Q:   My boyfriend is coming to visit and we are sexually active.  I am on the pill, and I am scheduled to get my period during his visit.  I heard that I could keep taking the pill during the week I am supposed to have my period and that I won't get it.  I need information about the right way to do this.  Could you explain this further for me?
Thanks!

A:  Yes, it’s true that sometimes you can avoid getting your period by skipping the week of placebo (sugar) pills and starting in immediately on a new pack of pills containing hormones.   Sometimes you can have “spotting” (very light menstrual bleeding) instead of a full period, but it's really the only thing you can try to prevent a period.

While there is no guarantee it will work in preventing your period from coming, there is no harm to your body in doing this.   Think about it:  women who are pregnant may not have a menstrual period for an entire nine months.  The maternal hormones keep their body from having a period.   If you decide to take back-to-back pill packs, you will have a period during the last week of the 28-day cycle when you resume taking the placebo pills.