Standard and tailored regimens for use of combined hormonal contraception (CHC)
| Type of regimen | Period of CHC use | HFI |
| Standard use | 21 days (21 active pills or 1 ring, or 3 patches) | 7 days |
| Tailored use | ||
| Shortened hormone-free interval (HFI) | 21 days (21 active pills or 1 ring, or 3 patches) | 4 days |
| Extended use (tricycling) | 9 weeks (3 x 21 active pills or 3 rings, or 9 patches used consecutively) | 4 or 7 days |
| Flexible extended use | Continuous use (≥21 days) of active pills, patches or rings until breakthrough bleeding occurs for 3–4 days | 4 days |
| Continuous use | Continuous use of active pills, patches or rings | None |