Expert: Norman Solberg - 9/9/2011

Question
Hi, I've been on Cryselle for over two years and I've never had a problem with it.  I decided earlier this summer (may 2011) that I wanted to have my period approximately four times a year so my obgyn told me that instead of switching birth control pills to one that advertises for that I can just continue taking my pill packs and skipping the placebo week because I've had no problem with Cryselle.  I had bad cramps one of the months i was going to start trying the three months no period so I decided to have my period that month and start off slow, try two packs no period twice, then go to three, and then finally four packs (three months).  The second pack of my second two pack period I started to spot really bad.  I figured it was just normal spotting from skipping (I've skipped periods before on vacation and stuff) but it lasted all month and then when I stopped taking the pills I barely bled at all.  Is that bad and what could it mean?  Yes I'm sexually active with one partner and most of the time we have sex with a condom but there are times when we have sex and we don't use one but he "pulls out." I'm aware that it's not a 100 percent effective method and I know about pre-ejaculation but I've been on birth control for two consecutive years without a break and we are planning our life together.

Answer
Hi Megan,
Some women are able to go 3 months without a period, and some aren't, at least not on a regular basis.  When you're taking the pill for longer than 21 days, at some point you may have some spotting.  If it's minor, you can ignore it.  If it's more than minor, or persists, the best way to manage it is to stop the pill for 4 days, then restart.  That allows whatever period wants to come to come, and when you restart the pill the spotting will usually stop.  It's a fairly common problem, but not serious.