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Original poster

Can you run microgynon pill back to back?

28 replies

Rainydays55 · 14/02/2022 18:39

When I’ve been for my pill checks over the years I’ve asked the nurse a couple of times about running it back to back a few times and the nurses have always said that’s fine and more people are tending to do this with fewer breaks, I’ve also read this online.
I hate periods so like as few as possible ! Just wondering if others do this nowadays?

OP posts:
TheSnowyOwl · 14/02/2022 18:40

Yes, it’s fine to do for several months at a time.

ouch321 · 14/02/2022 18:43

I tried running packs back to back but about 10 days after I was supposed to have come on, I'd always get some bleeding, not as much as a normal period, but you've still got to faff about with pads etc so it seemed a bit pointless.

So I think it's just whether your body let's you get away with it or not.

Hellocatshome · 14/02/2022 18:43

Yes its fine but you do need to take a break every few months. There are other pills that you take constantly and you don't need to take a break and have a bleed. It has been life changing for me.

NannyKrampus · 14/02/2022 19:01

Yes, I used to do this for 3 months at a time; then a week break and then 3 months again, and so on. Nurse told me that there was technically no need for a period but when it was being developed and prescribed, many felt it was unnatural not to have a period.

JovialNickname · 14/02/2022 19:02

Yes I do this with Microgynon and have had no problems at all.

JustBlethering · 14/02/2022 19:04

I used to a lot and maybe took 4 breaks a year. I'm on the mini pill now which has no breaks and I have no periods on it.

silkience · 14/02/2022 19:14

Yes I do it, no problem, usually have two breaks a year, just kind of get the feeling it's time when I do but you don't actually need a break at all

Original poster
Rainydays55 · 14/02/2022 19:39

Ive also read online that nowadays they tend to suggest a 4 day pill break at the end of the pack instead of 7? Does anyone do this? Does it help shorten the period?

OP posts:
YouReallyAre · 14/02/2022 19:45

I do a 4 day break after running 3 packs together. I was given a leaflet at my last pill check and it's called tri-cycling, the nurse I saw said it is deemed a better way to take the pill. I don't actually bleed anymore on my break at all but they could also be due to another medication I take.

Footballsundays6777 · 14/02/2022 19:48

I did this for about 15 years on and off.. and no issues at all. Had two children in between too. My GP said I could do so I just kept doing it… the only issue was I’d always run out a month early before my prescprition was due… it wasn’t a huge issue to get it early… but there were a few Qs as to why!

MorganKitten · 14/02/2022 19:49

Yep I do

Original poster
Rainydays55 · 14/02/2022 19:52

Yes @Footballsundays6777 I have found that too, having to get the prescription more regularly! Is there any benefits to having the break? And if you do have a break is it better nowadays to go with 4 days not 7?

OP posts:
bcc89 · 14/02/2022 20:09

If you run more than three packets together, sometimes you do just get a bleed anyway. Running three packs is fine though :)

Original poster
Rainydays55 · 14/02/2022 20:20

I’m just really not a fan of the 7 day break, I’ve often run them back to back for a few months to avoid it, just hate that feeling- headache, tired, bloating , but know that always running them back to back probably isn’t good, so wondering if having a 4 day break would shorten the horrible days?!

OP posts:
CornishSeaSwim · 14/02/2022 21:31

I used to be on the Microgynon which came with the placebo pills for the break, just as I was in the habit of taking them every morning. They suggested throwing away three placebos each month, giving me a 4 day break rather than a 7 day break, as the Dr said it wasn't as effective with the long break, and people were getting pregnant. Not sure if this is true, but it is what I was told. I was on it for such a long time that my periods stopped completely, even when I had the 4 day breaks. Thankfully when I came off the pill to TTC, within 6 weeks I had one and they went back to being regular 28 day cycles. Still yet to conceive, but hopefully soon!

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 14/02/2022 21:41

Have you considered a different type of contraception? Just because microgynon doesnt seem to be working for you really

Hopingdb2 · 14/02/2022 21:43

Yes Although my gp changed me to rigevedon I think its same as mycrogynon I have always taken with no break. Sometimes a withdrawal bleed happens anyway. But I did this for 10 years came off them when TTC had period and conceived 2 weeks later. Im back on it now and haven't had a break since starting I hate periods lol

MrsDThomas · 14/02/2022 22:05

Can you change to the minipill?

Xmassprout · 14/02/2022 22:08

I was prescribed it specifically to take back to back with no breaks

cuno · 14/02/2022 22:11

When I took microgynon I used to sometimes do this if a period would be particularly inconvenient for me when it was due (such as holiday) or if I just couldn't be arsed with it that month. Didn't do it more than two months in a row and never had issues with it!

Konstantine8364 · 14/02/2022 22:14

For the people suggesting the mini pill it doesn't work well for everyone. I tried it once for the required 6 months and I bled for 6 weeks out of those 3 months! I'm on a normal pill and usually take 2/3 packs then have a period. Works well 😊

OnTheBoardwalk · 14/02/2022 22:18

Yes my female Dr told me I was fine to take 6 packets then have a break. Changed my life

Saying that I’m now on cerelle having tried other mini pills in the past and haven’t bled for the last 5 years

modgepodge · 14/02/2022 22:27

Yeah I used to do 3 in a row, when I had my post natal check and the dr prescribed me a new pill she said when men developed the pill in the 1960s they thought women would like to still have a period, and also it helped women conceal from their husband that they were on the pill should they so wish to!!! She said there’s no benefit to having a period and you can run as many as you like back to back.

NannyKrampus · 14/02/2022 22:57

@modgepodge

Yeah I used to do 3 in a row, when I had my post natal check and the dr prescribed me a new pill she said when men developed the pill in the 1960s they thought women would like to still have a period, and also it helped women conceal from their husband that they were on the pill should they so wish to!!! She said there’s no benefit to having a period and you can run as many as you like back to back.
This is pretty much what my nurse told me too!
Cherrysoup · 14/02/2022 23:10

I did 3 months straight during my degree. I was ragingly awful, panicked, felt appalling. It was probably related to going through a horrible relationship (living in a house share, going out with a guy in the same house who felt terrible being from a different culture, he was very into drugs, I wasn’t). It might be fine. I’m on the progesterone only pill, which hasn’t made me feel anything similar.