Is It Safe to Skip Your Period Using Birth Control? An Ob/Gyn Explains

Here’s what happens if you skip the placebo pills.

Your period is agitating enough on a regular old day, but some occasions make that monthly visit almost unbearable. Whether this weekend is your beach getaway, a long-awaited pool party, a vacation you’ve been planning for over a year, or even (eek!) your wedding, you might have one question on your mind: “Can I use my birth control to delay my period?”

If you’re using hormonal birth control methods—such as the pill, ring, or patch—yep, you can skip that pesky period. The key is to use the birth control method continuously, according to ob/gyn and maternal fetal medicine specialist Kecia Gaither, MD.

This is a considered safe practice. The “break week” is specifically designed to give you that period since some women find it comforting (it’s an easy answer to that whole “Am I pregnant?” puzzle). On the other hand, if you feel comfortable skipping your period altogether, doctors have generally found no health risks in doing so. Skip away!

If you’re on the pill, skip the placebo pills (the different-colored ones) and start a new pack. If you use a ring or patch, skip the “break week” and insert the new ring or apply the new patch right away.

If you use long-term methods like the IUD or implant, you don’t really have control over when your period comes—although it’s likely your period has slowed down or stopped altogether anyway.

Before you get too bold and pack your favorite pair of white pants, you should be prepared and anticipate potential spotting during this week. Hey, nothing a pantiliner can’t fix!

For more common questions about birth control, here’s the answer to whether birth control causes weight gain or if breastfeeding can prevent pregnancy.