Does skipping placebo pills work?

Yup, it’s totally fine to skip the non-hormonal pills (aka placebo pills or reminder pills) in your pill pack. The non-hormonal pills are just there to help you remember to take your pill every day and start your next pack on time.

Can Skipping a placebo pill increase chances of getting pregnant?

If you choose to skip the placebo pills, there’s a chance that you may be late in starting your next pill pack. This can interrupt your body’s expected level of hormones and cause you to ovulate. Ovulation increases your chances of being pregnant.

Can you get pregnant on placebo week?

Yes. When you’re on the pill, it’s okay to have sex anytime, even during your period week — the week when you don’t take the pill or take placebo pills instead. As long as you’ve been taking your pill every day and starting your pill packs on time, you’re protected from pregnancy even during that off week.

Will I get my period if I skip placebo pills?

Highlights. Placebo pills are placeholders meant to help you stay on track by taking a pill every day until the next month starts. Skipping the placebo pills can reduce the number of periods you have or eliminate them altogether. Some doctors recommend having your period at least once every three months.

Can I start a new pack of birth control in the middle of my placebo week?

You don’t have to take the placebo pills in your birth control pack, but you must begin your active pills again within a week. You can start your active pills early to adjust the date of your period or start your placebo pills on a different week if you want to change the timing of your period.

Do you ovulate on placebo pills?

People who take oral contraceptives, or birth control pills, generally don’t ovulate. During a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs approximately two weeks before the start of the next period.

What happens if you don’t bleed on the placebo pills?

If you’re on birth control and not getting your period during your placebo week, there’s no need to worry, especially if you know you’ve been taking your pill every day. It’s normal for your period to be lighter and shorter than usual, especially if you’ve been on birth control for a while.

Can I get pregnant on my placebo week?

Should I skip the placebo pills?

The Takeaway. You can skip the placebo pills if you take your active pills as prescribed and don’t miss days routinely. However, birth control pills don’t protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). You should use a barrier method, such as a condom, to protect against STIs.

Is it safe to skip the placebo birth control pills?

If you decide that you want to skip the sugar or placebo pills, you should be very careful about marking this on your calendar so that you don’t get off schedule with your active pills. Otherwise, it is completely safe to skip these pills.

Is it OK not to take the placebo pills?

People do not need to take the placebo pills if they would prefer to take a break instead. The birth control pills for the last week do not contain any active hormones. However, people who decide to skip the placebo pills must remember to restart the next pill pack on time.

Are you still protected while taking the placebo pill?

The placebos also allow for you to have a period, but it’s usually much lighter than it would be if you weren’t using oral contraceptives. Even though you’re taking placebo pills, you’re still protected against pregnancy as long as you’ve been taking the active pills as prescribed.