A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:This is a bit of an embarassing situation... ok, i have really heavy periods which means that my next period will be due when i go on holiday in four weeks time! or at least, i think it will be as my period should end by next monday. i was wondering if i should take the morning after pill, to make my periods stop while i am away? when i am menstruating, i dont feel like doing very much, and feel totally drained, and obviously, i dont want to feel that way on holiday. so what do you think i should do? I've never taken the pill before though...
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on holiday, period, the pill Reply to this Question
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female
reader, Honeypie  + ♥, writes (2 November 2010):
 The morning after pill is made to prevent a fertilized egg to implant. IT will NOT stop your period, more likely the other way around, it will make it start.
The only way to almost control your period is being on Birth Control.
A
female
reader, celtic_tiger +, writes (2 November 2010):
 I think you have got confused between the oral contraceptive pill and the the morning after pill - they are VERY different things.
The morning after pill is an abortion pill - to be taken for unprotected sex. It basically kills off any chance of having a baby. These are pills you take in an EMERGENCY only, and can be dangerous if taken in any quantity!!
It will NOT stop periods, it will only terminate a pregnancy within 72 hours of unprotected sex. It would be TOTALLY irresponsible to take this for any other reason.
The oral contraceptive pill (which is what I think you mean) can be obtained on prescription. You take it every day (at the same time, religiously or it does not work) and it regulates the hormones to make your body think you are pregnant, thus not releasing an egg. If you miss a pill, or are sick, or take other medication it can stop this working, thus you can still get pregnant.
The oral contraceptive pill is not like a paracetamol, or to be taken like sweeties when you feel like it. You have to be responsible and use it correctly.
They are serious medication and have side effects. Sometimes it takes women two or three goes to find the right brand of pill for her. Basically the pill changes the hormone levels in your body, and it takes a while to get used to it - often your body can rebel! You might get terrible side effects on the first pill you try, nausea, sickness, bloating, headaches, cramps, mood swings and terrible depression... all sorts. OR you might be lucky and be 100% ok the first one you try.
Do you want to risk that on your holiday? Would you be able to remember to take it at the same time every day?
Before you take the pill you will have to go for a checkup with your GP or Nurse. They will give you a medical - to check you are actually able to take the pill. Weight, blood pressure, quick medical history etc. they will then prescribe the brand best for you.
There are many different types of pill. Some which you take every day for 21 days, then dont take for 7 days (thus you have a withdrawal bleed (not a proper period)), there are brands you take every day, with 7 dummy pills (again so you have a monthly bleed) and there are pills which you take every day where you have no bleed at all.
With all these there are risks of spotting (light bleeding at odd times).
They will probably advise you to take your first pill on the FIRST day of your next period - which you will be on holiday for. You have that period as normal and the pill protects you.
You can take packs of pills back to back so you do not have a monthly bleed, for two packs only, but this is not advised too much.
I think you have probably left it a bit late for your holiday, but maybe something you could look into after you get back?
The pill is something that every woman takes to differently. My experiences so far have been bad - to the point where I actually got scared for my health. The brand I was on, made me very depressed, nurotic and gave me terrible mood swings. I very nearly became suicidal. It scared me so much that I wasnt brave enough to try a second brand, because I couldnt take the risk of it being worse. It took me a year to get back to some kind of emotional normality after stopping the pill.
However, that is just my experience, there are millions of women who take it every day and do not feel this type of reaction.
I suggest you do a lOT more research on this before you try and do anything. The fact you do not know the difference between the morning after and the contraceptive pill is rather worrying.
Goodluck!
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (2 November 2010): Hey, go and speak to your GP/practice nurse - there is a different pill that you can take to delay your period, and they will be used to people asking for it. I always ask my GP for it to delay my period when I go on holiday :)
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A
female
reader, DrPsych +, writes (2 November 2010):
 You could take progesterone tablets which will delay your period. The alternative route would be to take a combined contraceptive pill - two packs consecutively. You may have left it too late for the second option but if you see a doctor quickly it maybe the solution for you.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (2 November 2010): No, that is not a good idea. I took the morning after pill once, and I don't think it had an effect on my period. if my memory is correct, it caused me to have a period sooner than I had expected, and it was a super heavy, painful period, and my periods were all out of whack for a month or two after. It was not pleasant at all! So you really don't want to do that! the morning after pill should only be taken for one reason... and that should be avoided if at all possible!
If you want to control when you have your period, go onto birth control! There are some pills now that allow you to only have a period every three or four months! It's also possible, if you don't like the timing of your period, to adjust it by when you take the pill. These are all things your doctor can explain to you, if you tell her the situation. But you need to do this very soon if you want to be able to stop yourself from having a period during your holiday.
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