Can we chat about skipping placebo pills? PMS SUCKS

Skipping placebo pills affects everyone differently, unfortunately. Some women do it every month and experience no issues. i did it once and then the following month, I got my period for 22 days straight, and most of that was SUPER heavy (like, change a pad every hour).

I use depo provera (the shot) now, and I don't get a period or any PMS symptoms at all.

I'm surprised you get PMS symptoms at all while on the pill. I used to get horrible mood swings (crying at commercials type of deal lol) before my period until I went on the pill, now I don't get any symptoms at all. That might be worth talking to your doctor about after the honeymoon - maybe they can change your dose or brand.

Good luck

Staci, I'm surprised too! It's definitely minimized since I got on the pills, but still there. (Also, PK, 22 day period? A piece of my heart just died for you. How awful.)

Thank you all again! I will definitely be practicing and talking with my doctor, but it helps me not feel quite so blind if I kind of have an understanding of what other women have gone through.

I'm on a generic seasonique- which means I go 90 days- I have 3 month pill packs (it's like a booklet) so I know roughly when I would have been having my period technically b/c I roll into the next 'page'...

sometimes I get minor symptoms- like cranky- irritability and achy- sometimes not. It's usually the second one- the longer i go the more I can feel my body going "ehhh it's time you should be doing a thing".

So yes (if I under stand the question correctly) sometimes there are minor symptoms for me- but- but it's not nearly as bad as normal- skipping periods is the best thing.EVER.

I was just at an event where my friend said she got the DEPO shot and hadn't had a period in like 10 years.

SIGN ME UP PLEASE!

I'm also one who has tried skipping the placebos once and I still had a horrible period. I hope it works for you though. It seems like I'm not the norm! This is often the case.

I had the same problem! The GYN finally put me on one that I am happy with!! It's been just under a year and I have had my period maybe twice.

I am on Junel, but i take 2 packs without the placebo then the 3rd pack with the placebo. so 9 weeks on the pill, 1 week off. i had minimal cramps after the first 9 weeks but since then, no period, no cramps, no bloating, no PMS and it's amazing!!

I didn't read everyone else's experiences, but I actually felt worse than usual while skipping. It was like that PMSing/bloating lasted an extra 3 weeks for me. I skipped in June because I charted when my period would be in February, and it was on my wedding day. I hope you have an easier time!

ETA I skipped while on a monophasic pill and typically take a triphasic. This might have had something to do with how different it felt.

I tried skipping for my honeymoon and I still ended up spotting quite a bit (not fun when recovering from surgery, dealing with your period being there when it shouldn't be, not being able to drink because of pain meds from surgery, and just wanting to have a little sexy time with your new husband). I used the same pill as Kiwi too, so it really varies from person to person. But if you usually PMS beforehand and you're not skipping any placebos until after the wedding you'll probably still get the PMSing but then it should go away when you start taking the new pack fairly quickly. If you want to test it out now, not sure how that would work out schedule-wise but maybe that will shift it so that you don't PMS right before your wedding!

I not on birth control but I am going to have that same issue. My cycle will be here for the wedding. We are going on a cruise for our honeymoon so I booked it for after my cycle was over. I refuse to let this mother nature thing get in the way lol

I haven't used the pill to skip periods, but I have a Mirena and haven't had normal periods in almost 5 years. Occasionally I'll get a little bleeding for a day or two, but that's maybe twice a year. Before I went on the pill, I had terrible cramps. While I was on the pill, I had crazy mood swings and bad headaches, but less cramping. Now I occasionally get sore boobs or slightly cranky. Skipping periods is the best thing ever.

I seem to be very fortunate. I've skipped a couple of times and have not had any side effects, no spotting, nothing. A good friend on the other hand tried to skip and still ended up with a period that lasted over a week. Everyone seems to take differently to it. I know that wasn't much help, I just wanted to say good luck and hopefully you're one of the fortunate ones!

This is my first month on the pill in years. The placebo pills are for only 4 days. I've always had a pack for 7 days. I'm wondering if I'm avidly gonna get a period. I think that by the time my period comes, I'll be starting the active pills again, and isn't it supposed to go off once the active pills start? I dunno, it's a waiting game at this point.

I was in the same situation - I would have started the day after the wedding and been dealing with it through my honeymoon. Ummm no. I rolled right into the next pack of pills and had absolutely no issues. I don't really have pre-period symptoms other than getting some stomach distress (don't want to get too TMI ) and I honestly don't remember if I experienced my normal issue or not. My next period was quite normal; it may have been a little heavier but not enough to be that noticeable.

ETA: Read comments after posting and since many mentioned spotting, thought I'd add that I didn't have any issues spotting.

Oral Bc has never agreed with my body. I have been on nuvaring for several years. It's the best, for me. Similarly, I don't take the ring out for the in between week and my body has adjusted so that when I do my off week, my period is so much lighter and less painful. Thanks for the reminder, my ring needs to be switched out tomorrow.

I got the Skyla IUD and will never go back on the pill! This won't help seeing your wedding is a month away but I really love it. I never get the period headaches I used to and never have to worry about remembering to takes pill. That said my Pms symptoms were never horrible apart from acne side effects. Skyla isn't estrogen based so I think that helps a lot

I'm the say way Randi, when I was on my pill I still always got PMS symptoms (Bloating, tender swollen "period boobs" and some mild cramping) before I started taking the pill (back when I was 13) my cramps were monstrous to the point where my legs would go numb and I would be doubled over in pain... so I'll take a mild cramp lol.

I used to skip my placebo pill all the time, the 1st time my OB actually suggested it, So whenever we were going on vacation, or if I wanted to just change the week my period feel we would change things up. I never really had any adverse reactions, but again like others have said, different people will have different reactions. I would definitely start trying this month to test out how your body reacts. I will say that whenever I skipped my Placebo pills I had to be EXTRA diligent on taking the next pill at the same time the next day, if I slipped by even 2 hours, I immediately started to get those "oh man I think I'm going to get my period" feelings!

My doctor wants me to come in three months prior to my wedding so that she can adjust my hormonal birth control so that I'm not PMSing or having my period any time close to the wedding/honeymoon. Any chance your GYN would do something similar?

OriginalRandi good that you're asking your doctor, but as a provider myself, if you are birth control, just for the birth control you shouldn't have a problem with skipping the placebo. Many women on BCP do that so they don't have a period. I would think that it would decrease your PMS symptoms.

OMG thank you for asking this question! It's my 1st time skipping (also for wedding reasons) and I'm feeling crampy, a bit bloated and craving all sorts of food. I will make sure to bring some backup the rest of the week in case there's minor spotting. At this point, I feel I should've just gone through the "Shark Week" motion.