Continuous Birth Control

Continuous Birth Control

Continuous birth control is the practice of taking birth control so that menstruation occurs at intervals that are longer than one month, or so that menstruation does not occur at all.

Birth Control Methods Designed as Continuous: Birth control pills like Seasonique have a planned course of hormones that make it so that menstruation only happens 4 times per year.

Continuous Birth Control with Other Methods: The use of some methods of hormonal birth control, specifically the pill and the ring, may be altered in order to skip or delay menstruation. Birth control pills have a planned 28 day course, where menstruation occurs because the last 7 days of pills do not contain hormones. A birth control pill user practicing continuous birth control would begin a new pack of pills after 21 days; skipping the 7 days when menstruation would normally occur. The ring requires users to leave the ring in for 21 days and leave it out for 7 days. This 7 day time period is when menstruation occurs. After 21 days have elapsed, a ring user practicing continuous birth control would put a new ring in immediately, instead of leaving it out for 7 days. For some, using birth control methods like Depo-Provera, Implanon, and Mirena (IUC) may result in less or no menstruation during use.

Important Note: Because the pill and the ring are not designed as continuous birth control methods, birth control users should consult a health-care practitioner before using those methods continuously. Additionally, the birth control patch (Ortho-Evra) has a higher dose of hormones than most methods and is not recommended for continuous birth control.