Postponing Your Period While on Ortho-Tri-Cyclen: Options & Safety

Question
I am currently taking Ortho-tri-cyclen.  Due to the predictability and regularity
the pill offers I just realized that my period is going to begin on my wedding day
next month.  Is there any way I can expedite or postpone my period a few days
while still preventing pregnancy?

Answer
Hi Alex,

Congratulations on your wedding! It is possible to try and switch the start of your period and still be protected. This does not always work and you may experience breakthrough bleeding. It works better with monophasic pills, not the tri pills. However, you can try it for next month.

If the next period is the one you want to skip: Take the first 3 weeks of the pill as normal. When you get to the 4th week, do not take the placebo pills. Instead, take the 3rd week of pills from a new pack. the 5th week, you can take the placebo pills and get a period, or start with a new pack. You may still get a period that 5th week. You need to replace the placebo week with the 3rd week pills because each week of ortho-tri-cyclen has different amounts of progestin, with the 3rd being the highest and the 1st the lowest (not counting the placebos). If you just skipped the placebos and started a new pack, you have a greater chance of having a period anyway due to the drop in hormones.


If you have not gotten your period yet this month: you can continue as normal, skip the placebo pills and start a new pack at the placebo week. You may still get a period as normal this month because of the hormone drop, but your period for next month should move up one week. Or, you can wait and follow the above.


Either of the above will keep you protected against pregnancy.

You may want to also check with your doctor about this. It is a very common question an doctors will give advice on what to do.

I hope this helps. If oyu have further questions let me know.

-Mia