Tried to skip a period on BC...Now what?

I've been on birth control for about 6 years, took about a year off from BC twice and have been on it consistently for about a year now.  I tried for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago to skip my period by skipping the placebo pills and starting a new pack.  I spotted for like 3 weeks and was just miserable.  I totally won't be trying that again, LOL. 

My question is, how does this affect the effectiveness of the BC?  Technically I should be on my period next week, but I'm taking placebo pills this week.  If DH and I have sex, is it more likely that I could get preggers this week since I'm taking placebo when I should be taking active pills?  Thanks in advance!

My BC at one stage was 3wks of pills then a weeks break (no pills), which is technically is similar to yours I guess? I used to regularly take a pack back-to-back to avoid a period, having my pill-free week after two, sometimes three packs? My Doc said it didn't affect the effectiveness of my BC in any way. It should tell you on the info leafelt in the pack though? If not, maybe their website will tell you for sure? HTH?

OK, thanks for the info, I'll have to look at the leaflet in the pack when I get home.  And they sound very similar, just with reminder pills through the 4th week (your pill-free week).

Check out that leaflet, and until you're sure just use a back up in addition to your pills. Hubby may not like the idea of having to wrap it up but it's better than an unplanned pregnancy.

The period you have on the pill is not a real period, it's called 'break-through bleeding' because your body is withdrawing from the progesterone in the pill.  If you have been consistently taking your pills, without missing/skipping days, then your ovulation will have been suppressed.  Many women routinely take back to back pill packs with out a problem.  Just make sure that you take the first pill of the next pack once you are through with the placebo pills to ensure you keep suppressing ovulation.

However, I agree with the above poster - when in doubt, back it up! Otherwise stressing about it could be a real libido killer =)

I was skipping the fake pills years before it was cool and long before Seasonale pills were available and never had a problem.  i wanted to plan my vacations around my cycle and that was how i controlled it.  i never had any problems.  after a 5 year hiatus, i am back on bc pills and this Sunday I threw away those 7 fake pills and just started another pack.  My gyno says it is perfectly safe and for whatever resaon she never mentioned that i needed a backup method except when you first start bc pills or when you skip a day or two by accident.

my fiance is super geeked about me not having a period except for a few times a year...or when he pisses me off!

I'm on the pill for not getting my period in the first place. (So i'm actually not using it as contraception)

If you dare to try the skipping experiment again, start it on the last days of your period. So the last pill free period you have, last lets say 5 days, so you take the active pill after the second day and continue through without the placebos. That chances are that you won't have spotting then.

Good luck.