taking 2 mnths of pills so no AF....

[maplekitty]

Ok, I just realized that I'm going to be hugely PMSy the week of my wedding, I usually BREAK OUT right before my period....and then I'm going to have AF for my honeymoon. ACK! :(

So...I know you can take your pill two months in a row so you don't get your period...but, um, I've never done that before, so how will my body *know* to not start A.F.'ing...does that sound dumb? I usually spot before the real A.F., so will it just not happen.

Also...do you think if I take some type of anti-PMS drugs...what's it called..."myde-something"...it will prevent the PMS break outs??

LOL, I sound like such a newb asking these questions, but I'm having pre-wedding stress attack!

[maxandmolly]

Honestly, I think it's a little too late to fix it now! When I was on the patch, it was simple- instead of taking a week off (or taking the sugar pills with the pill), I just put a new one on every week. But for the first few months I spotted a LOT. So if your wedding is next month, well, you can try just taking them straight through without the week off, but you'll still probably end up spotting more than you'd like.

[jeneca128]

I could go through an in depth anatomy and physiology answer, but I'll spare you....

It will work if you take two months of pills .

The pills are providing your body with hormones (usually estrogen and progesterone...sometimes just progesterone depending on the pill) your body naturally produses these hormones and when the hormone levels drop you menstrate.

If you keep taking the pills the hormone level will remain the same and you will not have a period until you withdraw the medication.

[jeneca128]

maxandmolly is right about spotting.

Some people do some people don't.

I did it for my wedding and I hardly spotted at all (and it wasn't until almost the end of the second month.), but I also had a friend who spotted more.

either way I'd suggest taking them straight through.

[Sazoo]

Hmmm. Well, I did what you're describing (skipped my last week of pills & started a new pack to avoid having my period) in order to get my cycle to not coincide with my wedding & HM...but I did this about 6 months in advance just to make sure there were no problems. If you've never tried to force your body to skip a period before then I dunno if it's a good idea to try it the month right before your wedding. :confused: But on the other hand, I've done this twice before & it went smoothly for me both times. :) I didn't have any spotting, my period never came the month that I wanted to skip, & then the following month it came right when it should.

Maybe you could call your doctor & ask what would be the safest way to adjust your cycle so you don't have your period during the week before/after your wedding. Or maybe he/she would have some advice regarding what you could do to try to prevent the breakouts you typically get...

Good luck!

[jeneca128]

Sorry..I'm posting so much, but another solution is to only take 2 weeks worth of your first month of pills. have AF the 3rd week so it finishes RIGHT before your wedding. then resume your pills as normal.

[PookiePrincess]

Instead of taking the placebo pills, you just start a new pack. The hormones ideally keep you from having your period, but like maxandmolly said, when you do this, there is usually breakthrough bleeding. It would have been ideal to do several months ago so your body could adjust to the change.

If it were me, I would still move it. You will still probably have the same symptoms you usually do during that PMS week...take some Midol. Before I was on BCP, I took Midol for cramps and it really helped. Then, you would take the first week of your new pack on your honeymoon. To me, some breakthrough bleeding is better than having your full blown period on your honeymoon. HTH.

[PookiePrincess]

Sorry..I'm posting so much, but another solution is to only take 2 weeks worth of your first month of pills. have AF the 3rd week so it finishes RIGHT before your wedding. then resume your pills as normal.

I didn't even think of that...that sounds like a great option (though I've never done it).

[jeneca128]

I did once before a vacation and it worked out great for me.

[maplekitty]

Sorry..I'm posting so much, but another solution is to only take 2 weeks worth of your first month of pills. have AF the 3rd week so it finishes RIGHT before your wedding. then resume your pills as normal.

Hmm, that's an interesting suggestion...I'll call my doc and see if that would work with the type of BCP I'm taking.

Thanks for the quick replies ladies!!

[bookworm]

I'm not a doctor or an expert, but I believe if you stop pills mid-cycle (to get your period a week earlier), you will need to use a backup method of BC until 7 days into the start of a fresh pack.

As I said, I don't know that for certain, but it's worth asking your doctor when you call her.

FWIW, I've skipped the placebo pills on several occasions and haven't had spotting or problems. But I know that's different for everyone.

[Wrighty26]

I had to do this for my wedding/honeymoon-- it was well worth it :) You'll be fine!

Congrats :D

[Katy]

I've done it quite a few times as the hubby and I were long distance for two years before I finally moved out. I never had spotting problems and for the most part, things went fine. I did have a scare once when my period was late due to my wacky schedule. The doctor was not happy at that time since I was on a tri-phasic BCP. It's suppossed to work much smoother with the one level pills (over the tri-phasics since they are three different levels of hormones and the monos are all one level). But to do it once or twice I'm sure you'll be fine.

[Delaney21]

Sorry..I'm posting so much, but another solution is to only take 2 weeks worth of your first month of pills. have AF the 3rd week so it finishes RIGHT before your wedding. then resume your pills as normal.

Probably a stupid question, but...
Is it possible to get pregnant doing this since you are not taking a full month of pills? Or does that not matter?

[princess1224]

It shouldn't be a problem. The pill is supposed to stop you from ovulating. If you take it for 2 weeks, get your AF (it might take a few days for your AF to figure out it's supposed to come), and then start the next pack after 7 days off, regardless of whether AF is still there or not. It shouldn't be enough time for an egg to slip through. But bcp is not 100% effective as it is, so this might lower the effectiveness a little more. I've done both ways (two months together and cutting the pack short to make AF visit when I want her to) several times, and didn't get pregnant. And I am one of those people who got pregnant their first month off the pill. I also never spotted in between.

[jeneca128]

Delaney21- not a stupid question at all, but princess1224 is right. The pills stop you from ovulating. By taking the pills you can have your period once a month, twice a month, or once a year. It all just depends on when you withdraw the hormones, but as long as you are taking the pill you should not ovulate.

Also true that the pill is not 100% effective even when taken perfectly. I had a friend get pregnent while using the pill normally.