While on your bcps should you use any extra protection on your bike?

[pharmer723]

i am a pharmacist and a recreational cyclist...and i can tell you how much i loved using the Nuvaring! It's a vaginal ring, impregnated with low dose estrogen and progestin, that you wear inside your vagina for three weeks. at the end of three weeks you remove it and get your period. ta-DAH!! i often skipped my period by inserting a new ring at the end of three weeks. just make sure that your doc writes the directions as such so that your insurance pays for you to get a new one every 21 days - for those of you who have insurance. the same goes for BCPs...if you plan on skipping the placebo tablets make sure your doc writes "start new pack after 3 weeks - skip placebo tablets". NOTE: if you want to try a Nuvaring free just go to their website and download a coupon to present at your local pharmacy. you still have to get a prescription from a physician, though. present both the prescription AND the coupon at the same time - or you'll get eye-rolling from the pharmacist!

tips from retail

it is perfectly healthy to skip a period. having a 28 day cycle is actually not normal - it's a surrogate marker/an average. i am sure that it makes those of us actively trying to NOT get pregnant relieved every month, but it's not essential. you'll be ok if you skip a few to avoid feeling icky on your bike.

i usually use a tampon...or an instead cup. the menstrual cup was too hard to take in and out...and if i needed to address the issue of overflow in a public restroom? UGH. fuggetaboutit. nasty nasty nasty. pads bunch up in your special region and make for an uncomfortable ride.

good luck finding what works for you!