Baking Question and BC Question

I did the BC thing years ago when my period was due right around my wedding day and would have continued into my honeymoon. I was already on BC pills so asked my doctor about it and he said I could go back to back with two packs to stop the period from coming. I did that and it worked just fine. Cannot remember what pill I was on though and it was a long time ago (almost 13 years). So, if you did this you would to get on the pill far enough ahead of the vacation that would allow you to go back to back.

Don't know about the birth control issue...

...but for the springform pan, run a knife around the inside all the way down to the bottom, very carefully. Once you release the springform and lift it up, the cake should be still firmly planted on the bottom. Take a thin spatula and slide it carefully under the edges, as far to the center as you can of the bottom part. It really helps if you have a partner and two spatulas so you both can lift the cake together. I've done this many times for church functions when I didn't want my bottom pan to get lost or damaged from people cutting into it and scratching it. IF you don't have a partner to help you, then you will have to lift the cake with two spatulas, one in each hand and MAKE sure you have a plate or something else immediately near by to transfer it. My cakes have never gotten so badly messed up from doing it this way either.

Using parchment paper on the bottom of the pan will keep it from sticking. If you have already baked the cake try using a long piece of dental floss. Hold one end on the counter and run the other end around the cake. Then pull gently. It will loosen the cake like a knife. Then place a plate on top of the cake upside down and carefully turn the whole thing over. The cake should fall off. If you don't want it upside down use another plate and turn it over again.

Talk to your doctor about some of the birth control pills that help to skip periods. There are several of them. Or you could get an IUD that will do the same thing.

I would cut a circle of parchment paper for the bottom of your springform pan, put it in the bottom, assemble your crust and it will come right out when you're done.

For birth control.... years ago, I was preparing for military training and did not want to have my period while away. My doc advised me to skip the placebo week and start my next pack. It worked for me, but I had been on the pill a couple years already. Otherwise, there are types of pills now that only give you your period four times a year. You could request that. Either way, your doctor is going to have to write you a perscription. He may not require an exam if you've had one recently, but you'll have to make the call.

Good luck on both counts.

I second the parchment in the bottom of the pan. : )

Using the pill to stop your period really only works if you're already on the pill. I know a fair amount of people that actually bleed MORE when they first start the pill. If your trip is in 3 or 4 months, then it might work. If it's in a few weeks, well, probably not.
That said, I used to do it all the time when I was on the pill. My GYN would actually call me in extra pills so that I could skip the placebo pills.
I would call your doctor and see what they say. Chances are, they won't just call you in a script for the pill. You'll most likely have to make an appointment.

you need to be on the pill for a while then there is 1 week you throw away call and ask dr it worked for me

I would assume that as long as you butter the bottom of the pan, the crust should easily come off the bottom of it with a spatula or even just a gentle push. I could be wrong though...

I have tried to alter my cycle. It never worked for me. You could always just start a second packet and see if it works for you, but I never had any luck with it.

Years ago, before I had a hysterectomy-in order to stop bleeding almost everyday-the doctor put me on BC pills. It is the sickest I have ever been. If you have never taken them before-I would suggest to take them prior to your trip to see how you feel.

If you aren't currently on BC pills, you would need to talk with your doctor to see if they will prescribe without another appointment for a checkup.

You don't say when you are going on the trip. I would think altering your period this way would be more successful if you've been on the pill for a couple of months first. As far as which ones would work better, anything that is not considered a "low dose" pill should work. Lower dose pills have a tendency to allow breakthrough bleeding at unexpected times, especially in the first few months of use.

You don't need to get the "Seasonale" pills that advertise a period every 3 months or whatever, because that doesn't usually happen, you don't skip periods on them, until you've been on them for up to a year.

The reason that this can work is that we don't have real periods while on the pill. The pill prevents ovulation, which is what in turn causes a period. The bleeding that happens on the "off" week is in response to the drop in hormones the week of not taking them.

Don't know about baking.

About altering your cycle, I've just continued my pill and it worked, however I did have craps, so I was constantly worried about starting my period. What I do now is stop the pill and get my cycle a week or so before the event, and then start up again.

The dental floss trick that another poster wrote about works really well -- I make a lot of cheesecakes (I even made a set of them for my wedding cake) so I have lots of experience and this trick has never failed me. You don't need parchment paper. Remove the sides from the spring form pan. Take a long piece of dental floss (ideally NOT mint flavored) and work it between the crust and the pan. the cake, sawing back and forth until the cake is loosened. Then you can just slide the cake off the pan and onto the serving dish.

line the spring form pan with parchment paper

Okay, #1...you can pry the bottom of the crust off the pan, but sometimes it's tricky. I've done it a ton of times with success, and I've also done it and not had success! Use a flat metal spatula and slowly scootch it under the crust and go around in tiny motions. Make sure you get the middle, that could stick and cause disasater! ;) To make life easier...try putting a circle of parchment down on the bottom part of the pan, I've never done it myself, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. That way when you go to plate it, it should slide right off.

As far as the BC question, when I was on the pill I did that all the time! I just decided I didn't want my period and I kept taking the pills (skipping the placebo week all together). There is no negative side effect and doesn't lessen the effectiveness of the pill. I asked my doc about it and he said it was fine. In fact, I was doing that and having only 4 periods a year long before Seasonale! ;) I don't think it matter which pill you're on. Have fun!

I had to put in my 2 cents! Just be careful about fooling w/birth control to alter period. I did this and ended up missing my period b/c I was pregnant! Woops! Best mistake of my life though.=) Be sure to call your doc about that. Have a great trip!!!