I have been on ortho trycyclen lo for about 6 months, I tried skipping my period by skipping my non active pills and starting a new pack. I got my period 2 weeks later (just spotting) and now I am on my 7th day and am still bleeding a little bit whem I usually only have my period for 5 days. I am getting married next Friday 9/23 and do not want to get my period. right now I am on my light blue pills and I don't know if I should try starting a new pack again and skip my non active pills, I have 4 more light blue pills to take. Is there anything I can do??? Please help, I really don't want to have my period for my wedding.
Update:Thank you, you are a big help. I just wonder if I am still bleeding and decide after the third week to skip the non active pills and start with the third week on the second pack and go backwards if that will stop the bleeding. I am so unsure it is driving me crazy.
Answers & Comments
Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo are NOT pills that you can skip your period on. They're tri-phasics, meaning that each color of pills has different levels of hormones. The best you can do with this type is delay your period, as far as I know.
If you're only bleeding a little bit, wait it out. You have almost ten days to go and it should finish before the 23rd if you keep taking the pills. You're going into a withdrawal bleed because the level of hormones is lower than your body is used to.
EDIT:
From what you're saying, it sounds like you have another pack handy. I'm not 100% on this, but from what I've read... when you finish the first set of colored pills on your current pack, start taking the pills of that same color on the second pack. Then, when you finish that color, move onto the next and continue through that color through the second pack. Third color, same thing. I think you only need to take one week of inactive pills.
Is it possible to switch to a different pill or method of birth control next time you're at the doctor? There are methods that can lessen the number of periods you have a year, from 4 to 1-- Yaz, Seasonale, and Seasonique all do this, though the number of periods varies between brands. Methods like the NuvaRing, monophasic pills (pills with the same amount of hormones in each pill), Depo Provera (the shot), Implanon (the implant), and Mirena (hormonal IUD) can all be used to completely stop periods, and NuvaRing and monophasics can be used to have your period when YOU want it if you feel the need to have one.
EDIT 2: Alternatively, keep taking your pills as you are... and when you reach the end of your third week, start taking the second pack backwards-- starting on week 3, and continuing on to week 1, then taking the non-active week. Then take the pills as normal. The idea behind this is detailed in the Livejournal link in my sources.
The inactive pills nonetheless shield you. they are there to easily keep you interior the habit of taking pills. As to your checklist telling you approximately getting your era on the top of the back, i do no longer understand. My gyno advised me to start taking it the day I start up my era and go from there.