In some types of birth control pills, the last week of the pack usually consists of inactive or placebo pills. These pills do not contain any hormones.
There are many different types of birth control pills. One of the most common is the combination pill, which contains synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Many brands of the combined pill include this week of inactive pills to induce a bleed that mimics a period. Taking them ensures people maintain the regular habit of taking the pill without accidentally skipping days.
However, the exact amount of placebo pills in each pack may vary depending on the brand.
Read on to learn more about placebo pills, whether it is necessary to take them, and more.
The placebo pills in birth control pill packets are inactive and do not contain any hormones. The purpose of them is to give people a regular “break” from the hormones and induce a bleed, which mimics a monthly period.
However, there is no medical need for this break, and not all brands of birth control pills include them. Other brands only have a small number of them.
People usually get a bleed while taking the placebo pills because the body reacts to the drop in hormone levels by shedding the uterine lining.
Common types of combination pill packs include:
- 28-day pill packs: These packs involve taking 1 pill per day and starting a new pack on day 29. Many have 3 weeks of active pills and 1 week of placebo pills, but some contain less.
- 21-day pill packs: These pill packs contain 21 days of pills with active hormones. A person will then go 7 days without any pills and then start a new pack.
- 91-day pill packs: Some types of pills have 12 weeks of active pills and up to 1 week of inactive pills. People taking these pills should only get their period once every 3 months.
No, people do not have to take the placebo pills in their birth control packet. They can skip the placebo pills for 7 days and then begin another pack if they wish.
However, individuals who do not take the placebo pills during the break must remember to resume the next pack on time so they do not have a risk of an unplanned pregnancy.
With typical use, combined birth control pills are 91% effective at preventing pregnancy, regardless of whether or not people take the placebo pills. With perfect use, they are 99% effective.
However, if someone is unsure they will remember to resume the pills at the right time, it may be better to continue taking 1 pill per day, including the placebo pills. This helps maintain a routine.
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Possibly, but it depends on the type of birth control pill.
Some brands of the pill provide a steady dose of hormones throughout the month. In these cases, people can skip the placebo week and go straight into a new pack of active pills.
Doing this means individuals can delay or skip their monthly bleed, which may be convenient if they have a significant event coming up. There is no harm in doing this.
An article by the American College of Gynecologists (ACOG) says that there is no correct number of periods a person must have while taking birth control pills. Some people take the active pills continuously so that they never have one.
However, some varieties of birth control pills do not allow back-to-back dosing, as the dosing varies by week within the pack. Therefore, people need to ensure that the pill they are taking is suitable to use on an extended cycle.
It is also important to know which pills are placebo and which are active to reduce the risk of an unplanned pregnancy.
Anyone who is unsure which pills are active and which are inactive needs to consult a doctor or pharmacist to ensure they know how to do this correctly.
A doctor can also provide guidance regarding the safety of skipping the placebo pills.
Many people find that they do not bleed or that they experience lighter bleeding while taking birth control pills.
This may be due to a few vital functions of the pill, which works by:
- stopping ovulation
- thickening cervical mucus to block sperm
- keeping the lining of the uterus thin to prevent implantation
When the uterine lining is thin, there will be less blood and tissue to shed during the hormone-free period. For some, this may mean no bleed at all. This can be natural and does not signify anything is wrong.
However, if a person has concerns they may be pregnant, they can take a home pregnancy test to be sure.
If an individual would rather get a period regularly for peace of mind, they may wish to discuss a different type of contraception with their doctor.
In many packs of combination birth control pills, there are placebo pills that do not contain active hormones. Taking them creates a break in the dose of hormones, inducing a bleed that mimics a period.
This break is not medically necessary, so some people choose to occasionally skip the placebo week and go into a new pack of active pills. Others run their active pills together so that they never have a break.
However, people need to check with a doctor or pharmacist before doing this, as not all types of birth control pills have consistent doses in them. It is also essential to be clear on which pills in the packet are inactive.