Can the birth control patch delay your period?

Answer 1

Yes, it is possible to skip or delay your period while using Birth Control pills. I know women who have used this method. However, you should consult your physician before trying it on your own. There are many different types of pills (brands, strengths, levels of hormones, different cycle lenghths, e.g. 21 day vs. 28 day, etc.) and I don't know if the method would work for everyone or every type of pill.

It's easy to call your doctor, clinic or local Planned Parenthood office to make it worth taking any unnecessary risks with your contraceptives.

AnswerSkipping menstrual cycles has been proven to be safe. A woman's body does not feel "cheated" when it does not menstrate, as some believe. The blood you would normally shed during menstruation does not "build up" when you attempt to skip a cycle using birth control.

If you are attempting to skip a cycle, you must be on a monophasic birth control pill. Monophasic pills contain the same amount of hormones in each active pill. Triphasic pills such as Ortho Tri-Cyclen contain a varying amount of hormones in each active pill. The purpose of this is to mimic a woman's natural menstrual cycle. Most women who attempt to use triphasic pills to skip cycles will have a period regardless.

If you are taking a monophasic pill correctly, the lining of your uterus does not build up, thus there is nothing to shed. The bleeding a woman experiences while taking the inactive pills of a monophasic pack is simply what we call rebound or breakthrough bleeding from the absence of hormones. Uterine lining must build up for a true menstrual period to occur.

Please discuss your options with your physician. You may not be on the correct type of pill to be attempting missed cycles.

Answer 2

Yes, when I went on the B.C. patch last year I didn't get my period until three months later, and then I didn't stop bleeding for three months. The first few months you go on birth control your body needs time to absorb the hormones and take total effect.

Answer 3

It depends on what you mean by "all the time", but you should leave it on for one week for optimum effectiveness. After a week, the hormones have all been secreted into your body. Keeping it on for more than that is like a wearing a band aid over a cut that's already healed. It's kind of useless. However, you should keep the patch on for the whole week, don't take it on and off because it effects your hormone levels and the actual patch loses its stickiness.

Answer 4

Yes, with all the different forms of birth control these days, some can cause your periods to change and even stop altogether. You can read the information booklet that comes with your type of birth control. The risks and side affects are always listed in this booklet or pamphlet.

Answer 5

You may have bleeding while wearing the patch. This is most common in the first three cycles. Continue using the patch as scheduled. If this unscheduled bleeding becomes a problem for you, contact your health care provider.

Answer 6

If you put the birth control patch on before your period comes, you may miss that period; you may also have unscheduled bleeding or spotting. If you have been using the patch regularly, it's possible that it will lighten bleeding so much that you won't see a period. If you think you made a mistake with the patch, and missed a period, take a pregnancy test to make sure.

Answer 7

Yes, you can, but you may have breakthrough bleeding during the next cycle. However, you will not increase your risk of pregnancy. In fact, your risk of pregnancy may be lower.

Answer 8

Yes, you can skip your period, on purpose or unexpectedly, when you're on the birth control pill.