FAQs

My girlfriend and I are off for a holiday in Bali for a month and we do not want to have a period during this time. Can we skip our bleeds while we are away?

Answer

Yes, you can skip your period on the Pill. It is easy to do with 'monophasic' pills where the hormone pills are the same colour all the way round.

You simply miss the placebo or 'dummy' pills (which are a different colour) and keep on with the hormone ones for as long as you don't want to have a bleed.

You can take as many days of the hormone pills as you want before you go on to the placebo pills. Once you start the placebo pills, you will have a bleed a few days later. See also: http://www.fpnsw.org.au/sex-matters/faq/COCP18_20080429.html and http://www.fpnsw.org.au/sex-matters/faq/COCP10_20080429.html.

Some women find that they can skip bleeds for months in a row successfully, whilst others find that after a month or two they begin to get spotting or bleeding while taking the active hormone tablets, and need to take a break. It's really a matter of trial and error.

If you do get spotting while running packs together, you just need to stop the hormone tablets and have the seven-day break by taking the placebo pills. There will be a proper bleed. Start the hormone pills again after the seven days of placebos and you should then be bleed free again. If your cycle doesn't settle into a normal pattern after doing this, see your doctor. For further information see: http://www.fpnsw.org.au/sex-matters/faq/COCP11_20080429.html.

For information on skipping a period on triphasic pills: http://www.fpnsw.org.au/sex-matters/faq/COCP8_20080429.html.

For more information on how to take the contraceptive pill: http://www.fpnsw.org.au/sex-matters/factsheets/54.html.