Period ending before placbeo week ends

[feminister.livejournal.com]

I have been on birth control for a year and a half now and have had no problems on it, however, my period usually starts on the fifth placebo day and starts to lighten/end into my active week but now my period is starting on the third or fourth placebo day and ends before my placebo week is done (usually on the sixth placebo day, I'm pretty much done).. this worries me because it makes me think I'm going to start ovulating and that I should start my active pills sooner... should I start taking my active pills after only 6 placebo days or am I okay to keep my entire 7 days? Is it possible that i could start ovulating even though it's only 7 placebo days with a period that ends too soon? I know people are very concerned with not extending your placebo week (like starting a new pack late could make you ovulate because you've been off the active too long, and even though I'm not going more than 7 days, I'm worried taht an early ending period means 7 days is too long off the active pills if that makes sense?)

Comments

[a-tiny-goat.livejournal.com]

Using hormonal birth control, you don't actually ovulate..

If its anything, I have been on the pill for the last 11-12 years and my period has always started 3 days into my placebo week and is ending by the time I start my active pills.

[hadespuppy.livejournal.com]

It really doesn't matter when your period ends. as long as you have at least 21 days of continuous pill taking, you will be protected for the seven days of your placebo week. Some women lose their periods entirely while on BC, and it has nothing to do with whether or not they ovulate, it's just the way their bodies react to the hormones.

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

There is no need to shorten your placebo week.

How long you do or do not bleed has nothing to do with whether or not you will have a breakthrough ovulation while on hormonal birth control. Most pill brands allow seven hormone-free days because it has been shown that this is not enough time without hormones to allow the body to ovulate.

Ovulation has absolutely zero relationship with how long (or how much) you bleed. Even if you didn't bleed at all, it wouldn't put you at any additional risk of a breakthrough ovulation.

One thing hormonal birth control does is make bleeds lighter and shorter: when I was on HBC I bled for about 12-18 hours.

So in a nutshell: your protection is not compromised because your bleeds end before the placebo week is over. In fact, that's very normal. You do not need to shorten your placebo week for reasons related to pregnancy protection.