Do you ever wonder if you can just skip or stop your period? Birth control can be a safe and effective way to pause your period, whether you’re looking for convenience or symptom relief.
You might have heavy, painful periods with mood swings, you might prefer to spend your money on things other than menstrual products or you might have a vacation coming up where you don’t want to have to deal with that time of month.
“It doesn’t really matter the reason – if you want to skip your periods, your provider should be able to help,” said Kathleen Curley, MD, an OBGYN with Banner - University Medicine.
She pointed out that skipping periods is probably more natural than it sounds. “Before birth control was invented, people had many more pregnancies than is typical today. With multiple pregnancies, plus long periods of breastfeeding, people in the past may have gone years without periods,” she said.
How you can use birth control to skip a period
“You can choose from many different hormonal medications,” Dr. Curley said. Using one of these types of hormonal birth control for an extended period of time can be effective:
- Combination birth control pills include three weeks of active pills with hormones and one week of placebo pills without hormones. By skipping the week of placebo pills and starting a new pack of active pills right away, you can delay or stop your period.
- The vaginal ring or patch is similar to the pill. You can skip the hormone-free week by starting a new ring or patch right away.
- The birth control injection, which you get every three months, stops periods in about half of people after taking them for a year.
- A levonorgestrel intrauterine device (IUD) may work, but only 20% of people have no periods after one year of using them.
Is it safe to skip your period using birth control?
For most people, it’s safe to use hormonal birth control to skip or stop their period. In fact, many doctors recommend it for convenience or to manage period-related discomfort.
Skipping periods with birth control doesn’t build up blood in the body, though that’s a common myth. “The hormonal medicines work by thinning the lining of the uterus so that there is less to shed during a period,” Dr. Curley said.
One of the more common side effects of skipping periods can be breakthrough bleeding where you may have a small amount of light spotting or unexpected bleeding. “This can be bothersome to people who are trying to reduce their bleeding. It gets less common over time as your body becomes more adjusted to the hormonal medications,” Dr. Curley said.
Benefits of menstrual cycle control
There are plenty of reasons why someone might choose to skip their period using birth control. Here are just a few examples:
- Special events: You can enjoy a vacation or activity without worrying about menstrual supplies, cramps or dealing with your period.
- Athletic competitions: You can stay more focused and comfortable during training or competitions.
- Long, heavy or painful periods: Controlling heavy bleeding or severe cramps can allow you to do the things you enjoy.
- Mood swings: You can get relief from mood changes, PMS or other symptoms that come with your period.
- Busy schedules: Whether you have a hectic work week, you’re taking final exams or you’re moving, skipping your period can reduce stress and make things easier.
- Saving money: Menstrual products can be expensive.
- Dealing with blood: You can reduce seeing and handling blood every month.
Talking to your health care provider
“You should discuss your medical history with your health care provider so they can help you choose the right medication,” Dr. Curley said.
If you have an event coming up and you would like to skip your period, talk to your OBGYN as soon as you can. “It is easier to suppress periods months in advance rather than to try to delay a period close to the time of the event. This is because there is a higher chance of breakthrough bleeding when you’re starting hormonal medications,” Dr. Curley said.
Ask your provider:
- How to use your specific birth control method to skip a period.
- What side effects to expect, like spotting.
- Whether you can use your current birth control for extended or continuous use. Your doctor can address any concerns or recommend alternatives if your current method isn’t ideal.
It’s also important for you to reach out to your health care provider if you are skipping periods without being on hormonal medication. “This can lead to thickening of the uterine lining and pre-cancer or cancer of the uterus,” Dr. Curley said. It could also be a sign of perimenopause. During perimenopause, hormone levels fluctuate, causing changes in menstrual cycles, such as missed periods.
The bottom line
Using birth control to skip your period is a safe and common option for many people. Whether you’re planning a vacation, attending an important event or just want relief from cramps and bleeding, managing your menstrual cycle with birth control can be the answer.
To learn more about your options, reach out to your health care provider or an expert at Banner Health. They can guide you on the safest and most effective methods for skipping your period.
