Combination Birth Control Pills
If a combination birth control pill is started for the first time on the Sunday after your period begins, your period should occur about 25 days later. Ask your healthcare provider which day is the best to start your specific pill pack. If your period begins on a Sunday, you can start the pill pack on that Sunday.
- In general, about 3 days after finishing all of the 21 active tablets in a 28 pill pack, most women will start their period.
- If you use a 28-pill pack, youâll get your period during the week you take the reminder pills.
- If you use a 21-day pill pack, youâll still get your period the week you do not take any pills. Remember that the 21-day pack has no reminder pills. Use a reminder to help you stay on track.
You May Like: Why Does Your Lower Back Hurt On Your Period
Can You Get Pregnant During Your Period While Using Birth Control
Out of the many birth control methods to choose from such as Intrauterine devices , pills, vaginal contraceptive rings, patches, implants, and condoms, none of it really provides 100% assurance. But they do decrease the chances based on the type of method used. The failure rate for the various methods are as given below :
How Can Pandia Help
In many cases, spotting is not something you need to worry about.
However, if this bleeding is accompanied by pain, occurs frequently, or is particularlyheavy, you should consult a doctor to rule out more serious health conditions. If your spotting is caused by your birth control, you can ask your doctor to prescribe a different type in order to find what worksbest for your body.
If you are looking to swap to a different kind of birth control or want to get your birth control delivered right to your mailbox, Pandia Health can help. We take pride in prescribing birth control based on several factors, including age, ethnicity, BMI, and general health including your previous experience with birth control and spotting.
All these factors can influence your bodys reaction to birth control, which your doctor will consider when reviewing the best options for you. With just one $25 payment a year, you can get access to our expert doctors for 364 days. Get in touch to change your birth control today!
You May Like: How Many Days After Period Do I Ovulate
Whats Normal Bleeding While On The Contraceptive Pill
Your bodyâs response to your pill will depend on the type of pill you take, and your own bodyâs hormones. If youâre taking a typical 21/7 monophasic pill , bleeding may start on day two or three of your placebo week and last 3-5 days on average. A few people may have only one day of bleeding mid-week, and others may have bleeding that extends into their next pill pack. Up to 1 in 10 have no withdrawal bleeding at all .
Bleeding on the contraceptive pill is also likely to change over time. In people using the 24/4 day pill , about 1-2 in 10 had no significant withdrawal bleeding by the 6th pill pack . Bleeding also tended to decrease over time.
No bleeding can also signal a pregnancy. Take a pregnancy test if youâre unsure, especially if you havenât taken your pills correctly in the previous pack.
What Are The Side Effects Of Stopping The Birth Control Pill
Any time theres a change in your hormones like when you go on or off hormonal birth control such as the pill theres a chance of temporary side effects. But they usually go away after a few months.
When you go off the pill, your body will eventually return to the way it was before you went on it.
So if the pill made your periods lighter, your periods will probably get heavier once you stop using it. It can also take a few months for your period to go back to the cycle you had before you started taking the pill. And if the pill helped clear up your skin, your acne may come back after you go off the pill. But everyones body is different, and our bodies also change over time. For example: youre less likely to have acne after puberty, so if you started taking the pill in your teens but go off it in your 20s, you may have naturally grown out of your acne by then.
Another important thing to note: you can get pregnant right away once you stop taking the pill . So if youre going off the pill but you dont want to get pregnant, make sure to use another birth control method.
Theres no way to know exactly how your body will react to going off the pill, but any negative side effects that you may have will go away within a few months as your body gets used to being off the hormones.
Recommended Reading: Can You Still Be Pregnant If You Had Your Period
Number : Whats Normal For A Period On Birth Control
The UK National Health Service says that irregular bleeding, like bleeding between periods, is common when you first start to take hormonal contraception like birth control pills, the patch, or the shot (Depo-Proveraâ¢.
Here are some facts about bleeding irregularities when you take birth control pills:
-
Overall, birth control pills should decrease how much you bleed.
-
Irregular bleeding is a common side effect during the first 3 to 6 months of taking the pill. Its so common that 30-50% of women experience it.
-
The good news is that irregular bleeding will lessen or go away with time, usually after 3 months, when only 10-30% of women experience unscheduled bleeding.
It may be helpful to describe what bothersome bleeding can look like when youre on birth control:
-
Unscheduled bleeding when youre bleeding between periods or while taking active pills
Dont Miss: Very Light Period After Plan B
Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding & Birth Control At A Glance:
- Vaginal bleeding that is considered abnormal occurs when a woman is not expecting her menstrual period, when the flow is lighter or heavier than normal, or when spotting occurs between periods.
- Sometimes birth control pills, patches, injections, rings and implants can cause spotting between periods or abnormal vaginal bleeding.
- In other situations, these hormone-based birth control methods are used to treat abnormal vaginal bleeding that result from other medical conditions.
- Women who experience abnormal vaginal bleeding should consult their physician, as it can signal a serious underlying disorder.
You May Like: How To Stop Your Period With Lemon
So Why Am I Bleeding If Im Taking The Active Pills And Not Placebo
- You dont consistency take your birth control pills
- If this is the case, consider taking a pregnancy test if you have also been sexually active and arent using an alternative form of protection
The Birth Control Pill
Oral contraceptives contain hormones that stop ovulation. If you use them perfectly, theyâre a great way to prevent pregnancy, with a 99.7% effectiveness rate. But in reality, a lot of women forget to take them every day, so the typical use rate is only 91%. Other reasons why your pill might not work include:
- Youâre vomiting or have diarrhea for more than 48 hours.
- You take the antibiotic rifampin, the antifungal griseofulvin, certain anti-seizure meds, or the herbal supplement St. Johnâs wort.
- Youâre obese. Some research suggests that the birth control pill doesnât work as well in very overweight women.
If you have any of these issues, talk to your doctor about using condoms as a backup method, or switch to another form of birth control entirely.
If you skip a dose, take it as soon as you can. If youâve missed more than two pills, take them as soon as you remember, and continue to take pills daily while you use a backup method of birth control like condoms for the next week. If youâre on the mini-pill or the progestin-only pill, take it within the same 3 hours every day .
Also Check: Is It Normal To Pee Blood On Your Period
Top Things To Know About Your Period On The Pill:
-
Your âperiodâ on the contraceptive pill is actually called withdrawal bleeding. It happens when the levels of hormones in your pills drop.
-
Withdrawal bleeding is usually lighter and slightly different than the period you had before taking the pill
-
Some people experience only very light bleeding or donât bleed at all during placebo pill days
-
Your bleeding on the pill is likely to change over time
Do you get a period on when youâre on the combined hormonal contraceptive pill*? On the days you take no pills or take the pills in your pack with no hormones, you may experience bleeding. This bleeding is different than a period if you weren’t taking the contraceptive pillâand you may have times when you bleed very little or not at all.
*This article refers to the use of combined hormonal contraceptive pills, which contain both estrogen and progestin . Bleeding patterns will be different for people taking the progestin-only minipill.
No Period After Stopping Birth Control What’s That About
If youve decided to stop taking the pill, it can take a while for your cycle to return to normal. This varies from person to person. Most people will have their period around two to four weeks after stopping the pill. However, your cycle may be irregular for some time. Its normal for your body to need up to three months to go back to normal after stopping your birth control. If your cycles remain irregular for longer, make sure to visit your health care provider to find out the cause of your irregular cycles.
Read Also: Heavy Bleeding On Period And Clots
The Period You Get While On The Pill Isnt A ‘true’ Period
Sure, you bleed during the week that you take the sugar pills. But technically thatâs âmonthly withdrawal bleeding.â Itâs slightly different than a regular period.
Normally, you ovulate in the middle of your menstrual cycle. If the egg your ovaries release isnât fertilized, your hormone levels drop, causing you to shed the lining inside your uterus, and you get your period.
Birth control pills, though, prevent ovulation. With most types, you take hormones for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of pills without them. Though they keep your body from releasing an egg, they usually donât prevent it from building up the lining of your uterus all month. The period-like bleeding during that fourth week is your bodyâs reaction to the lack of hormones from the last week of the pill.
Does Missing A Period Mean You Are Pregnant
Although you may think you are pregnant when you have a delayed period, it is not always the case. Lack of menses is common in those with ovarian disorders or eating disorders. Periods may also get delayed during traveling and among breastfeeding women . Nevertheless, if you have been sexually active and doubt you could have conceived, a pregnancy test is the only way to confirm the absence of periods due to pregnancy.
Recommended Reading: Do You Get Period When Pregnant
When To Consult A Health Care Provider About Breakthrough Bleeding
It is normal to be concerned if you start experiencing some breakthrough bleeding on contraception. Nevertheless, some spotting is expected when you are on the pill, as this signals that your body is adjusting to new hormones.
Its important to seek medical attention if you notice spotting or bleeding after missing doses of your medication or having unprotected sex.
Aside from spotting and other mild symptoms, certain signs could be a sign of something severe. When you experience any of the following symptoms with breakthrough bleeding, visit a health care provider as soon as possible:
- Severe leg pain
When To See A Provider
If you are concerned about why you missed your period on birth control, it is important to speak with a doctor or healthcare provider.
There are many potential causes of a missed period, and only a medical professional can help you determine the cause and find a solution.
Some of the reasons to see a doctor include:
- You missed more than one period in a row: While this can be a normal side effect of your birth control method, if it happens frequently, you should be evaluated to make sure that you are not pregnant or suffering from another underlying condition.
- You are experiencing other symptoms, such as pain, excessive bleeding, or fever: These could be signs of a more serious problem and need to be addressed right away.
Missing a period can be a cause for concern, but it is often nothing to worry about, and is sometimes just a side effect of your birth control type.
However, if you are concerned about why you missed your period on birth control, tracking your menstrual cycle and talking to a doctor or healthcare professional can help you determine the cause and find a solution.
Recommended Reading: Heavy Period For 2 Days Then Stopped
How Early Can You Take A Pregnancy Test
You should take a pregnancy test no earlier than 12 DPO. Some brands of HPTs may claim to provide results as early as six days before the start of your expected period. However, these results may not be as accurate and can result in a false-negative or a positive result from a chemical pregnancy. You can prevent this by sticking to the recommendation of testing no earlier than 12 DPO.
Read Also: My Period Is 10 Days Late
What Is Breakthrough Bleeding
Breakthrough bleeding is bleeding that occurs between normal menstrual periods, between periods of withdrawal bleeding, or during pregnancy. Breakthrough bleeding on contraceptives is quite normal. It is a type of vaginal bleeding that is sometimes confused with menstruation.
As the name indicates, this bleeding occurs while youre taking the pill. It happens when the inner lining of the uterus does not get enough hormones to remain stable and starts bleeding. This signals that the inner lining has to adapt to the hormones.
It can also occur in the first few months after you start taking birth control pills. You may also notice some light bleeding if you skip or miss a dose.
You May Like: Can I Get Pregnant 18 Days After My Period
Does Birth Control Stop Periods
Technically speaking, yes. The period that you get when youre on birth control isnt the same as a regular period. Without hormonal birth control, the lining of your uterus gets thicker to prepare for possible pregnancy and then sheds during your period if youre not pregnant. Your body doesnt ovulate or go through this regular menstrual cycle when youre taking oral contraceptives. Instead, what you experience as a period on birth control is called withdrawal bleeding.
This bleeding occurs as a response to your body not receiving the same hormones during the rest week at the end of your 21-day pack. That means that if you continue taking the pill and skip the rest week, you can skip your periods too. Make sure to talk to your health care provider about whether this is a good option for you.
How To Keep Track Of Your Menstrual Cycle
You can use a menstrual tracker like Flo to keep track of your cycle. Period tracking apps let you log your symptoms and determine when you should expect your period. This can also take some weight off your mind, since you wont have to remember when your period is due to arrive. The app will do it for you!
Overall, as long as youre taking it correctly, birth control is highly effective at preventing pregnancy and those missed periods can happen now and again.
If youre not sure, take a pregnancy test to ease your mind. Adding some relaxing activities to your life and staying healthy can help get your cycle back to normal.
References
Recommended Reading: Is Chocolate Good For Period Cramps
The Ins And Outs Of Period Sex
So now we know it is possible to get pregnant on your period, its important you take the right precautions. When used correctly, barrier methods such as the condom are very effective at preventing pregnancy and also offer protection against STIs.
While many may think its gross or messy, having sex on your period is perfectly healthy and lots of women swear by it for a number of reasons. Due to a dip in progesterone, you may find your sex drive increases around menstruation. On top of this, orgasms can alleviate period cramps and cause the uterus to contract more, which in the end can mean shorter periods too.
While you might be expecting a Stephen King-style horror scene, you may actually be surprised by how little menstrual blood there is. The heaviness of your period is a very personal thing that varies from cycle to cycle, however, the average woman will only produce 6-8 teaspoons worth of blood during her entire period. That being said, you might want to have an extra towel on hand, or suggest things get steamy in the shower.