Birth control pills contain hormones that can regulate a woman's menstrual cycle. One type of birth control pill contains 21 active pills, meaning they contain hormones that prevent pregnancy by stopping the release of an egg from the woman's ovaries. Another type is a progestin-only pill that contains 28 days of active pills. These also prevent ovulation, the release of an egg. You can suppress your period for one or more months by altering your pill schedule. And there actually are certain brands of the pill specifically designed to achieve the same results.
Step 1
Consult your medical care provider before using your current brand of birth control to suppress your period. You may find that for temporary suppression, such as preventing your period while you are on vacation, your current pill will be fine. For long-term suppression, your doctor will likely recommend a different type of pill.
Step 2
Begin the process of suppressing your period a few months before you wish for the suppression to occur. The first month or two that you begin the process, you might have break-through bleeding or a period.
Step 3
Start a new pack of pills on the day when you would normally take inactive pills. This would typically be the week of your period. For women taking progestin-only pills, a period may already be suppressed due to the continuous hormone levels. Progestin-only pill users can continue taking pills on schedule.
Step 4
Continue taking the active pills for 21 more days, which would mean you have been taking active pills for six weeks. Take your inactive pills during the seventh week, which should result in a period.
Step 5
Begin a new pack of pills after your period. MayoClinic.com points out that if you did not experience any significant side effects for the previous six weeks, active pills can be taken for nine weeks in the next cycle. This would mean taking inactive pills during the 10th week and having a period. The next cycle can consist of taking active pills for 12 weeks before taking inactive pills and having a period.
Step 6
Maintain your period suppressing routine by repeating the pattern every six, nine or 12 weeks. Should you wish to suppress your period for longer than 12 weeks, consult a doctor about the risks and benefits of using your current birth control pill.
Tips and Warnings
- It is more economical and effective to obtain a prescription for a period-suppressing birth control pill. Even injectable birth control can provide period suppression in some women.
- Using the pill to skip a period has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The side effects associated with your particular brand of birth control pills may increase when you start taking pills continuously.
