Forums » Birth Control » Use pill to adjust date of period?

OP: Use pill to adjust date of period?

Just thought of this the other day and was wondering if anyone has ever done this? It doesn't say anything in my instructions about doing this, so I think when the time comes I might call my gyno or pharmacist and see what they say about it. But...

First of all, I'm the lucky one who usually ends up getting my period on vacations and stuff like that. Well being that I'm on the pill now, I counted ahead last summer, and planned my vacation week so that I would NOT get my period while I'm at the beach.

But lucky me, will have it for 2 weddings this summer/fall!!! Now I've already been blessed enough times to have it during formals and what not during my college years, and I know that having a dress on, and having to change a pad or tampon is not fun. Not to mention, I'll probably be staying with my boyfriend in a hotel for these weddings, as they are out of town! So I don't want to be having my TOM with us. :mad:

Now..I've thought about skipping my period once this summer, so it will skip both weddings, but I don't want to chance it by having it on my vacation (and a costume party I'm going this month haha), so I'm screwed either way.

So I got this crazy idea in the shower, that what if I just change my "start" day. Right now I am a Sunday starter, and I don't get my period until Wed. and then it lasts till about Sun. when I start my new pack. Which is kinda dumb? I'd rather have it during the week, like Mon-Fri and not have to worry about it on weekends...when I usually have plans and do things, and I'm with my boyfriend.
So if I'm a Sun. starter and dont get it till Wed. I'm thinking if I become a Fri. starter I should get my period Mon. and be done by Fri. or Sat. Which would be perfect!

This will also work out well for the weddings, because they are on Saturdays and I will be done with my period or close to it.

When I first started taking BC, I didn't know if you start on Sun. you didn't get a period till Wed. Had I known that I would have started a different day from the get-go.

I'm not sure how you go about doing this, but I figured everything out, as to when I want to "re-start" my pills. I'm waiting till the end of May, so I don't screw up my costume party I have coming up.

My next period will come May 28th, and my pack will end May 31st. I should start a new pack on June 1st. But I think I'm going to push it back till June 6th (hence go pill-less for 5 days :eek: ). And start taking it over again on that Friday. That will allow me to "I should" get my periods on Mondays instead of Wednesdays, and I will be completely 1 week off from the weddings, so I won't even have it light, I won't have it till like the following week. So that'd be perfect.

I will just not have sex the month of June :rolleyes: Until I get my period, and start my new pack the next month. I don't have a problem with that, I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'm sure after that cycle is complete everything should be fine and dandy. And I should have no more weekend periods!!! yay

So has anyone else ever done this? I dunno why I haven't thought of this sooner, I would have loved all along to not have my period on the weekend :mad:

SugarAddict

Posted: 30 Sep 01:16

Replies:

Call your gyn about this; similar occurrence years ago. Planned my wedding and well not based on the pills. Did a skip on the days but with the doc explaining when to stop them and to when to re-start. However, realize when you change the dates as I did, the pill is not effective. Talk to your doc about it...and use another form of BC for the times. There are also other pills where you get a period 4 times annually...I do not care for these. Discuss the options with the prescriber and be extremely cautious. Much also depends on the type of pills you take.

sera300

Posted: 30 Sep 01:16


Using the pill to schedule your periods for convenience is not a real good idea. I am aware that many women do it; perhaps a majority when travelling, etc. You are messing with your endocrine system and things can get messed up.

If you wish to permanently change the the schedule a couple days ahead, just stop taking the pill a few days early.

The modern, low dose pills do not give you much of a margin for error. Do talk with your prescriber. I have helped women replan things but it sounds like you are looking at the pill more for convenience than protection. That is where the problems arise.

Alternatives are to face up to we women have periods; use alternative birth control; and, learn to enjoy menstrual sex.

Brandye

Posted: 30 Sep 01:17


I rarely have sex, and have been using the pill for almost 2 years now and this thought has just occured to me. Why is that a problem then? And I've never once had sex WITHOUT a condom either, so no I don't only rely on my birth control for protection, as some people do. So I have no problem skipping sex for 1 cycle until the pill regulates my hormones again (heck I haven't had sex since Feb as it is! hahah). I don't see why using the extra added bonus of changing the day your period comes due to convenience is any different than using birth control that eliminate periods, or 4 a year or whatever they do? Isn't that just for people's convenience too?

I also use the pill to regulate my periods, which I used to have anywhere from 30-50 day cycles. I find it wonderful now that I get it every 28 days and can tell you which day for the next 12+ months I will be getting it. I have just come to the realization that having it 2 days sooner, and having it end 2 days sooner would be much more convenient.

Sorry that I would rather not have my period during special occassions and when I get alone time with my boyfriend, (which usually happen on the weekends) for me anyways... So I don't really see anything wrong with wanting to switch it by 2 days :confused:

What would be the difference if I went off the pill, and decided at a later day to go back on it, and just started off with a different day all together? Like I said, had I known or thought of it in the beginning, I would have been a Friday starter all along. I just kind of never really thought about it until just recently, when all these weddings have come up that I will be having my period during. But seeing as I can totally avoid that, it sounds like a better plan to me.

Sorry I just kind of take offense to what you said about how I use my birth control, and for what reasons I choose. I have never once skipped a pill, or skipped a week to alter my period, and I always protect myself in every way I can, like using a condom as well. I just kind of wondered if anyone else did this, and/or what day they start their packs on and ultimately what day they get their period then.

SugarAddict

Posted: 30 Sep 01:17


A one time "reset" is no big deal -especially if the contraception is not needed in the short term. You have used the pill successfully to regulate undesireable irregular periods. Messing around the timing and using it for scheduling convenience can mess that up again. Too many women use it frequently for convenience and that is what gets them in trouble.

If you go off, your body will adjust itself to not having the extra hormone. Then when you go back on, the body will have to readjust.

If you just want a single reset, have at it.

Brandye

Posted: 30 Sep 01:17


Thank you for the advice. Yeah thats pretty much all I wanted to do. A ONE time do-over. If I had thought about it 2 years ago, I wouldn't be thinking about it now, because I would have chosen to just start on Friday from the get-go.
And seeing as I don't rely on ONLY birth control for protection, and like I said I will just refrain from sex for 1 cycle (no biggie, I'm the person who refrains from sex for 1 whole cycle when I'm on antibiotics hahha). I don't even rely on a back-up method for that time. I only use TWO methods at all times. So I think I'm pretty responsible when it comes to birth control.

I just basically am tired of having to deal with periods on Sat & Sun, and would be much happier with getting them Mon-Fri...from now on. I have no problems with periods, I don't mind them...I just hate that they always seem to fall on weekends when I have things going on, like special occassions...weddings, formals, parties, vacations etc... So I finally thought of a way to eliminate that issue all together haha. Just wish I had thought of it sooner!

SugarAddict

Posted: 30 Sep 01:17


You can reset it. Do not expect that to last forever.

Brandye

Posted: 30 Sep 01:18


Why not??? What won't last forever? :confused:

SugarAddict

Posted: 30 Sep 01:18


All women tend to skip a few days even on the ppill. Perhaps every eight months or so you can expect to be a day or two off. It is very common and may mess up your careful planning.

Brandye

Posted: 30 Sep 01:19


Huh?? Interesting...in the almost two years I've been on it I always get mine on Wed. around 8am-11am
Maybe if they take their pills wrong or late throughout the month? That would make sense to me. But I get worried if mine doesn't come by noon just because its always right on the dot hahahha.

SugarAddict

Posted: 30 Sep 01:19




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