Can I skip a period?

[theta_grl]

I am currently taking Ortho TriCyclen Lo and was wondering if I could skip a period. I am getting married next month and will have my period during my honeymoon if I don't do something! Does anyone know if I can just skip the placebo pills and start a new pack right away? Thanks for you help!

[GLSheridan]

Originally Posted by theta_grl

I am currently taking Ortho TriCyclen Lo and was wondering if I could skip a period. I am getting married next month and will have my period during my honeymoon if I don't do something! Does anyone know if I can just skip the placebo pills and start a new pack right away? Thanks for you help!

It's difficult to skip a period on pills like OTC Lo, because the tablets are triphasic, meaning that there are varying levels of hormones that change each week. Skipping periods is usually easier done on monophasic pills, where the amounts of hormones do not vary from week to week.

You can try to skip your period, however, you may spot/bleed or get your period anyway. Most women experience some bleeding/spotting when trying to skip periods on triphasic pills. If you have a period due before your wedding/honeymoon, you may want to attempt to skip this period, so that if spotting does occur, it doesn't interfere with your plans.

[mayam]

You could just take the 3rd week of active pills again and have your period the week after.

[EM1234]

i actually used to be on ortho tri cyclen lo and switched to zovia because i couldn't effectively skip my period. i tried starting a new pack and skipping the placebo pills, which prevented my period, but then i had breakthrough bleeding for the next 2 and half weeks. it's really not made to skip periods. my doctor said for next time though, like the other girl said, you can just take another week of the dark pills and then have your period the following week. the problem is, then you have wasted a pack of pills. it would most likley be worth it for your honeymoon, though