Talk

Flip

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Can I stop taking the pill two weeks into a pack?

10 replies

Uno15 · 04/11/2009 11:27

My perdiod is due in two weeks time but that weekend is very inconvenient (travelling!).

I am already running two packs back to back for other reasons, and was therefore thinking of running three in a row, but I am really put off by the idea of spotting.

Is it possible then to...
Take two weeks into the second pack, have a 7 day break, then carry on for 21 days as normal. It just means instead of a 3 week pack, I had a 2 week one?

Please help asap as I'd need to stop tomorro to make that 2 weeks!

OP posts:

Report

nickelbang · 04/11/2009 11:33

it would stop it working properly.

your best bet is to carry on to the next pack for another month (my doctor said it was okay : i was on microgynon)

it might be worth checking with your gp, but DO NOT stop it halfway through a pack

Report

AMumInScotland · 04/11/2009 12:02

How many pills have you had since you last missed one (or more)? If you've had more than 21 pills in a row, with none missed or late, then I think you'd be safe to stop the current pack early.

You should never ever have less than 21 pills in a row, if you want them to be working properly - that's why you have to start the new pack straight away without a break if you miss one of the last 7.

This is assuming 21 pills all the same in your pack, not one of the complicated versions with different strengths...

Report

Uno15 · 04/11/2009 14:11

oh I see. I've only had 13pills into this 2nd pack. But from what I've found out, I must take all 21 for it to still work effectively.

Perhaps I should try running three packs in a row? Has anyone tried that before?

OP posts:

Report

TrillianAstra · 04/11/2009 14:13

You're 13 pills into the second pack, but how many since you last missed a pill?

Report

Singed · 04/11/2009 14:15

You'd be better off running 3 packs together if you want to postpone your bleed. It's fine to do that - the 'period' week is actually an artificial construct in that the scientists that designed the pill thought they'd better give women a 'period' so that they felt normal!

In theory you could take the pill indefinitely with no breaks at all, but you do increase the risk of spotting the longer you do it for.

Report

Uno15 · 04/11/2009 14:19

My last pill free day was 34days ago.
I had finihed my period as normal, then started a pack.

(Just incase it makes a difference, I'll explain...)
Due to being on anti-biotics and forgetting its effect on the pill, I needed to take Levonelle once, and was advised by the pharmacist to run my next pack without a break (something to do with keeping up hormones).

I haven't ever accidentally missed a pill if that's what you mean though.

OP posts:

Report

TrillianAstra · 04/11/2009 14:24

Okay, but antibiotics sort of counts as a pill-free day because it's a day when you don't believe it has worked.

In general I would say you can run together any number of pills that's more than 21 if you haven't had anything happen that's known to mess up the hormones (missed pill, antibiotics, etc). You don't actually need to have multiples of 21.

Could you go ask the pharmacist? Or phone NHS direct?

Report

Uno15 · 04/11/2009 15:01

okay I've sorted it out. I phoned my local family planning service.

Thank you all for your help.

OP posts:

Report

TrillianAstra · 04/11/2009 15:01

What was the answer?

Report

Uno15 · 04/11/2009 23:24

Definately not stop midway through the pack.

The fpc said that as long as I did a pregnancy test to check the Levonelle and all that was alright (which I have already done) then running three should be fine.

Also, if I never got spotting from running two together(which I never have) then I'm much less likely to get spottig running three in a row.