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Originally Posted by Dani Girl 78 And that the "period" that you are experiencing while on the pill is just your body going through progesterone withdrawl. There is no uterine tissue that is being shed because your body believes that it is already pregnant so it doesn't continue to produce it.
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This is ALMOST right -- when on the pill there is less build up of uterine lining, but for most women there is still some. That is what is being shed. Yes, the "period" on the pill is a result of progestin and estrogen withdrawl, but it is this "withdrawl" that causes the lining to shed. The two hormones stabalize the uterine lining throughout the month, and when you stop taking the hormones, the uterine lining is no longer stabalized, breaks down, and is shed in the form of a "period". It is not a natural period in that ovulation has not occured during the month and the hormonal fluctuations arenot "natural", but the shedding of the uterine lining happens the same way it would in a woman not on the pill. The periods of a woman on the pill are usually shorter and less painful because the hormone levels are controlled, and the uterine lining does not build up as much, so therefore there is less to be shed.
To the original poster, are you on a monophasic pill or triphasic? To tell, look and see if the amount of hormone in the pills changes from week to week. If it does, you are on a triphasic pill. If it is the same (ie, each pill contains the EXACT same amount of hormone), then you are on a monophasic pill. Monophasic pills work much better for skipping periods because the hormones are at a constant level throughout the whole month. You can certainly try to skip if you are on a triphasic pill, but be prepared for breakthrough bleeding which can range from mild spotting to bleeding resembling a full-blown period.
