Can I skip a period I'm expecting to get as early as August 3rd ?

July 20, 2018 10:25 PM

I really want to skip my next period. It's not that I want to have sex so I don't care about breakthrough bleeding.

There are symptoms I get on the first day of my period that I'd like to avoid because I'll be traveling. On the first day I'm extremely weak, faint, and exhausted. Also, oddly, the night before I get it I feel really wired and have severe insomnia and it takes 3 or 4 hours to fall asleep. Will skipping a period prevent all these symptoms?

Secondly, it it too late for me to skip it? I've not been on birth control so I'd have to get it first. I have a doctor's appointment on July 30 and can get them then. If that's too late I can see a doctor earlier? I saw this post https://ask.metafilter.com/322099/Taking-birth-control-mid-cycle-to-skip-a-period which made me think I can skip mine for sure since I have more than 3 days?

Thanks!

posted by Blitz to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

Birth control may delay it, but depending on where you are (physically and in your cycle) and the doctor, you may not get a perscription for this purpose.

Birth control does work differently for different people. I found that some types made my anxiety worse while others just didn't help with the symptoms I wanted them to. If there is a birth control you've taken in the past you like, stick with what you know.

I don't think it will be too late for you to try, but the sooner you start the more likely you'll get the outcome you desire.

Good luck
posted by AlexiaSky at 10:35 PM on July 20, 2018

+1 for the sooner the more likely. Do you have a Planned Parenthood or someone you could get into sooner?

However, adding a new medication - especially a hormonal one - will take adjustment and may have side effects. Those side effects can include mood changes, headaches, migraines, abdominal pain, nausea, etc, etc. There is no guarantee it will A) move your cycle at all and B) help your symptoms right away.

It may be easier to work with the devil you know and try to get around it - perhaps sleep aids and extra sleep? I know my dizziness and sleep troubles are helped by Ativan.

You may also want to explore hormone or menstrual issues like Endometriosis. Don't take a external test as a final result, it can only be diagnosed through laparoscopy. I absolutely understand as I have stage 2 endometriosis and even with surgery due to my other illnesses I have to plan things around my cycle still. However I wouldn't want to start a new hormonal medication before traveling either.
posted by Crystalinne at 1:59 AM on July 21, 2018 [2 favorites]

Nthing that you might want to be very careful in considering birth control brand. I spent a miserable 18 months trying several different brands after my doctor wanted me to switch. Severe insomnia and constant crying were the two big side effects that absolutely hammered me with different brands.
posted by TwoStride at 9:48 AM on July 21, 2018

I permanently skip my period. I just skip the "blank" pills and only take the active ones. It took three months before my cycle really cooperated, although I luckily had no side effects or anything. Once my birth control worked, it really worked. Then, after three years of being on that pill, my heath insurance made me switch to one they said should be the same, and the new pill just never worked, even after almost a year of trying. My period and all the symptoms I wanted to avoid came back.

So, what I'm saying is, if you don't currently take birth control at all, I think rushing to get a prescription and hoping it will work within a few days is asking a lot. Maybe it could work, but maybe it wouldn't? Some women have a heck of a time finding the birth control that's right for them. I lucked out in that my first birth control worked pretty great, even if it took a little time to fully work, and then I was annoyed when I was forced to switch because the new birth control didn't work and I started getting my period and all my symptoms again.

You can definitely try this, but know that there's no guarantee, especially in your first attempt. If your period symptoms are that bad, maybe you can talk to your doctor about using birth control to suppress your periods all the time? I don't think it affects your ability to have kids or anything like that, but your doctor can talk to you about it. Honestly, I'm so happy I did. I don't miss the bloating, the pain, the skin breakouts, the constant stocking up on tampons, the occasional stains on my underwear, etc. You have to think about whether it's right for you and weigh any risks, etc. but it's a thought to consider.
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:31 AM on July 21, 2018 [2 favorites]

This is unlikely to work starting a hormonal method only three days before the expected period. Your estrogen and progesterone are maintained at a steady level after some time on combined pills, but you're trying to interrupt your cycle when your progesterone levels have been dipping for a week and it may be too late. For this to work you need to interrupt the cycle earlier than that, like, yesterday. Alot of the users in the thread you linked reported that late intervention didn't work for them but ymmv.
posted by slow graffiti at 1:06 PM on July 21, 2018

The second part of this link may be relevant - it would be wise to speak to your doctor about your specific circumstances though.
Delaying a Period
posted by ppl at 2:21 AM on July 22, 2018

I've been told that if you take a higher dose of Advil (or other NSAID) near the beginning of your period, it can help "flush it out," or even prompt it to come slightly sooner. Doing this wouldn't prevent your period, per se. But if you could start it earlier, prior to your trip, that would stop the timing from coinciding.
posted by yunhua at 2:32 PM on July 22, 2018

The sooner you start hormonal contraception, the better for you to be successful at skipping your period. However, results are not guaranteed.
If you happen to live in Oregon or California, a pharmacist may be able to prescribe hormonal contraception to you (sooner than next week). I recommend that you call the pharmacy first, because pharmacists must be specifically certified to do so.
posted by honey badger at 5:23 PM on July 24, 2018