T O P I C R E V I E W
copper86
Member # 95710
posted 05-28-2012 04:51 PM
I'm sorry for starting two topics in one day; but something just happened to me and I am pretty scared. I've been really stressed out this month; and again engaged in manual sex exactly a week ago (Monday night, around 11 or so PM). Later this afternoon, I suddenly saw that I was bleeding; and began to panic. I'm supposed to get my withdrawal bleed either tomorrow, Wednesday or Thursday (I can get it either the last day I take my active pill or two days into my placebo week); but I was not expecting it to start today. The only sign I've had today was really bad cramping and a sick feeling my withdrawal bleed might show up (but that can usually last for three days or more until my bleed shows up). So I know that it takes at least one or two weeks for implantation bleeding to occur; and I know that manual sex does not pose a pregnancy risk; and that some spotting on the pill is normal. But I'm still concerned that I'm bleeding now (I have one active pill tomorrow and that's my last one for this cycle). The blood looks a bit old (but couldn't be over three hours) and I'm really confused. I had to switch birth control pills due to breakthrough bleeding before; and I've been fine with regular bleeding since December. I really hope this is just because I've been stressed and not a permanent thing; because breakthrough bleeding had caused me a lot of trouble in the past. Could someone please assure me as to what this bleeding is? I definitely have "period" cramps; so I'm hoping it's just my period slowly starting (but there wasn't much blood when I wiped). Thank you for reading this post!
Robin Lee
Member # 90293
posted 05-28-2012 05:02 PM
It's not really that abnormal for withdrawal bleeds to sometimes start a day or two earlier or a day or two later than we expect them to start. Since you do have a history of breakthrough bleeding and if you'd like to talk to your doctor about this, you can certainly make note of it and talk to your doctor about it next time you see them.
copper86
Member # 95710
posted 05-28-2012 05:28 PM
I might consider that - especially if it continues. I know rationally this is nothing to be concerned of with regards to pregnancy; but just so I know, when would I expect to see implantation bleeding (I know it's really rare; and I have read your article on it more than once!) - one or two weeks in? It hasn't even been a week since I had manual sex and I know that is not a risk for pregnancy... I just want to calm myself down. Thank you!
copper86
Member # 95710
posted 05-29-2012 09:33 AM
I'm still bleeding, but it is very light and either dark or bright red. I've been having random cramps as well; and I have noticed over the past year of charts/cycles that whenever my period did start on a Monday (two days earlier than expected), my flow seemed to be light for a day or two and then pick up; or just be light for the length of the bleed. My university doctor told me that the type of pill I'm on - Linessa - is supposed to regulate my periods... Could this light withdrawal bleed be the hormones in the pill suppressing it? I'm sorry if that sounded like a silly question. I took my last hormone pill today; so I want to wait and see what happens before I get worried and see a doctor. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! [ 05-29-2012, 09:34 AM: Message edited by: copper86 ]
Robin Lee
Member # 90293
posted 05-29-2012 11:10 AM
I'm not quite sure what you're asking here. The way the birth control regulates periods is by taking over the menstrual cycle, so your pill isn't suppressing anything. It's just giving you a different hormonal pattern for your body to follow. Changes in the rate of flow or in how many days the flow lasts are common whether someone is taking the pill or not.
copper86
Member # 95710
posted 05-29-2012 11:28 AM
I'm sorry if my question was ambiguous - it does sound strange upon re-reading it! I was just wondering that, since my withdrawal bleed came early, if the hormones still present in the last two pills I took were affecting the bleeding. I do understand what you mean regarding flow and length of bleeds... I guess I just don't really enjoy it when my withdrawal bleeds are different like this. At any rate, my last hormone pill was today; so I want to see what happens in the next few days.
copper86
Member # 95710
posted 05-30-2012 09:53 AM
I've read that stress can definitely bring on a bleed earlier or later than expected; but could stress also affect the flow of a withdrawal bleed? I still have light flow into the third day; but there were clots and I think it might strengthen. This will also be my second period this month (May 3-10 and now May 28); which I've read from this site is okay. (Sometimes my cycles with breakthrough bleeding had cycles of 24 and 25 days, so a 26-day cycle like this one shouldn't bother me, I guess)... I'm just worried about the flow I'm having now. It's not normal for me (unless I'm towards the middle of my bleed or finishing up). I'm sorry to belabour this issue. Thank you for taking the time to read this! I really appreciate it!
Heather
Member # 3
posted 05-30-2012 04:46 PM
It's a bit of a semantics issue, but really stress itself likely has little impact on cycles, it's more our behaviours with stress and how we do or don't manage it that can -- changes in our sleeping and eating patterns, more or less activity, etc. Too, clotting doesn't actually usually happen with periods or withdrawal bleeds, since there's not a wound for blood to clot about. What people usually think are clots are either bits of endometrium or thick discharge mixed with blood, all normal. But for sure, a withdrawal bleed still is something that can be impacted by all the things a period can be. And lighter bleeds using the pill than periods off the pill is a very common side effect of hormonal methods.
copper86
Member # 95710
posted 06-01-2012 10:58 AM
Thank you so much!