Which types of hormonal birth control can be used to delay periods?

Several types of hormonal birth control can be used to reduce the number of periods you have. The best method for you depends on your goals and preferences — for example, whether you want fewer or no periods and whether you want short- or long-term birth control — and your overall health. Talk to your doctor about the following options.

Birth control pills

It's possible to delay or prevent your period with extended or continuous use of any combined estrogen-progestin birth control pill. Your doctor can recommend the best pill schedule for you, but generally, you skip the inactive pills in your pill pack and start right away on a new pack. However, there are also several types of birth control pills designed specifically to lengthen the time between your periods. Among those currently available in the U.S. are:

• Jolessa (generic version 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, Camrese and Simpesse (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 Rivelsa may decrease episodes of breakthrough bleeding experienced during early cycles of extended-use pills compared with other extended-use 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.

Vaginal ring (NuvaRing)

Like combined estrogen-progestin birth control pills, it's possible to delay or prevent your period with extended or continuous use of the contraceptive vaginal ring.

Hormonal intrauterine device (Mirena, Liletta, Kyleena, others)

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a form of long-term birth control. After your doctor inserts the device into your uterus, it continuously releases a type of progestin into your body and can remain in place for up to five years. Hormonal IUDs are available in varying doses. Over time, all hormonal IUDs reduce the frequency and duration of menstrual bleeding. However, a higher dose IUD (52 mg of levonorgestrel) appears to be more effective at stopping periods entirely. For example, one year after the insertion of a 52-mg-dose IUD, 20% of women report having no periods. After two years, 30% to 50% of women report having no periods.

DMPA injection (Depo-Provera)

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a type of progestin that you receive by injection every 90 days. It is a form of long-term birth control and also reduces or eliminates monthly bleeding. After one year of DMPA injections, 50% to 75% of women report having no periods. The longer you use DMPA, the more likely it is to stop your periods.