Daylight Savings and Missed Period

[daisygirl10]

Hey guys,
I've been on the pill for about 8 months and take my pill at 9pm everyday. When Daylight Savings rolled around I continued to take my pill at 9pm, knowing the hour change would not compromise the effectiveness. With that being said, I had unprotected intercourse once in the cycle, and the rest were with condoms. I am now on my inactive pill week and still have not gotten my period. I have not missed any pills, but am curious why this month I have not bled. Last month I had a really heavy period, but this month there has been nothing. Is this normal, or did the hour change mess something up? I am not very concerned, but I am more confused.

Thank you!

[Redskies]

It IS normal to have occasional fluctuations, bleeds being a bit lighter, heavier, earlier, or later than usual, or even not show up at all, yep

We can't know if this particular variation is connected to the hour shift or not. Most people won't experience any difference because it's a pretty small change for the combined pill (and it makes no difference to the effectiveness). Even for the few people who might experience a difference, it doesn't really mess anything up, it's just a small cycle variation like the variations that happen sometimes anyway.

Sometimes bodies just don't do exactly what we were expecting. There's nothing to do about that, really, apart from shrugging our shoulders and being "huh? Body? Well, okay then, do your thing."

[daisygirl10]

That's much more comforting to know, although it is still frustrating! I know it is very unlikely to become pregnant if you take the pill everyday at roughly the same time (which I do). So hearing this makes me feel better! Do you think I should be concerned, or just realize my body is going to do funky things and I just have to learn to go with the flow. Thank you so much!

[Carmen]

Hi daisygirl10,

Realizing your body does funky things and just going with the flow is a great option

[daisygirl10]

not to mention that the week I am suppose to get my period, I traveled all the way from the east coast of the United States to the west coast!

[Heather]

Also, be sure and read your patient instructions that come with your pill, just like you'd read the information (hopefully) for any other medication.

You can know that when it doesn't say something (as it won't for OCPs) like: you must take this medication at the exact same time every day, or within an hour or two of the same time every day, it's because you don't have to for it to be effective. It is in the interest of the manufacturers of medications to give the right directions to patients, so when something isn't in there, it's because it doesn't matter.

[daisygirl10]

My packet says to take the pills at about the same time everyday, so would you say that the hour difference due to daylight savings is a major factor for my pill taking?

[Heather]

That's already been answered for you in this thread.