posted
How does your body know to start a period or breakthrough bleed while on your first pack of birth control pills?
Is each pill different in amounts of medication in them?
And when starting, does your first period usually come a few days into the inactive pills?
My doctor I went to was awesome about answering my questions, I just didn't think of these while in her office.
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Robin Lee
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posted
Hey Maria,
A breakthrough bleed is something that just happens, more like a side effect. A withdrawal bleed is what someone gets instead of a period; we call them different things because the hormonal reason for them is different.
A person's body knows to start the withdrawal bleed when the inactive pills start. That is when the hormones are "withdrawn" from the body which gives the uterus a chance to shed the lining it's built up over the month. The bleed won't always start on the first day of the inactive pills. It varies for different people. Also, sometimes a person just starting the pills won't have a withdrawal bleed.
Here's an article that might also help this make sense:
posted
Thank you Robin, that makes sense. So you can miss a period/withdrawal bleed entirely the first time? And can you have PMS symptoms the last week of your active pills? I feel like I'm having PMS symptoms, and I was actually supposed to start my period tomorrow without the pills.
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Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
HI Maria,
Yes, some people do fidn they miss their withdrawal bleed. Not everyone experiences that though. A lot of people do also find that they have some premenstrual symptoms while on the pill. So, that's not unusual.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4608 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
Okie dokie. And that's good to know because I'm having them!
So, with never missing a period in the past 4-5 years, even during all my pregancy scare stress, it's pretty safe to say that if I miss this month, it's probably because of my pills. Right?
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Robin Lee
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Member # 90293
posted
Absolutely.
When do your inactive pills start?
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4608 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
Hey sorry I forgot to ask this earlier! I read that BCP's were supposed to thicken your mucus/discharge. I've had thick whitish-with yellow tint discharge, but I've had a lot of clear than I used to. Is that normal as well?
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Robin Lee
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Member # 90293
posted
Discharges will change, yes. Discharge gets thicker for most people on birth control pills but how each individual person's body reacts will vary.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4608 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
Alright, I suppose it will take time to adjust. But gosh my stomach looks so "full" :/ I guess it's just bloating.
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Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
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posted
If you're uncomfortable, things like warm baths, heating pads, pain relievers, anti-bloating meds, etc, can help you feel more comfortable.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4608 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
Thanks about the advice in the previous post, Robin.
So my period was supposed to come in the 19th, but was put off of course by starting BCPs. Today was my last active pill (took it a couple of hours ago), I went to the bathroom and had one thick brown clump as discharge. I was worried about not having a period, actually, because I'm like that for some reason. Since I had that clump, is that a good sign a period is on its way?! Posts: 281 | Registered: Sep 2012
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Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
You know...that's probably what that means, but I can't say for sure. You just took your last active pill, and withdrawal bleeds usually don't start until a day after that, so be patient with your body.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4608 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
I figured that discharge maybe meant my body was about ready for a period. Thank you, and I'll be patient Posts: 281 | Registered: Sep 2012
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posted
Hey! My period came right on time I'm liking birth control pills now lol. Just a quick question though, I started my active pills (or new pack, rather) yesterday and I got up and did my usual routine and I went to the bathroom for the second time today to see a splotch of blood on my panties. Not pink/brown spotting, but dark red like the beginning of my period. What is this??? I had a lighter 6 day period and nothing was unusual. I've had stress with family issues, could this be why? I'm just confused because its pretty heavy for spotting.
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-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63668 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
It began Sunday the 23rd, and continued through Friday the 28th like it should have. And now I have bleeding like I'm beginning a withdrawal bleed again? I have only taken one active pill so far, and I have not done any activities that could hurt any tissues down there or anything. I was just worried and all and wanted to ask because I wanted to go hang out with friends tonight and not stress the whole time.
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posted
I don't see any need to stress out while you're hanging out with your friends.
It might be that this is just a continuation of that withdrawal bleed, or spotting from your pill.
But if it's not accompanies by any big pain or anything else, I see no cause for concern.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63668 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Okay thank you for all your help. It could be a continuation, because I started the pill later in my cycle which put off my period. Have a safe and happy new year!
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