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When it comes to stopping yourperiod,pregnancyandmenopauseare two pretty surefire ways to make it happen.
Maybe you’ve wondered, “Can birth control stop your period?” The truth is it’s complicated.
Well, we have some good and not-so-good news for you.
The less good news is that nothing is ever guaranteed, especially when it comes to reproductive health.
First, is it safe to skip your period?
Some people may naturally just stop getting their period over time while using certain forms of birth control.
The long answer, however, is a bit more involved.
During a menstrual cycle without hormonal birth control, your endometrial lining thickens in anticipation of an embryo implanting.
If pregnancy does not occur, your body sheds this lining, and you get your period.
The bleeding is simply your bodys response to stopping the hormones.
If your period lessens or goes away completely while taking hormonal birth control, its nothing to worry about.
However, it can cause the endometrial lining to become thinner over time, leading tospotting or breakthrough bleeding.
They can help you decide if delaying menstruation is the best option for you.
How does birth control work and which ones can stop your period?
Some birth control types are progestin-only, while others contain both progestin and estrogen.
So, which types of birth control will definitely stop your period?
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.
The majority of people will still get a period, but significantly shorter and lighter, he explains.
Estrogen helps to control breakthrough bleeding while also working to suppress ovulation.
If you do the math, that works out to be a period about once every three months.
One other pill thats available is meant to be taken continuously for a year, with no hormone-free breaks.
Generally speaking, higher doses of hormones are more likely to stop your period, per the Mayo Clinic.
Hormonal IUDsare little T-shaped devices that are inserted into the uterus.
Hormonal IUDs may cause loss of flow because they sometimes suppress ovulation, but thats not a sure thing.
More commonly, they thin the uterine lining to the point where your period straight up vanishes.
But Dr. Dweck says this is typically preceded by three to six months of irregular bleeding.
In fact, its notorious for making bleeding worse in the short-term, and potentially the long-term as well.
This birth control method is pretty similar to an IUD in that it secretes progestin.
There are a few major differences, though.
As a byproduct of the progestins effect on your uterine lining, your period might diminish or disappear.
It works to suppress ovulation and thicken your cervical mucus to keep sperm from reaching any eggs.
They use progestin and estrogen to suppress ovulation, thicken your cervical mucus, and thin your uterine lining.
At that point, youll typically have your period.
If used this way, you may only experience a lighter period.
This can come with breakthrough bleeding, so double-check and talk with your doctor before trying this method.
After seven days, you place a new patch on your skin.
For many people, the patch makes their periods lighter, regular, and easy to predict.
How long does it take for birth control to stop your period?
Does starting on birth control during your period stop your flow immediately?
Will taking two birth control pills in one day stop your period?
But whether or not it will eventually stop your period depends on your individual circumstances.
How long after stopping birth control will you get your period?
Regardless of the pop in, your body and menstrual cycle will need time to adjust.
For others, it may not.
But when it comes to getting pregnant, your body operates on an entirely different timeline.
Can birth control help regulate your period?
This is great news for people living with irregular cycles and painful or heavy periods.
This includes birth control pills, the patch, and the vaginal ring.