Birth control from Nurx costs as little as $0 with insurance or $15 per month without insurance.
Medically reviewed by Susan Vachon, PA-C on January 13, 2020
It is entirely safe to skip your period by using combination birth control pills. This is because taking birth control pills virtually eliminates the need to have a period.
During your monthly period, your body eliminates the thick lining of your uterus as well as the unused egg. However, when you’re on birth control, you don’t release an egg and your uterine lining stays thin. Therefore there’s no real need to bleed at all.
In fact, delaying or skipping your period can actually have numerous benefits, including:
- Fewer menstrual cramps
- Fewer mood swings
- Fewer headaches or migraines
- Less bloating or breakouts
- Lower risk of anemia
- Less pain from endometriosis
Most birth control pills work by providing three weeks of active pills and one week of placebo pills. Taking the inactive pills is when you’ll get your period, so by replacing these with active pills, you’ll be able to skip your period indefinitely.
Of course, many pills are already designed so that you only have four periods a year. These include options like:
These pill brands contain three months of active pills, meaning that you won’t have a period for three months. After 84 days of active pills, you’ll then have a week of inactive pills, during which time you should have a period.
While it’s totally safe to skip your period using combination birth control pills, it’s always a good idea to talk with your OB/GYN first before doing so. They can recommend a schedule that works for you.