What happens if you skip your last sugar pill and instead start a new pack of birth control?

Answer 1

Yes, this is a way women have been avoiding having periods at inconvenient times for several years (during vacation, honeymoon, holidays) and was the reason drug companies started marketing pills intended to stop monthly period all together - or having short quarterly periods.

There is no medical reason for women to have a monthly period and in fact the bleeding during the week you take placebo pills is not a period at all - it is withdrawal bleeding caused by hormonal drop when you stop taking active pills.

Answer 2

No, you finish the sugar pills and immediately go on to the next pack. It doesn't matter what day of the month it is. If you have sugar pills as you mentioned, you are on a 28 pill pack. One pill every day and on day 29 you start the new pack. Do not skip any, it could mess up your cycle.

Answer 3

You take the entire pack of pills before starting a new pack, regardless of when your period starts or ends.

You take one pill every day, for 28 days, and then you start a new pack of pills. The first 21 days (3 weeks) of the pills are "active" pills that contain hormones. The last 7 days (the fourth week) of the pack are placebos, sugar pills that do not contain hormones. These sugar pills are usually, but not always, a different color.

NOTE:

You do not have to take the last 7 days of sugar pills in order for the Birth Control pills to be effective. HOWEVER - many women find that if they skip taking those sugar pills during the fourth week, they do not always remember to start the new active pack on time, and in order for your birth control pill to be as effective as possible, you always want to take the pills on time without forgetting. So even though that last week is optional, I would suggest you take your pills every day. At least until you've gotten used to the whole process and are sure you can remember to start the new, active pill pack on the right day.

Answer 4

Skipping the inactive pills in your BCP packet will prevent your monthly withdrawal bleeding, but it will not make you more likely to get pregnant. Women have been doing this for years to prevent having their period at inconvenient times like while they are on vacation, or during finals. No worries.

Answer 5

Yes, continue taking your pills. Many woman stop menstruating while taking birth control pills. If you are questioning the possibility of pregnancy take a HPT (home pregnancy test), if it is negative you can be assured that you are not pregnant and the pill is working as it should.

Answer 6

No, you should check in with your doctor to see what you can do to adjust the days of your period. It does not make good sense healthwise to miss your period entirely.

Answer 7

No. The sugar pills are just there to help you stay in a rhythm of taking the pill and so you don't forget.

Some people don't use the sugar pills at all.

Answer 8

There's no harm in doing so, and no increased risk of pregnancy. That's the best way to change your start day.