Many women worldwide practice menstrual suppression, using their birth control pills to adjust their menstruation cycles. Although many women use menstrual suppression to prevent their period from occurring at an inconvenient time, other benefits of menstrual suppression include a reduction of period pain, menstrual migraines, acne, endometriosis, heavy bleeding and premenstrual syndrome, according to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. However, women should only attempt menstrual suppression with the permission of a doctor.
Step 1
Talk to a doctor. Although changing a menstrual cycle with birth control pills has many benefits, it also may cause unpleasant side effects and increases the risk of pregnancy if done improperly.
Step 2
Plan in advance. Unexpected spotting, also called breakthrough bleeding, is common during the first few months of menstrual suppression. Women who wish to eliminate menstruation for a specific event should begin menstrual suppression at least a few months in advance, according to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals.
Step 3
Continue taking the active pills as scheduled. Do so until there are no active pills left in the package.
Step 4
Start taking the active pills in a new package of birth control instead of taking the reminder pills. Since the body keeps receiving the hormones in the active pills, a period will not occur.
Step 5
Take the new active pills at the exact same time every day. Missing a pill or even being just a few hours late increases the likelihood of breakthrough bleeding, according to Dr. Leslie Miller, an obstetrician/gynecologist and creator of NoPeriod.com. Women should continue taking the active pills until they want their period to occur.
Step 6
Take the reminder pills. The reminder pills do not contain any hormones, and the absence of the hormones signals a woman's body to begin menstruation. Begin a new package of birth control after finishing the reminder pills.
Tips and Warnings
- Expect the blood that occurs as a result of breakthrough bleeding to be different than regular menstrual bleeding or spotting. The blood of breakthrough bleeding is usually dark brown in color and has a different texture. Women who find themselves frequently suppressing menstruation should consider talking to a doctor about extended-use birth control options. These medications contain a larger number of active pills in a package and are specifically intended to minimize the frequency of menstruation.
- Women who experience vision changes, heavy bleeding, chest pain, severe leg pain or abdominal pain while using birth control to manipulate their periods should contact a doctor immediately, warns the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. It may be more difficult to detect pregnancy while practicing menstrual suppression. Women should look for early pregnancy signs, such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue and breast tenderness. Women who believe they may be pregnant should take a pregnancy test or see a doctor.
Things You'll Need
- Multiple packages of birth control pills
