Are any birth control pills specifically designed to lengthen the time between periods?

Yes. These are referred to as continuous or extended-cycle birth control pills. Among those currently available in the U.S. are:

• Jolessa and Quasense (generic versions of Seasonale). With this regimen, you take active pills continuously for 84 days — or 12 weeks — followed by one week of inactive pills. Your period occurs during week 13, about once every three months.
• Amethia, Ashlyna and Camrese (generic versions of Seasonique). With this regimen, you take active pills for 84 days — or 12 weeks — followed by one week of pills containing a very low dose of estrogen. Your period occurs during week 13, about once every three months. Taking low-dose estrogen pills instead of inactive pills helps reduce bleeding, bloating and other side effects sometimes associated with a hormone-free interval.
• Rivelsa (a generic version of Quartette). With this 91-day regimen, you take active pills for 84 days — or 12 weeks. Each pill contains a constant dose of progestin but the dose of estrogen gradually increases — starting with 20 micrograms (mcg), moving up to 25 mcg and moving up again to 30 mcg — at three distinct times during the regimen. Then you take one week of pills containing a very low dose of estrogen. Your period occurs during week 13, about once every three months. The gradual increase in estrogen in Quartette may decrease episodes of breakthrough bleeding experienced during early cycles of extended-cycle pills compared with other extended-cycle pills.
• Amethyst. This pill contains low doses of both progesterone and estrogen and is designed to be taken continuously for one year. There are no breaks for hormone-free intervals, which means no periods. Breakthrough bleeding can occur — especially when you first start taking the pills — but tends to decrease over prolonged use of the medication.