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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to take 3 packs of pill back to back???

26 replies

Burkey721 · 30/06/2015 11:47

Is it safe to take 3 packs of marviol pill back to back?? I finished my pill last night but I am thinking about going onto my second as I don't want period this weekend as I've something on, however I will be due my next period the week I'm going on holidays, which will mean going on to my third pack!!! So have any of you done this before???

OP posts:
BloodyDogHairs · 30/06/2015 12:01

I used to do 6 packs at a time when I was on the pill now I have the implant which is great, no periods and no pills to take.

StetsonsAreCool · 30/06/2015 12:06

My GP once told me that lots of female doctors take 6 packs back to back, although they're not officially meant to recommend it.

3 was the most I ever took back to back. When I go back on the pill (waiting for first period since DS was born) I'll probably do the 6 month thing. Sounds lovely! Grin

horseygeorgie · 30/06/2015 12:07

No, its completely fine. The period you have when taking the pill isn't actually a true period. My Dr. told me it is actually for psychological reasons. You can back to back packs for a long time.

MissBananaMama · 30/06/2015 12:08

A friend of mine was prescribed 6 months back to back of pill as she has endometriosis and was to alleviate her symptoms

sooperdooper · 30/06/2015 12:10

I always used to take packs back to back, I was also told the only reason you're advised to take a break was because (male?) doctors assumed women would want a period (never felt that need myself!)

JennyOnAPlate · 30/06/2015 12:24

The leaflet in mine says to take them back to back so that's what I do.

horseygeorgie · 30/06/2015 12:28

quite why they assumed women actually WANTED a period is beyond me!

velourvoyageur · 30/06/2015 12:44

Sooper Grin indeed

won't it do anything to your fertility? wouldn't mind not having to faff around with an obstinate mooncup.

god, I love the pill. Isn't it amazing. Two years without a painful period and it's free! (for now)

MaidOfStars · 30/06/2015 12:46

quite why they assumed women actually WANTED a period is beyond me

The person who invented the birth control pill was a staunch Christian and conceived (no pun intended) the four weekly cycle (including a "period") to match the Church's promotion of the rhythm method of contraception. It allowed the Pill to be marketed as a "natural" method that mimicked the natural rhythm of the female body, therefore no problem for religious types.

In general, fewer periods correlate with improved health. So taking packs back to back is probably good for you.

More here:
John Rock's Error by Malcolm Gladwell

horseygeorgie · 30/06/2015 13:33

Ah thank you maidofstars that's interesting.

Dynomite · 30/06/2015 13:48

I've done it, no problem (except for a bit of spotting). I was on Yasmin, don't know anything about marviol.

Original poster
Burkey721 · 30/06/2015 14:09

Thanks for all the advice girls think I will chance taking the 3 packs back to back!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
littlejohnnydory · 30/06/2015 14:34

I took pills back to back for years.

TeenAndTween · 30/06/2015 14:42

If all the pills are the same, then you can always take say 2 packs plus 3 extra pills. You wouldn't need to take complete packs. There was a whole thread about this a month or two back ?in Chat?

rubyroux · 30/06/2015 15:03

Can you take any type of pill back to back? I'm on Loestrin and took it back to back for about 3 years then saw a different doctor who said I absolutely couldn't do this. But first doctor said I could! Now I usually run a few packs together but have a break every few months or so. Would love to not have a period though, it turns me mental Confused.

theowlwhowasafraidofthedark · 30/06/2015 15:05

I used to take the pill 3 packs back to back for endometriosis. Towards the end of the last pack I always used to get breakthrough bleeding so just be aware that might happen. It was lovely though. Currently I'm breastfeeding to keep the dreaded period away - much more restrictive!

slightlyconfused85 · 30/06/2015 16:19

I used to do it all the time on the pill. It's fine although when I did finally have a period it was a pretty bad one! Smile

specialsubject · 30/06/2015 17:09

ignore the advice not to take complete packs. Unless you want your periods stopping for nine months.

it is ok to back-to-back but it must be whole packs. Whether they are phasic or not doesn't matter for this.

Glitteryfrog · 30/06/2015 17:40

I run as many as I can together.
I hatehatehatehatehate having periods.

happygirl87 · 30/06/2015 18:05

Maidofstars that's brilliant!

MasterchefIwish · 30/06/2015 19:41

Yes I have too but be prepared to possibly be very bloated by the last time- I found that when I did for a few months.

awombwithaview · 30/06/2015 19:46

I ran my loestrin pill back to back for 3-4 packs at a time. I have endo and my periods were total bastards but the lovely pill sorted them out. I was also advised to back to back. I came off it 9 months ago and took a 3 month run of agnus castus and my periods haven't been painful since...pretty frickin' awesome! If they start up again I'll be back on loestrin and back to backing all the way. No periods = heaven!

LibrariesGaveUsPower · 30/06/2015 19:55

It doesn't have to be whole packs special Confused Assuming you are talking about the non-phased, 21 pills in a pack type.

What you must do is

  • take at least a pack at a time. So, you could take a pack and then take 14 pills from the next pack;
  • not leave a pill free gap of more than 7 days.

There is no magic to it being 21 days on 7 off. It could be 42 days on and 7 off. Or equally 35 days on and 7 off.

The problem with taking partial packs is mostly that you might forget how many were left when you started it IYSWIM.

Wideopenspace · 30/06/2015 19:57

Always take them back to back and have done for years.

Periods are a pain in the ass.

TealFanClub · 30/06/2015 19:59

always did
now have a coil
WAY better

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