Dear ladye,

It depends on what kind of birth control you use and how you use it. In general, women who use the IUD, patch, pill, or ring will have menstrual periods every month. Women who take the shot may not have periods often or at all while they use the method. Some women do use combined-hormone methods to skip periods.

Combination pills, for example, usually come in 28-day packs and are taken without interruption. The first 21 pills in the pack are called "active" — they contain hormones that prevent pregnancy. The last seven pills in the pack are called "reminder" pills. They are inactive placebos that do not contain hormones. They are taken during the fourth week to let a woman have her period and to help her keep the habit of taking a pill on a regular basis.

Some women choose to skip placebo pills and go right into the next pack to avoid having a period continuously or during certain events — like their vacations, for example. They may still experience some spotting — light bleeding — when they do this. One brand of pill — Seasonale — is being marketed as a way for women to avoid having their periods three months at a time.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.