hi so can anyone help pls? i am currently on vienva a low dose estrogen bc, and I have been breakthrough bleeding or spotting since tuesday (it is sunday). It is very light but it is annoying and comes with 4/10 cramps very minor. I have about 3 active pills left so is it safe to skip the sugar pills the spotting is annoying but i do not want a full period.

It’s safe to skip the break week pills but it’s not guaranteed to change your bleeding in the way you want it to

fyi this is my first pack of birth control

Still okay. Irregular bleeding is particularly common when you first start the pill and you have no control over how light or heavy it gets so you’ll just have to see how it goes for you.

okay thanks! going to skip the sugar and see how it turns out

If you get your packs through insurance make sure you will be able to get the extra refills you will need if you skip.

okay thank you i have currently 3 packs right now!

@Yi_eune means to make sure your insurance is aware you’re skipping break weeks. If not you may have a limit of 12/13 packs a year and will not be able to get any more packs after that, and if you skip breaks you’ll need much more than that.

@bluerose9 yep, when you skip breaks you need to have access to at least 17-18 packs per year.

ok i didn’t know that thanks! one more question just so i can be sure bc im kindve confused , After finishing week 3 i go to week 1 of the new pack or do i skip the sugar pills by waiting 7 days , then start the new pack?

@violetgyrl06 starting week 1 of a new pack after finishing week 3 is skipping the break week. Taking the sugar pills for a week or just taking 7 pill free days (and not taking the sugar pills) is taking a break week. And then you start the new pack. You can also shorten the break week if you like (eg take sugar pills/no pills for 4 days) you just can’t extend the break week past 7 days. Again that is not guaranteed to change your bleeding in the way you want it to.