I am currently on TriSprintec, a triphasic oral contraceptive. I would like to delay my next period (scheduled to start next week), but read that the traditional method of skipping the placebo pills and starting a new pack is not always effective with the triphasic pill. I read an artcile skipping the placebos and taking your next pill pack backwards, starting with week 3 and working down to week 1. Is this safe? Also... after I finish my next pack (on week 1 pills) do I wait a week and start a new pack or start a new pack right away?
Hi. Thanks for asking in Chat Doctor. The traffic pills are supposed to mimic the normal menstruation. Misprinted contains the same concentration of ethanol estradiol, the estrogen in all the 21 active pills with steadily increasing dose of progesterone, norgestimate. This resembles what happens in a normal menstrual cycle. The total pills are 28 of which 21 (gray, light blue and blue) are active hormonal and 7 white pills are non-hormonal pills. You could skip the white non-hormonal pills and can postpone your period by reversing the strip and starting with 3rd week blue pill and giving a gap of one week for the menstrual cycle. But this is usually not recommended and the continuous high dose of progesterone can result in severe nausea, headache, mood swings, depression, abdominal bloating and cramps. So please consult your treating