How to skip your period on Lo Loestrin Fe?

October 11, 2025 •

3 min read

Clinical studies show that almost half the women using Lo Loestrin Fe experience no period after their first year of use. If you're wondering how to skip your period on Lo Loestrin Fe, the process involves continuous active pill intake, but it is crucial to understand the proper steps and consult a healthcare provider first.

Quick Summary

Taking Lo Loestrin Fe continuously by skipping the inactive pills can prevent your monthly withdrawal bleed. This method, known as continuous cycling, is generally safe for most women, but it's important to understand the proper procedure and discuss it with a healthcare provider. Common side effects include breakthrough bleeding.

Key Points

Consult a Doctor: Always discuss skipping your period with a healthcare provider to ensure it's safe for your health.
Skip Inactive Pills: To prevent a withdrawal bleed, you must skip the two brown inactive pills and go directly to a new pack of active pills.
Manage Breakthrough Bleeding: Spotting is a common side effect, especially in the first few months, but it often subsides.
Remain Consistent: Take your active pills at the same time each day to maintain effectiveness and minimize irregular bleeding.
Consider a 'Reset' Period: If breakthrough bleeding persists, your doctor may recommend a short 3- to 4-day hormone-free break to 'reset' your cycle.
Understand the Risks: All combined hormonal pills carry a risk of blood clots, particularly for women who smoke and are over 35.

Understanding the Lo Loestrin Fe pill pack

To skip your period with Lo Loestrin Fe, understand the pack's composition. The pack contains differently colored tablets with specific purposes.

Active Pills: These contain hormones norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol, which suppress ovulation. The Lo Loestrin Fe pack has 24 blue active pills followed by 2 white active pills.
Inactive Pills: These are the final 2 tablets, brown in color. They contain an iron supplement called ferrous fumarate but no hormones. Taking these placebo pills allows for a scheduled withdrawal bleed, mimicking a menstrual period.

The process for continuous cycling

To skip your period, remove the hormone-free interval by skipping the two inactive brown pills. Here is the process:

Take all 24 blue active pills as usual, one per day.
Take the next two white active pills as scheduled, one per day.
After taking the final white pill, discard the two brown inactive pills.
Start a new pack of Lo Loestrin Fe the very next day, beginning with the first blue active pill. Do not take any days off between packs.

This method keeps hormone levels consistent, preventing the uterine lining from shedding, thus avoiding a withdrawal bleed.

Managing breakthrough bleeding

Breakthrough bleeding or spotting is a common side effect of continuous cycling, particularly in the initial months. This is more likely with low-dose pills like Lo Loestrin Fe and is not a sign of ineffectiveness.

Here are some management strategies:

Consistency: Continue taking your active pills at the same time every day. Bleeding often subsides over the first few months.
Scheduled breaks: If spotting becomes bothersome, healthcare providers may recommend a short hormone-free interval, such as a 3- or 4-day break, to allow for a withdrawal bleed. After this, resume taking the active pills continuously. This should only be done after at least 21 consecutive days of active pills to maintain contraceptive effectiveness.
Quit smoking: Smoking increases breakthrough bleeding in women using hormonal contraceptives. Quitting may help resolve this issue.

Comparison of standard vs. continuous cycling


Feature	Standard 28-Day Cycling	Continuous Cycling (Skipping Period)
Pill Sequence	24 blue active, 2 white active, 2 brown inactive	24 blue active, 2 white active, new pack immediately
Hormone Delivery	Interrupted delivery, with a 2-day low-dose estrogen period and a 2-day hormone-free interval.	Constant, uninterrupted hormone levels.
Menstruation	Scheduled withdrawal bleed during inactive pill days.	No scheduled bleed; withdrawal bleed is intentionally skipped.
Effectiveness	Highly effective when taken correctly.	Equally effective when taken correctly.
Side Effects	Common side effects include nausea, headache, breast tenderness.	Breakthrough bleeding is common, especially initially.
Menstrual Symptoms	Potential for PMS, cramping, and mood swings during the hormone-free interval.	Reduced or eliminated symptoms like cramps, headaches, and bloating.

Potential risks and considerations

While skipping your period is generally safe for many women, it has risks and important considerations.

Increased risk of blood clots

All combined hormonal contraceptives, including Lo Loestrin Fe, carry a risk of cardiovascular events such as blood clots. This risk is highest for women over 35 who smoke. Consult a doctor to ensure this method is safe for you, especially if you have other risk factors.

Pregnancy detection

Skipping a period makes it more difficult to identify a potential pregnancy. If you miss a period, have symptoms like nausea or breast tenderness, or have missed any pills, you should take a pregnancy test.

Off-label use

Using Lo Loestrin Fe for continuous cycling is considered an "off-label" use, meaning it is not specifically indicated for this purpose in the original prescribing information. However, many healthcare providers support this method for patients who are good candidates.

Conclusion

Postponing or eliminating monthly periods by continuously taking the active pills of Lo Loestrin Fe is a significant benefit for many, particularly for managing heavy or painful periods, migraines, or endometriosis. The process involves skipping the two brown inactive pills and starting a new pack immediately. Consult a healthcare professional before altering your birth control regimen to ensure it is appropriate for your health. They can help you prepare for common side effects like breakthrough bleeding and provide strategies for managing it, ensuring your contraceptive protection remains consistent and effective. For more information, you can also read the manufacturer's patient leaflet, which contains crucial safety warnings and dosage instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

For most healthy women eligible for combined hormonal contraception, skipping periods with Lo Loestrin Fe is safe. Discuss primary risk factors, such as smoking over 35, with a doctor.

To skip your period, take the 24 blue active pills, followed by the 2 white active pills. After the final white pill, discard the two brown inactive tablets and start a new pack of blue active pills the next day.

Periods are not typically heavier after stopping continuous birth control. The hormones in the pill keep the uterine lining thin.

Breakthrough bleeding often decreases with time. If it persists, your doctor may suggest a planned 3- to 4-day hormone-free break to 'reset' your cycle, if you have taken at least 21 consecutive days of active pills.

Skipping your period with birth control will not affect your future ability to get pregnant. Fertility returns as soon as you stop taking the pill.

If you miss a pill, follow the missed dose instructions in the Lo Loestrin Fe package insert. A missed pill can cause breakthrough bleeding and may compromise contraceptive effectiveness, so follow the guidelines and use a backup method if necessary.

If you skip your period and have symptoms like nausea, fatigue, or breast tenderness, take a pregnancy test. The chance of pregnancy is very low if pills are taken correctly, but a test is the only way to be sure.