A method is provided for adapting the data transfer rate of a data flow in a communication device according to which: the data flow can be subdivided into at least one data block containing transmission bits to be transmitted; the transmission bits are formed by a coding process from information-carrying input bits; transmission bits determined from a data block of the data flow are removed (punctured) in order to adapt the data transfer rate; a puncturing pattern stipulates which transmission bits are to be removed, and; the puncturing pattern is constructed in such a manner that transmission bits are preferably removed that, during the coding process, depend on few input bits. The present invention also relates to a corresponding communication device.