Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, MD, MPH – Written by Aariyana Britton, B.Sc. Updated April 19, 2021

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! You might be feeling a combination of anxiety and happiness as you prepare for one of the most memorable days of your life.

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Bridezilla time!

To deal with all these changes, you’ll need some support — and not just from your bridesmaids and partner. What if we told you that birth control might be another essential to include on your wedding day? 

How Birth Control Can Help On Your Special Day

On your wedding day, things may start acting up. The nerves and excitement of the day may lead to several strong emotions. Think about the additional stress you would experience if you got your period. One way to avoid this is by taking hormonal birth control, as it can lead to the following benefits:

Allowing you to skip your period

Even if your cycles are regular, the fluctuation of hormones you may experience on your wedding day could lead to an unexpected bleed. By taking birth control, you can control when you bleed or even opt to skip your period altogether.

Improving your mood

Birth control can help regulate your hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone. When your uterus sheds its lining (a.k.a you get your period), the level of these hormones decreases, which can lead to unpleasant symptoms such as cramps, breast tenderness, and mood swings. By stabilizing estrogen and progesterone, birth control can help reduce the severity of symptoms – some women report that they experience no symptoms while on birth control.

Decreasing acne

Although you may be wearing makeup on your wedding day, foundation can only cover up so many breakouts on its own. For this reason, you may want to consider birth control, as it can help clear up your skin. With that being said, this may not be the case for all women, so it’s a good idea to consult with your doctor to determine which birth control they recommend for acne maintenance.

Decreasing anxiety

During your period, the increased level of estrogen can lead to a rise in serotonin (a.k.a the feel good hormone). While this hormone increases feelings of well-being and happiness, it can also cause anxiety when released in excess. The estrogen in birth control can help counteract this and, in turn, decrease anxiety – though you should talk to your doctor about trying additional medications if you frequently experience anxiety. 

Reducing bloat

Many women notice bloating when on their period. Thankfully, birth control can help alleviate this symptom. If you are on the pill, you can choose to skip your period by not taking the row of placebo pills and moving to a new pack to keep your hormones stable. By removing the possibility of getting your period, you also avoid the risk of experiencing uncomfortable symptoms, like bloating.

Increasing your energy

The bleed you experience during a period can lead to a decrease in energy and/or the onset of more serious conditions such as anemia due to loss of iron. Furthermore, by preventing a bleed altogether, you lower your risk of developing health issues related to low iron. This may sound minor, but it is something to consider, as you will likely want to have a lot of energy on your wedding day. 

Ensuring that your dress stays clean

Even if your dress is not white, you probably want to prevent it from getting ruined in any way — no food stains, unexpected tears, or period blood! By taking birth control and skipping your period, you can at least eliminate one stain. 

Preventing pregnancy

The most obvious purpose of birth control is pregnancy prevention. Hormonal birth control works by preventing ovulation (a.k.a the release of an egg) and thickening the cervical mucus in your uterus to stop sperm from getting in. If you do not want to be pregnant on your wedding day, but plan to be sexually active, it’s a good idea to begin taking birth control as soon as possible. You can also use condoms or another external barrier, which serve multiple purposes: protecting you from unplanned pregnancy and preventing the spread of STIs

How can Pandia Health help?

Having trouble figuring out which birth control method is right for you? If you live in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MI, NV, TX, TN, PA, WA, or WY, you can set up an online consultation with one of our expert doctors. If you do not live in one of these states, consult your doctor or contact your local Planned Parenthood

Already have a prescription you love? No problem! Sign up for our FREE delivery service so you can #SkipTheTrip to the pharmacy each month! You have #BetterThingsToDo, like planning the wedding!  

Join the Pandia Health community today to get that #PandiaPeaceOfMind in knowing that you will never run out of birth control on our watch! Toss that anxiety like a bouquet of flowers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

How to avoid periods on wedding day?

In order to skip your period with birth control, simply skip the row of placebo pills (these are usually a different color than the rest) and move right to your next pack.

How to prepare your body for wedding night?

• Focus on personal hygiene
• Drink plenty of water and fuel your body with a nutritious diet
• Avoid alcohol and smoking
• Partake in regular physical activity
• Engage in open and honest communication with your spouse

What to do if you have your period on your wedding day?

Tampons and menstrual cups are best to use in this situation. These products will help minimize staining and allow for total body movement. If you are experiencing painful symptoms, you can try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Advil.

What is good luck for the wedding?

Below are some things that are said to bring you good luck on your wedding day:
• Horseshoes
• A family heirloom
• Something blue
• Something new
• A sixpence in your shoe
• Rain on the wedding day
• Burying the bourbon
• Ladybugs
• Sky lanterns
• Ring warming ceremony
• Paper cranes
• Ranging church bells

Disclaimer: The above information is for general informational purposes only and is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor/primary care provider before starting or changing treatment.