my period for travel & our wedding, which is exactly what you are wanting to do. It works sooo well.

I think you should just start it at least 3 months in advance for when you want to alter so you are well adjusted. It is easy and just consult a doctor for reassurance.

• shaka
• 4 years ago

All your questions will be answered by your health care provider, and they can advise you best in conjuction with your PCOS management. You’ll need a visit in order to get your perscription, so please please ask these same questions during that consultation. You don’t have to know what you want before you go! These are not silly questions, and you’d do yourself a service to hear the answers from the person who can help you through any complications that could arise with whatever contraceptive you choose.

• Holly77
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: February 1998

@anonybee726:  yeah I don’t take the sugar pills but continue to take the other ones otherwise you will get your period. 

• shaka
• 4 years ago

@anonybee726:  No problem! They definitely won’t be mad, it’s their job to help us find the birth control method(s) that best fit each person’s lifestyle and needs. Your experience with two different brands of pill will be helpful in providing options.

If you’d like to familiarize yourself with the variety of methods that they may discuss with you, check out this page from Planned Parenthood: Birth Control Methods. There’s a lot of information there, and it may help answer some questions while it may cause you to think of new questions that you hadn’t considered before.

Just know that there’s no way you can ask TOO MANY questions. Keep on askin’ until you feel like you have made the best decision for your body.

• barbie86
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: August 2014

@anonybee726:  If you want to both regulate your periods, and also have some control over them, then the combined pill is the best method, as you can simply skip the sugar pill week, or the week break (depending on which one you’re on). Many women run packets together continuously, with no break, for months at a time, and do so successfully. There are no risks to doing this (the bleed you get on the pill is not even a proper period anyway, it is simply there to simulate a ‘normal’ cycle); however, as you have PCOS, I would probably only do it as and when you need to.

Also, be aware that there are no guarantees; some women can skip breaks for 6 months plus with no issues, other find that they get breakthrough bleeding/spotting even if they only skip a month. My advice would be to have a trial before the wedding ie skip a break maybe 6 months before, to see how you go; that way, if it doesn’t work as you’d like it to, you can speak to your doctor about an alternative like norethisterone.

HTH!