This Is How Skipping Your Period Can Affect The Rest Of Your Body

You don't need me to tell you how much of a pain your period can be.

So, believe me, I feel you on a spiritual level if you ever think about finding ways to skip your period.

Maybe you have a big date coming up, or perhaps a beach day with your friends is on the horizon.

Or maybe you just plain don't feel like dealing with the cramps, the back pain, and the excessive amounts of blood that insist on leaving your body every month.

The good news is, skipping your period isn't all that hard to do, nor is it something you need to be scared of trying.

But, if you do have any reservations about it, allow me to quiet your mind and break down the basics for you.

First of all, how is it actually possible to skip your period?

So, if you're on birth control, you know that placebo week of pills?

If you're looking to go period-free for a month, don't take them.

Instead, start your new pack of birth control immediately after you finish the old one. This will keep your period at bay until the next cycle.

But isn't that unhealthy?

You would think so, right? But apparently, it's perfectly fine.

As it turns out, menstrual bleeding is not actually necessary for your health. The bleeding you experience during the week you're taking your placebo pills, isn't even a real period; it's just withdrawal bleeding, which technically only mimics a period.

But what is withdrawal bleeding?

According to Mayo Clinic, withdrawal bleeding is your body's response when you put your hormones on hold.

Elite Daily spoke with clinician and nurse practitioner Glory Guerrero of Planned Parenthood, who says, although this practice may seem unorthodox, your body is really isn't affected much by the change:

It's OK as long as you are on hormonal birth control, because it is actually dictating and assisting your body in preventing the period to occur. That is different from when your body has no hormones, meaning you're not taking any type of birth control and you are naturally not getting any periods -- then we want to know what is the underlying medical reason for that problem.

Of course, if you've noticed your period has stopped, and you're not on any type of hormonal birth control, you should consult your doctor immediately to see what's going on.

Can I go back to having my regular periods after skipping a cycle or two?

As long as you take your birth control the way you're instructed to, then yes, your body can go back to having totally normal periods.

However, Guerrero says it's important to note that the outcomes of skipping your period may differ from woman to woman.

While most women's bodies can get accustomed to the occasional missed period, others experience more erratic, breakthrough bleeding, even after skipping those placebo pills.

But hey, there's no harm in trying, right? Even if you don't get the results you want, you're bound to learn something new about the way your body works, and see what it's truly capable of.

And, honestly, that alone makes me feel so badass to be a woman.