Skipping your period on the pill, patch or ring

The monthly bleed you get on the combined pill, patch or ring is not a real period. It is a withdrawal bleed, caused by the hormone-free week, and you do not need it for your health. So whether you have it or not is your choice.

Why you might skip it

Plenty of people would rather not bleed every month, and some have good reasons: heavy or painful bleeds, premenstrual symptoms, headaches that come with the break, endometriosis, or simply not wanting the hassle. Skipping is a valid choice, and for contraception it is actually a little safer, because the hormone-free week is the weak point and you are removing it.

How to do it

With a monophasic combined pill (every pill the same), you take packs back to back with no break. You can run them continuously, or take three or four packs together then have a short break. With the patch, you put on a new patch each week without a patch-free week. With the ring, you replace it without a ring-free week. The doctor will set this up with you, as some pills are not suitable for it.

The trade-off

The usual downside is breakthrough bleeding or spotting, which is most common early on and often settles. If you do get spotting, you can take a short break of four to seven days, let the bleed happen, then start again. It is harmless, just a nuisance.

Your call

There is no medically right answer here. Some people like the reassurance of a monthly bleed; others are glad to be rid of it. Either is fine, and you can change your mind whenever you like.