Birth Control Forum - Can I Induce My Period to Start a Few Days Early?

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Q: Can I Induce My Period to Start a Few Days Early?

asked by: cramberri on August 8th, 2007

New User

Hi there,

I've been on Alesse 28 for over a year now. I'm going on vacation in a few weeks, and I've noticed that using all of my active pills, I'm going to be starting my period 2 days before I leave, so I will still have my period a few days into my vacation.

I was wondering if I could induce my period to start a few days early (for example, on Monday instead of Thursday), by not taking the last few active pills in my pack and skipping right to the placebos? I thought it would be okay as long as I made sure to start my new pack 7 days later.

Another alternative is for me to just not take the placebo pills and go straight from active->active pills, but I did this last month and wasn't sure if I should do it again, as I have had a small amount of breakthrough.

Please let me know about both! Thank you very much! Smile

Replies(7)

Tylanas

replied on August 8th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Shortening your cycle actually is not safe, and could make you succeptible to pregnancy. If you did that, you would have to use protection for two weeks: Protection during the period week, and protection for the whole first week of your new pack.

cramberri

replied on August 9th, 2007

New User

Oh really? I didn't realize I would be at risk as long as I started my new active pills 7 days after I stopped my last pack.

I was thinking of skipping again, but I skipped last month and have a bit of breakthrough so I'm thinking otherwise.

What if I just skipped the last active pill in my pack? Would one day make so much of a difference? Again, as long as I started my next pack 7 days later? Thank you!

Carifairy

replied on August 9th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

The KEY to all birth control pills is you must take at least 21 pills in order to be protected against pregnancy!

You could take 25-45-22, just no less than 21 pills, and NO MORE than a 7 day break between active pills.

Tylanas

replied on August 9th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

I don't know. It might work, it might not. I think your safest choice is to try skipping it completely, as that won't increase your risk for pregnancy.

cramberri

replied on August 10th, 2007

New User

Bah, this is so complicated =P

So since I skipped last month, if I just took one less active pill this month, that would have meant that I took 41 pills (21 20), then take my 7 placebos, then can start my new active pills and I'll be okay?

Tylanas

replied on August 10th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

cramberri wrote:

Why don't you just end your active pills when you should? I mean yes, having a period on vacation is annoying... but it's safer.

I didn't know you'd skipped last month's period. Because you've taken more than 21 pills, I think you could stop the active pills right now and be safe for 7 days (your placebo week). Then start taking active pills again.

Carifairy

replied on August 10th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

THAT IS different!

AS long as you did not have a 7 day break, and you skipped..

Then technically you would be taking more than 21 pills in a row.

THE key here is no less than 21 active pills in a row, or you risk pregnancy. BY skipping a period, you take more than 21 pills in a row.

IF You make your period come early, be warned, you 'could' still have bleeding when you do not want it.

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