stacking a triphasic pill

[kinda-iwantto.livejournal.com]

First, if I stack my triphasic pill, I'm still protected during the placebo week, as long as it's only 7 days, right?
I've heard conflicting reports and would like to clar that up.

Now, I've read that there are 2 ways to stack a triphasic - take weeks 1, 2, 3 of pack A and then weeks 3, 2, 1 of pack B; or open pack A and B and take both week 1s, then both week 2s, then both week 3s, then one placebo week.
Well I'm starting week 3 of my second pack tomorrow, and was wondering if I could take 2 more packs backwards and still be protected?
Say, open 2 more packs, packs C and D, and take both week 3s, then both week 2s, then both week 1s, and thereby postpone my period for another 6 weeks?
Or does it not work that way?
I hope this made sense, I have a feeling I'm being incoherent.

Comments

[kitamad.livejournal.com]

That sounds incredibly complicated, and I don't know the answer to your question. I never tried stacking before because I was told not to try it with a triphasic pill. However, I did get tired of my periods, so I switched to Seasonale (well, whatever the generic is), and it's working great.
I know I would feel safer on a 3-month cycle than try stacking and hope I get it right.

I hope that someone knows the answer to your question to help you now though. Good luck!

[kinda-iwantto.livejournal.com]

thank you! I'm really comfortable with stacking 2 packs, especially since I use condoms additionally anyway. I just don't know if stacking 4 packs on a triphasic would have horrible side effects. =/

[thuringiensis.livejournal.com]

So you've taken 2 packs already (1-1-2-2-3-3) and want to take 2 more packs, but backwards (3-3-2-2-1-1)?

I don't think it would affect the efficacy of the pills as long as you don't have any less than 21 active pills or any more than 7 days without, but whether or not you'd have side effects(spotting, etc.) depends entirely on your personal reaction and body chemistry, I'd think. If anything, I'd think it'd be easier to stack longer-term with a triphasic because of the gradual cycling of the hormones, but I've never used them myself.

[belleforbass.livejournal.com]

I use to stack mine this way.

1-2-3-3-2-1-1-2-3-3-2-1 (I had a bad couple of months and liked the stresslessness I got from not having a withdrawlbleed)

You can still take them and be protected, just remember to take them daily.
You might have breakthrough bleeding, I know the first time I stacked for more than 2 months I got some breakthrough bleeding.
It should work fine, but you might have some breakthrough bleeding, or you might not!

[kinda-iwantto.livejournal.com]

Yes! I didn't think to ask if I could stack more long term before, like in the future I plan on stacking more like 1-1-1-1-2-2-2-2-3-3-3-3-4-4-4-4....but yeah.
I had some breakthrough bleeding when I started stacking 1-2-3-3-2-1, which worries me a little, but not so much as the horrible mood swings and emotionals I go through on my placebo week, which I'm trying to avoid.
Much thanks to everybody!

[archangelbeth]

Stacking pills, any pills (well, except placebos!!), should never compromise your protection -- you're just giving your body more of the hormones that keep the ovaries hypnotized into thinking they've already ovulated. Your uterus may get snitty and bleed anyway, but when on HBC, the uterus and ovaries basically aren't talking to each other anymore.

As to whether the trick would work to keep skipping the withdrawal bleed? If the first one has, it's not impossible. The issue may come that as you let the levels of hormones drop, your uterus may decide to say, "Dropping hormones? Is bleed tiems nao!" and proceed to try to start a withdrawal bleed.

Then again, the levels may drop slowly enough, with the triphasic, that this doesn't happen and you have bleed-free stacking. It's kind of hard to tell without trying.

I hope I made sense! O:D

[kinda-iwantto.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Well if the withdrawal bleed is from dropping hormones....well I had a withdrawal bleed last time I stacked them backwards, so theoretically I should this time too =/ Maybe it would be best if I just go thrugh the placebo week this time, and then stack better next time =]
Thank you muchos!!!!!!!

[archangelbeth]

Could work better if you're planning a longer stack, aye. (Just remember not to stack the placebos! O:D )

Glad that I was informative!