How to Alter a Menstrual Cycle

It's possible to skip your period in order to avoid the symptoms associated with menstrual bleeding. You may want to alter your menstrual cycle for a significant event, like a wedding or vacation, or you may simply wish to avoid periods altogether. If you do wish to alter your menstrual cycle, you should first consult with your gynecologist.

Things You'll Need

• Birth-control pills

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Instructions

• 1

  Get a prescription for birth control pills. If your doctor determines this is a safe method of contraception for you, he will likely prescribe you either a 28-day or 21-day pill pack. You should let him know that you wish to use the birth control pills as a way to suppress your period. He can advise you on the advantages and disadvantages of this method. Disadvantages include potential side effects like breakthrough bleeding and decreased ability to detect certain conditions that may alter your period, such as pregnancy or fibroids.

• 2

  Take the first 21 pills in the pack. Both sets of oral contraceptives will have 21 active pills, which contain the hormones that prevent pregnancy. The 28-pill packs contain a week of "reminder" or "sugar" pills. These pills do not contain hormones that prevent pregnancy. With 21-day packs, you are instructed to wait a week until restarting your next pack.

• 3

  Start a new pack of pills immediately. If you are on a 28-day pack, that means you should skip the week of sugar pills and start a new pack. If you are on the 21-day pack, that means you should not wait a week, but should start the new pack immediately. Some women choose to do this for only a single month, while other women use this method continuously.

• 4

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