How Do I Use Birth Control Pills
Combination pills come in a variety of formats. These include monthly packs, which follow either 21-day, 24-day, or 28-day cycles. Extended regimens can follow 91-day cycles. For all of these formats, you take one pill each day at the same time of day.
Progestin-only pills, on the other hand, only come in packs of 28. As with combination pills, you take one pill at the same time every day.
failure rates with typical use. That means out of 100 women using the pill, 9 would get pregnant.
To be fully effective, progestin pills must be taken within the same three-hour time period every day.
There is slightly more flexibility with combination pills. In general, you should try to take combination pills at the same time each day, but you can take them within the same daily 12-hour window and still have pregnancy protection.
Certain medications may make either type of pill less effective. These include:
- rifampin
- certain HIV medications such as lopinavir and saquinavir
- certain antiseizure medications such as carbamazepine and topiramate
- St. Johns wort
The pill may also be less effective if you have diarrhea or vomiting. If youve had a stomach illness, check with your doctor to see if youre at risk of pregnancy. Use a backup method of contraception until you know its safe not to do so.
Birth control pills have a number of benefits:
There are also benefits depending on the type of pill. Combination pills may also provide some protection against:
- acne
Your Menstrual Cycle In Your 20s And Early
Your period should have become regular and predictable by this time. The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days when counting from the first day of one cycle to the first day of the next cycle. Eighty percent of cycles occur within 21 to 45days. Typically, cycles will last two to seven days.
Be sure to watch for the following:
- heavy flow or abnormal bleeding that last more than seven days
- menstrual cycles less than 21 days or longer than 38 days
- spotting or bleeding between cycles or after intercourse
- missed periods, as this could be an early sign of pregnancy or may be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome , especially if missed periods are accompanied by excess hair growth, weight gain and high cholesterol.
Ive Been Using Contraception Will This Affect My Cycle
This depends on what type of contraception youve been using. If youve been taking the pill, your period may be irregular when you first come off it, so try to give yourself up to 3 months for your natural menstrual cycle to get back to its normal routine.
The first period after stopping the pill is known as a withdrawal bleed. The next one after this is your first natural period.
The contraceptive injection can also affect your cycle. Your periods may change and become irregular, heavier, shorter, lighter or stop altogether. This can carry on for some months after you stop the injections.
If you use the contraceptive implant your fertility will return to normal as soon as it is taken out.
Recommended Reading: What Is Due Diligence Period In Real Estate
How Does Ovulation Relate To Periods
Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovaries. The same hormones that cause the uterus lining to build up also cause an egg to leave one of the ovaries. The egg travels through a thin tube called a fallopian tube to the uterus.
If the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell, it attaches to the wall of the uterus, where over time it develops into a baby. If the egg is not fertilized, the uterus lining breaks down and bleeds, causing a period.
Abdominal Bloating Gas And Pain
Do you feel your abdomen is swelling up just before period?
Abdomen bloating is swelling and tightening experienced by women which could occur for many reasons. If you are expecting your period, a hard, distended and tight abdomen may indicate your period will start soon.
Other causes of bloating are pregnancy, anorexia nervosa , ovarian cyst and hormone imbalance.
What to do?
- Take more fiber diet like vegetables and fruits
- Drink plenty of water every day
- Avoid meals that contain beans and cabbage
Recommended Reading: Ways To Keep Your Period From Starting
Reasons Why Your Period Might Be Delayed
A typical menstrual cycle is considered to be 21 to 35 days.
The absence of menstruation is called amenorrhea. Girls who havent started their periods by the age of 15 and women who have missed three or more periods in a row have amenorrhea.
There are several possible causes of delayed or missing periods:
- stress
Substances that can help to induce a period are called emmenagogues. Be aware that some emmenagogues are also abortifacients. An abortifacient is a substance that can cause miscarriages in pregnancy.
Pregnancy warning
If theres any chance your period is late because you are pregnant, using emmenagogues to induce a period may terminate your pregnancy. This can be very dangerous. If theres any chance you are pregnant, do not take these substances.
If you are trying any herbs, buy from a reputable source. The FDA doesnt monitor herbs like they do food and drugs, and there may be concerns with quality or purity, especially if the herbs are produced outside of the United States.
Why Do You Have Irregular Periods
Any of the following factors may cause the irregular period cycle:
- Stress
- PCOS
- Hormonal contraceptives
Your weight affects your period because of the hormonal balance of the body. Being overweight causes lesser production of estrogen, as a result of which ovulation is stunted.
Being underweight, on the other hand, can lead to amenorrhea or the lack of menstruation. If you want to regulate your period cycles over time, you should try attaining the medically approved ideal weight for your height and age.
Read Also: How Can Calculate My Ovulation Period
The Course Of Perimenopause
A change in your periods is often the first sign of perimenopause, but there are other signs to look out for. The most common are hot flashes, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, mood changes, and a decrease in sex drive. Not every woman will experience all of these symptoms. For those who have symptoms, they may come in any order.
Once these symptoms arrive, most women can expect menopause itself to be a few years away.
There are many treatments to help with bothersome symptoms like hot flashes and sleeplessness. Even a few years of hormone therapy can help you get through the worst of it.
If you are prone to anxiety or depression, know that perimenopause can bring those conditions back to the surface. Finding a support network can make a big difference. Antidepressants also may be an option.
What Does A Typical Period Look Like
In the great words of Fraulein Maria, lets start at the very beginning. A very good place to start. SCIENCE HOUR. Menstruation is cycle that is usually 28-30 days. During a normal menstrual cycle your hormones are working around the clock. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is released from the hypothalamus and it works on the pituitary to release follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone . These hormones then act on the ovaries, which produces estrogen and progesterone, which work on the uterus to carry out the menstrual cycle. This process is regulated by something called the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. At the end cycle, the uterine lining sheds off, leading to menstruation, aka AUNT FLO.
Recommended Reading: What To Do When Your Stomach Hurts On Period
As You Wait For Your First Period You May Have Lots Of Questions About What Will Happen What Will It Feel Like What Do I Need To Do To Prepare How Do I Use A Tampon
Getting your first period is an important milestone in a young womans life. It signals the beginning of a long phase of life that you may be fertile. This means that if you have sexual contact, you might get pregnant. While you may have learned about menstruation in school, you probably have questions about what to expect. This section is designed to provide you with all the information you need as you approach getting your period for the first time.
Explore Your First Period:
When Will I Get My Period
No one can say exactly when you’ll get your first menstrual period, but it will be sometime during puberty. Puberty is the time in your life when you begin to become an adult. This means a lot of growing and changing both inside and out.
Some girls start puberty at age 8, and others may start as late as 13 or 14. Each girl goes at her own pace. So don’t think you’re weird if you start puberty a little earlier or a little later than your friends.
At the beginning of puberty, you’ll notice that your breasts are developing and hair will start to grow on your genitals . A little later, hair also will grow under your arms.
For most girls, their first menstrual period, or menarche , begins about 2 years after she first starts to get breasts. For most girls this is around age 12. But it can be as early as age 8 or as late as 15. Talk to your doctor if your period started before age 8 or you are 15 and havent started your period.
A good sign you’re getting close to the time when your first period will arrive is if you notice a discharge coming from your vagina. It might be thin and slightly sticky or thick and gooey, and can be clear to white or off-white in color. Usually, this happens about 6 months before you get your first period.
Recommended Reading: Why Am I Still Having My Period At 54
Can I Exercise If I Have Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
The amount of exercise that can trigger hypothalamic amenorrhea is all relative. Whats too much for another person might be OK for you, and vice versa.
In general, if youre wondering if what youre doing is too much, it probably is. When in doubt, do less. This is especially true for longer-duration cardio, like running.
There will be time for more exercise when youve recovered from HA, but right now any exercise youre doing is only further stressing your body out. That means youre not reaping the benefits of this exercise, it is actually making you more unhealthy.
The best exercise you can do while healing HA is the simple, gentle, and joyful stuff: walking outside, yoga, swimming, and hiking are all good options.
The only rule is it has to be fun and feel good. If youre exhausted after a long day, and your body is begging you to lay down for a few minutes, that outside walk is going to do more harm than good.
Cutting out all exercise and focusing on just your normal daily movement might be what is best for your body right now.
Why Do You Induce Your Menstrual Period
There are some reasons why you want your periods to come faster. The first thing to keep in mind is that why do you want to induce your period.
You might want your period to come early for a variety of reasons. Maybe you want to go on a trip without the worry of menstruation, so you want to get done with it sooner.
Maybe, there is a big event coming up that needs you to be at your best, and you feel that it is best to get your period over with. No matter what the reason is, you will be happy to know that some traditional methods can help you induce a period without causing damage to your health.
Don’t Miss: Can You Miss A Period On Birth Control
When Can I Get Pregnant During My Menstrual Cycle
You have the highest chance of getting pregnant on the days leading up to ovulation these are called fertile days.
Ovulation usually happens about 14 days before your period starts but everyones body is different. You may ovulate earlier or later, depending on the length of your menstrual cycle.
Your egg lives for about 1 day after its released from your ovary, and sperm can live in your uterus and fallopian tubes for about 6 days after sex. So you can usually get pregnant for around 6 days of every menstrual cycle: the 5 days before you ovulate, and the day you ovulate. You can also get pregnant a day or so after ovulation, but it’s less likely.
Many people track their menstrual cycles and other fertility signs to help them figure out when theyre ovulating. This is called fertility awareness some people use it to prevent pregnancy, and others use it to try to get pregnant. Check out our app, which makes it easy to chart your cycle and figure out your fertile days.
Some people have very regular cycles, and other peoples cycles vary from month to month. Its really common for young people to have irregular periods. Since your period can be unpredictable, its hard to know for sure when youll ovulate . So if you dont want to get pregnant, use birth control every time you have vaginal sex.
Top 10 Easy Ways To Make Your Period Come Faster
A menstrual cycle is usually referred to as a series of changes in the womans body prepared for pregnancy. The period starts when there is no fertilized egg-formed. This will lead to the lining of your uterus shed and bleeding.
The hormone levels in your body regulate the menstrual cycle. Increased hormones can stimulate the growth of follicles. If not fertilized, progesterone and estrogen levels will decrease and result in the start of the next period.
The average menstrual cycle has a duration of 28 days. However, it usually varies within a range of 21 and 35 days. You should visit a doctor if you regularly miss a period instead of trying to induce it every month. If you have an irregular cycle, consult a doctor and figure out the root of the problem.
Don’t Miss: I Ve Been On My Period For 2 Weeks
When To See A Doctor About Absent Menstruation
A teenage girl who hasnt started her periods by at least age 16 should see a doctor. A trip to the doctors office is also necessary if she is age 14 or older and hasnt experienced any signs of puberty yet. These changes would include the following in numbered order of appearance:
Menstruating women and teens should see their doctor if they have missed three or more periods in a row.