Dear cece4lyfe06,

A woman can avoid menstruating for a cycle - skipping her period - by beginning a new pack of combination pills immediately, instead of taking the non-active reminder pills, or placebos, from the previous pack. This works regardless of the dosage of hormones in each pill.

Combination pills 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 placebo pills that do not contain hormones. They are taken during the fourth week, when menstruation usually occurs, to help a woman stay in the habit of taking a pill on a regular basis.

In September 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Seasonale.
Like other combination pills, Seasonale contains synthetic versions of the hormones estrogen and progestin, and is up to 99.7 percent effective when used correctly. Here's the difference: with Seasonale, a woman takes active pills for 84 days straight, followed by seven reminder pills. Therefore, she'll have her period once every 84 days, instead of once every 28 days.

Seasonale may be an attractive option for women who have severe menstrual discomfort and want to have fewer periods. On the other hand, many women like the reassurance of having their period every month. It should be noted that bleeding and spotting as side effects may happen more frequently with Seasonale than with other birth control pills.

It's important to talk with a clinician about how often you should get your period, and what type of birth control is best for you. To make an appointment at the nearest Planned Parenthood, call 1-800-230-PLAN.

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.