I can't remember the last time I had a period..........

[MadreInglese]

No, it's not an am I/aren't I thread

I'm on the pill and have quite often run two packets together to skip a period for convenience. Lately I seem to have done this more and more and I can't remember the last time I had a break, perhaps 5 or 6 months ago.

My GP was not impressed when I mentioned it (he asked why I was back so soon for a repeat prescription). He said it was 'not advisable' but couldn't actually give me a specific reason why.

I find that if I have a break I suffer quite bad PMT and cramps and my skin breaks out horrendously, but if I run packets together I don't seem to experience the same peaks and troughs(although this may be psychosomatic IYSWIM).

Does anyone do similar, or know about the any possible dangers of continual pill-taking? Is there an increased risk of DVT? I have low blood pressure, am an ex-smoker and am otherwise fit and healthy.

My dr told me it wasn't a problem to run packs back to back and said when he was training the female students often ran multiple packs back to back for up to a year to avoid periods while on long shifts etc.

That's interesting GiraffeAH

There just seems more cons than pros to having the break for a period (for me personally)

The lining of your womb builds up and you run the risk of endometrial cancer.

You could try the Implanon implant - many women (including me) find their periods cease when using it

Really mrsmerryweather? How often should a break be taken with the pill then? What about women who have the injection and don't have periods?

Iklboo I don't like the idea of something so long term IYKWIM, I like the fact that I could stop the pill at any time if I wanted to

YOu can have the implant removed at any time in the 3 years its supposed to be in, but I see what you mean. Small op v not taking a tablet

Mirena stopped my periods, no op needed. Nody's told me I might get endometrial cancer either.

mrsmerryweather are you a health professional? I'm interested in where your information is from as I've never heard that before.

I'm on HRT and taking oestrogen only HRT alone means you get a thickened womb lining and an increased risk of endometrial cancer. I've no idea if the same applies to the pill.

Madre- see the post by Thingone- with HRT you have to take a progestin every few months ( 3 month cycles) or every day to oppose the oestrogen. Okay, the Pill will already have some progesterone in it- so maybe the same won't apply- but it's worth asking your FPC or GP- there may well be a build up of the uterine lining which needs shedding to reduce the risk of anything going amiss.

Mirena is totally different- it contains progesterone not oestrogen.

This www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/birthcontrolandcontraception/203096.html gives you some answers- but the overall view here appears to be " not sure...possibly some risk...talk to your GP."

madreInglese - I don't see why it's a problem taking pill packets without a break - lots of people do it. I did it for years. I think when they originally created the pill the idea was that it would stop women having periods altogether.

Thanks for your replies, has given me something to think about. I'm on Yasmin which is a combined pill.

Problem is, I did ask my GP and he couldn't tell me why, just that it wasn't advised I wonder if I could see a different GP who might be able to tell me more...

Why don't you have the injection? Thats only once every three months.

I have the injection, it is the best contraception I have ever been on (so far), mainly as its reliability is not down to me using it properly or not

But its great not having periods, although I did have a v small bleed before my last injection was due, and a week of PMT rage, so now I am on a 10 week rather than 12 week schedule.

Of course you can't stop it instantly like the pill, but 12 weeks isn't that long really...

12 weeks is too long term for control freaky me

I have had bad experiences of hormonal loopiness in the past on various different pills, I'm really happy on the one I'm on now with no side affects that I notice, and I'd be nervous of the injection in case it affected me badly, then I'd be like that for 3 months