Remember: using birth control does not necessarily mean that you are sexually active. There are many reasons that you might want to skip a period!
Monophasic pills: The active pills contain the same mix of hormones each week. Monophasic pills are steady and stable, with less spotting than multiphasic pills, making them better-suited to skipping periods. To skip a period: simply start a new packet of pills as soon as you finish the last active pill, and skip the seven-day placebo phase. [1] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Multiphasic pills: The mix of hormones in the active pills changes from week to week to account for the various phases of your cycle. This variability means that you must take the pills in the right order to effectively protect yourself. Ask your gynecologist about which pills are okay to skip. NuvaRing: This is a small, bendable ring that you insert into your vagina for three weeks at a time. Usually, you remove the ring for one week each month – but you can leave the ring in for this extra fourth week in order to skip your period. If you put in a new ring immediately at the end of the four weeks, then you can continue to offset your period. [2] X Research source
There are some birth control pills (continuous birth control, or CBC) that are designed for a period once every four months. [4] X Research source Approximately 20 percent of men whose partners use a vaginal ring say that they can feel the ring during sex. This may be a low risk – but it is something to consider nonetheless. If you decide to use the Nuvaring, keep in mind that you can remove the ring to have sex and then replace it after sex. Nuvaring remains effective as long as it is not out for more than 48 hours.
Monophasic pills cause less spotting than multiphasic pills, making them better suited to skipping periods. [5] X Research source However, you can still skip a period using multiphasic pills. Ask your gynecologist about which pills you can skip in order to miss your period. [6] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source If you aren’t already on a birth control program, speak to your gynecologist about starting. Only take birth control pills that you’ve been prescribed by a licensed physician.
If your birth control is packaged with a “period week” of placebo pills, feel free to discard the placebos. They are sugar pills, and you won’t need them if you are going to skip your “period. "
Remember: if you’re taking birth control, you are not actually getting your period on the fourth “placebo” week of the month. The bleeding that occurs is “withdrawal bleeding” as your body responds to stopping the hormones. [8] X Research source Withdrawal bleeding does not pose a serious risk to your health and skipping withdrawal bleeding does not affect your health. It is safe to skip your period indefinitely using hormonal birth control. You may experience minimal spotting. However, this should not last more than a day. Monophasic pills are more stable than multiphasic pills, and thus less likely to trigger spotting.
Consider taking up to a week’s break from your contraceptive after any skipped withdrawal period. It’s good to give your body a rest.
The regular ring cycle ends after three weeks. You may leave it in for the fourth week, or you can remove it and replace it immediately with a fresh ring.
