If I skip my placebo pills will there be side effects?
By Attia @ Planned Parenthood | April 22, 2021, 12:18 p.m.
Category: Ask the Experts, Birth Control
Skipping the non-hormonal birth control pills (aka placebo pills, “sugar” pills, or reminder pills) in your pill pack won’t cause any side effects. The non-hormonal pills are just there to help you remember to take your pill every day and start your next pack on time. Sometimes the non-hormonal pills also have supplements in them, like iron, which can be good for your general health but aren’t needed for pregnancy prevention.
If you skip your non-hormonal pills and jump right to your next pill pack without taking a break, you’ll skip your period. You can do this every once in a while (like for a special occasion), or you can do it every month. It’s totally safe to use birth control pills to skip your period, and it won’t affect how well they work to prevent pregnancy. However, if you do this you may have some spotting, especially if you haven’t done it before or only do it every now and then. This is totally normal and safe.
If you don’t take the hormone-free pills and instead just take a break from taking your pill on those days, you’ll still get your period. Just make sure you remember to start your next pack on time, or you’ll be at risk for pregnancy.
Tags: birth control pills, placebo pills, sugar