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Original poster

Combined pill - running 2 packs together to avoid period

8 replies

electra · 31/08/2010 12:46

I'm going on holiday next week and would rather not have the usual pill break bleed. The only thing is that I missed a pill halfway through the pack. Should I be making sure I have that bleed as usual or will it be ok to run 2 packs together?

OP posts:

TrillianAstra · 31/08/2010 12:48

Absolutely fine. I've done it loads. Nurses have said it is fine.

AMumInScotland · 31/08/2010 12:53

Is there any chance you might be pg after missing a pill? If so, it might be best to check it out with your GP or a pharmacist. But if you were careful for the 7 days after the missed pill, then running a second pack straight after will be fine. After all, that's what the instructions would tell you to do anyway if you missed one near the end of a pack, so having more pills in a row shouldn't be any problem.

Original poster

electra · 31/08/2010 12:56

Yes, I didn't follow the 7 day rule because I was away when I missed the pill, got confused and only realised days later that I had missed it. So I suppose there is a small chance but it was in the middle of the pack so perhaps less likely...

OP posts:

JustKeepSwimming · 31/08/2010 12:56

You should be fine, I did it lots when on the pill for years.

( But, and it's only my experience, i did suffer from PCOS when i came off the pill and needed 'drug help' to get pg, so maybe it's not the best plan overall)

Ephiny · 31/08/2010 16:56

Should be fine, I do this routinely to reduce the number of periods I get (due to pain and other problems), have done so after the occassional missed/late pill as well, though I was fairly confident I couldn't be pregnant iykwim.

It's pretty unlikely you'd be pg after just 1 missed pill mid-month, isn't it?

yesway · 04/09/2010 14:09

The only reason for having a break between packs is to cause a "withdrawal" bleed where you bleed because of dropping progesterone levels. This is partly because patriarchal doctors felt that women need to bleed regularly to feel like a real woman . The result is that the dose for the other three weeks is that much higher to cover the week off. So if you miss a pill the safest thing to do (contraception wise) is run the packs together.

borderslass · 04/09/2010 14:48

dd2 has just been put on the pill for medical reasons and was told by the GP that if she ever needed to take 2 packs together it was fine.

CrossWhy · 06/09/2010 12:21

Combined pill you need to miss two pills.

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