White discharge in women when taking contraceptives

Discharge when taking birth control pills

Discharge when taking birth control pills is not always a sign of pathology. Normally, the use of contraceptives imitates a decrease in hormonal levels and suppresses the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Its functioning becomes similar to that observed during pregnancy. Therefore, for most women, menstruation becomes scanty. Discharge that appears without connection with menstruation should be alarming.

Danger of bleeding

Seeing a doctor after brown discharge appears is especially important when it is a sign of tumors.
Just one timely visit to the gynecologist will give a chance to stop the progression of the disease. If bleeding suddenly begins, and your period is still far away, you should immediately call an ambulance.

It is not always possible to predict with certainty whether the cause of bleeding is ovulation or a cancerous tumor. Therefore, you should not postpone a visit to a specialist until more alarming symptoms appear or wait until it goes away on its own. Health requires careful attention.

Normal discharge when taking birth control pills

Combined oral contraceptives contain two components:

• ethinyl estradiol is a synthetic type of estrogen;
• one of the synthetic gestagens.

The progestogen component of contraceptives is responsible for the contraceptive effect. It affects the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, reduces the production of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones according to the feedback principle. Due to the increased concentration of progestins in the blood, the pituitary gland perceives this condition as pregnancy, so the release of hormones that stimulate egg maturation and ovulation does not occur.

The estrogen component in birth control pills is necessary so as not to completely suppress the pituitary gland. Thanks to ethinyl estradiol, the concentration of estrogen is maintained at a minimum level, so the proliferation of the endometrium does not stop in the first phase of the cycle. But hormones are not enough for the endometrium to grow to the required thickness.

Discharge after stopping birth control pills begins after 2 days . They are called menstrual-like and are not considered full periods, because... the woman did not ovulate and did not have other changes characteristic of a normal cycle. The color of the discharge is initially dark red, brown. They are not abundant, and in recent days they can become spotting. The average duration of menstruation is 4-5 days; heavy periods are not normal.

Causes of breakthrough bleeding

When a woman experiences heavy bleeding that resembles menstruation while taking a hormonal contraceptive, this clinical picture usually indicates breakthrough uterine bleeding. It develops because in the process of the uterus getting used to the new hormonal status, an increase in endometrial atrophy is observed as a result of exposure to progestogens, and the dose of the estrogen component in the contraceptive is very small and does not allow it to perform hemostatic (hemostatic) functions.

As already noted, during a normal cycle, towards the end of menstruation, the level of estrogen in the blood increases, as a result of which the detachment of the endometrial layer stops and blood discharge stops. However, during the period of using synthetic hormonal drugs, these processes do not always occur correctly. In addition, breakthrough uterine bleeding when taking OCs can occur due to the following reasons:

• various gynecological pathologies (ovarian dysfunction, endometriosis, polyps, fibroids, narrowing of the uterine os);
• smoking, which has a pronounced antiestrogenic effect, which means there is a risk of breakthrough bleeding;
• violations of the contraceptive regimen (skipping a pill, abruptly stopping the medication);
• the use of antibiotics and medications that affect the nervous system;
• due to diarrhea and vomiting (impaired absorption of the components of the product);
• taking natural medicines based on St. John's wort;
• under the influence of infections transmitted through sexual contact;
• intolerance to hormonal contraceptives.

Causes and manifestations of pathological discharge when taking COCs

While using contraceptives, discharge of various types may appear. Most often this is a bloody smear, but sometimes there is mucous or other secretion that stains the laundry. The causes of bloody, whitish or mucous discharge when taking COCs may be related to the woman's reproductive health.

The exact etiology can be determined by a doctor who will take into account the time of the appearance of the spot, the duration of use of contraceptives and other concomitant conditions.

They are guided by the accepted norm for the duration of menstruation to be no more than 7 days. The number of days between periods is equal to the number of active hormonal tablets in the package + 2-3 days.

Hormones must impose a normal cycle on the hypothalamus, so any abnormalities require examination and treatment.

Signs of adaptation to the drug

Hormonal contraception takes some getting used to. If a woman has never taken the pill, it takes an average of 2 months. During this period, spotting may appear when taking hormonal contraceptives. Most often they are observed in the middle of the cycle; in most women taking contraceptives with 21 tablets, this occurs on days 13-14. Such drugs include:

• Yarina;
• Janine;
• Lindinet-20;
• Diana;
• Dimia;
• Regulon;
• Silhouette;
• Novinet;
• Gestrell.

Jess's drug contains 24 active tablets and 4 pacifiers, so when taking this contraceptive, bleeding occurs on the 14th-15th day. In some cases, unpleasant symptoms may appear several days before the start of your period.

If 2 months have already passed and the woman has switched to the 3rd pack of tablets, and the spotting does not stop when taking hormonal drugs and appears with enviable regularity, it is necessary to change the drug. Instead of a drug with 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol, the doctor should prescribe tablets with 30 mcg of the hormone. The progestin component in this situation does not significantly affect the result. These contraceptive drugs are:

If heavy intermenstrual bleeding occurs when taking contraceptives in the second half of the cycle, it is necessary to choose tablets with a higher dose of progestogens. In some cases, replacing a monophasic drug with a triphasic one helps against brown discharge in the middle of the cycle.

What does abruptly stopping the course of taking OCs lead to?

Hormonal contraceptives set a certain rhythm of functioning for the ovaries and the hypothalamic-pituitary system. If you suddenly stop taking them, the result may be different, depending on which pill you took:

• the first 3-5 tablets - after discontinuation, most likely nothing will happen, the body will not have time to adapt to the mode of drug intake, and the contraceptive effect will not appear;
• from 6 to 16 tablets - the contraceptive effect will last for several days, according to various estimates - up to 5 days, but already 3 days after discontinuation bleeding may appear, its duration is difficult to predict;
• from 17 to 21 tablets - discharge after stopping birth control pills will begin after 3 days, they will be similar in nature to menstruation that occurred in the previous cycle, 7 days after the last pill taken, you can resume taking contraceptives from a new pack.

Termination of course

The appearance of discharge after discontinuation of contraceptives is allowed for several months. Everything will depend on the ability of the female body to restore its own hormonal levels. But it shouldn’t bleed systematically, otherwise you can’t do without a medical examination.

Read what menstruation should be like after stopping OK in the article by following the link.

After completing the course, secretion with blood may appear in one or two days. It resembles a daub and does not cause a woman much discomfort. Sometimes a woman’s body reacts more strongly to stopping the use of OCs, so it is possible that more heavy discharge may occur due to a sharp drop in hormone levels.

In almost half of women who decide to cancel a course of contraception, spotting vaginal secretions with blood disappear after 10–14 days. The duration of adaptation is influenced by the following factors:

1. Age. The older the woman, the slower the state of the reproductive system stabilizes.
2. Total reception time. The shorter the course, the faster the chance of getting pregnant. When contraceptives have been used for many years, there is a risk that the body will be destabilized within six months or even 12 months.

Effect on menstruation

If a woman decides to stop taking oral contraceptives, then she needs to prepare for the fact that she will not have heavy periods in the first few months. Monthly bleeding will become more and more frequent over time until the situation finally returns to normal. The presence of scanty brown discharge instead of menstruation with a negative pregnancy test is considered normal.

After stopping OK, spotting is normal, and a slight delay is allowed. It can be caused by the following processes in the body:

1. Gradual normalization of the menstrual cycle.
2. Stabilization of temporary atrophic changes in the uterine mucosa.
3. Restoring the ability of the endometrium to implant.
4. Changes in vaginal microflora.
5. Reduced thickness of cervical mucus (after the mini-pill).

It is necessary to sound the alarm if menstruation has been absent for several months, and against this background the general condition has worsened.

You cannot suddenly stop taking birth control, otherwise serious health consequences cannot be avoided. Most often, there is a longer recovery period with spotting instead of menstruation. But the most dangerous consequence of abruptly stopping the course is uterine bleeding, which requires rapid hospitalization. Therefore, doctors advise taking all the tablets from the package. The exception is the diagnosis of the following diseases:

• hypertension;
• diabetes;
• cancer;
• imbalance of lipid metabolism;
• sudden drop in vision;
• liver problems.

Therefore, if you want to quit oral contraceptives, you must consult your doctor so that he can select the optimal dose reduction regimen based on a specific drug (Silhouette and others). This is the only way to avoid withdrawal syndrome with unpleasant side effects.

Discharge from the mammary gland

The mammary gland should not react to the use of hormonal contraceptives; discharge from birth control pills is not typical for it.
Galactorrhea appears as a consequence of the disinhibition of the hormone prolactin, which most of the time is under the inhibitory effect of dopamine. The surge in prolactin that leads to breast milk must be coupled with decreased estrogen levels. Rarely, with stress, depressive disorders, or during the use of COCs, clear discharge from the mammary glands appears. To establish the cause of the condition, a full examination is needed . Sometimes white discharge from the breast after stopping OK is a harbinger of a breast tumor.

What to do in this situation

A woman should contact her gynecologist if any unusual discharge instead of menstruation occurs more than once, appears during pregnancy, is accompanied by pain or discomfort, or is observed between periods. This will eliminate serious pathologies.

To determine the cause, a number of diagnostic measures are carried out:

1. External examination of the vagina and genital organs will make it possible to exclude the presence of polyps, erosions and other neoplasms.
2. Determination of hCG level. If you had unprotected sexual intercourse before your menstruation, you need to do a test to rule out pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy. A more reliable result will be obtained from a laboratory study, which can be done before the delay begins.
3. Colposcopic examination of the cervix - allows you to determine the location of bleeding ulcers, exclude or detect inflammation on the internal mucous membrane.
4. Ultrasound of the fallopian tubes and uterine cavity - detection of hyperplasia, neoplasms, including malignant ones, exclusion of cysts and polyps, additional examination of the mucous membrane. Transvaginal ultrasound, used to detect pathologies in the early stages, and ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity may also be required.
5. General urine and blood tests. With their help, the presence of infectious agents and hormonal disorders are detected in the body. In addition, they indirectly indicate the presence of viral or bacterial inflammation.

In what cases should you see a doctor if you have discharge?

Women who take birth control pills should be regularly monitored by a doctor, and if unpleasant symptoms appear, contact their gynecologist for consultation and treatment. If the condition was previously satisfactory while using COCs, then bleeding during use or after discontinuation of the OC should alert you.

Medical assistance is also needed in cases where, after stopping the OC, menstruation does not end within a week. This is a sign of hormonal imbalance. Discharge that smells unpleasant, reminiscent of the aroma of rotten fish, is a sign of infection, so in this case antibiotic treatment cannot be avoided.

Adaptation doesn't end there

The reason for prolonged spotting while taking OCs may be a violation of the rules for using a contraceptive or the fact that the drug was incorrectly selected. This explains the side effects. Oral contraceptives are considered safe for a woman’s health, and a negative reaction in the form of bleeding is caused by a lack of dose of a particular hormone.

This situation can be clearly seen using the example of a specific stage of the course:

1. The first tablets. At the beginning or halfway through the package you may bleed due to a lack of estrogen in the drug. If your period does not end when taking Jess, you must stop using OK, but it is advisable to consult a doctor and drink the tablet to the end.
2. Remains of packaging. From the middle of the total number of tablets to the end of the package, spotting may begin due to the too low content of the progestin component. And also the gestagen itself may not be suitable, so the selection of another oral contraceptive is required, but you cannot suddenly stop using the old drug, otherwise there is a risk of bleeding and other side effects.

Can birth control pills cause discharge and what does this mean?

Contraceptive drugs are used to prevent unwanted pregnancy or to normalize hormonal levels during the development of certain diseases, for example, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, etc. But often when taking them, heavy vaginal discharge occurs, which naturally alarms every woman. They can be either white mucous or bloody. Discharge when taking birth control pills can occur for various reasons. And it is very important to install them in a timely manner, since when taking incorrectly selected oral contraceptives (hereinafter ok), serious health problems can arise, which are unlikely to be solved in a short time.

To understand why discharge occurs while taking contraceptives, it is necessary to consider their mechanism of action. All ok mainly contain hormones that suppress female function. That is, they prevent the formation of eggs on the surface of the ovaries, thereby preventing its onset, but do not change the menstrual cycle. On the contrary, when taking contraceptives in tablets, menstruation occurs “clockwise” and at the same time becomes less painful for the woman.

Secretion at different periods of the cycle

The nature of the discharge may vary depending on the phase of the cycle:

Transparent (due to increased hydration of the vaginal walls).

If dark discharge appears, this indicates a deficiency of gestagen or estrogen. Such symptoms require discontinuation of the pills taken and the prescription of new ones, with a higher concentration of active substances.

Microdosed OCs (so-called mini-pills), which include:

- sometimes accompanied by blood associated with the release of the egg from the follicle (pink discharge). This indicates that ovulation has occurred and there is a high risk of getting pregnant, despite OK.

This is not a pathology, but such a symptom suggests that the drug is not coping with its task.

Bleeding may indicate pregnancy (if the sequence of taking the pills was not followed).

In this case, it is recommended to perform a pregnancy test or donate blood for hCG. If the answer is positive, the contraceptive is immediately discontinued. You should consult your doctor about further actions.

Blood clots may appear, indicating cleansing of the uterus.

The reason for this phenomenon may be a lack of estrogen, which restores the mucous layer of the uterus.

Mini-pills can cause false periods, the cycle is disrupted, and consequences arise that are very difficult to correct later. Such symptoms require consultation with a gynecologist and replacement of the OC with a drug containing more estrogen.

Adaptation to contraceptives

In more than half of the patients, spotting stops approximately two weeks after starting to take the contraceptive. But the duration of this phenomenon is influenced by several factors:

• age;
• emotional condition;
• time elapsed after the start of use of the product.

These are common symptoms that explain why you should see your doctor.

Sometimes such symptoms may appear after you stop taking the drug. But gradually the negativity disappears, reproduction is restored and after 2 months an ultrasound examination can reveal the presence of pregnancy. Besides:

• the menstrual cycle is normalized;
• the uterine mucosa is stabilized;
• the vaginal microflora is restored.

If your periods do not return for several months, this is a reason to visit your gynecologist.

Recommendations from gynecologists

A gynecologist after a comprehensive examination can help you choose the appropriate hormonal drug. Mandatory appointments are:

• general blood and urine analysis;
• blood glucose;
• levels of bilirubin, cholesterol, creatinine and urea in the blood;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
• chest x-ray;
• vaginal smear to determine flora and the number of atypical cells;
• colposcopy;
• transvaginal ultrasound.

During the examination, the doctor clarifies the complaints and determines the presence of concomitant pathologies. Start taking medications from the first day of menstruation for 21 days with a further break of 7 days.

Having very scanty periods while taking medications for the first three months is not a pathology. But with an established cycle, changes in the nature of discharge should be alarming. Therefore, it is better to go to a gynecologist to determine their cause.

Gynecologists recommend adhering to the following points when taking contraceptive medications:

1. Rejection of bad habits. Smoking increases the risk of developing blood clots.
2. The occurrence of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, heaviness in the abdomen, dizziness requires immediate consultation with a doctor.
3. Oral contraceptives are not able to protect the body from sexually transmitted infections.
4. Be sure to inform your doctor about taking contraceptives when prescribing other medications.
5. Combined oral contraceptives should not be used during lactation.
6. If you miss a pill, you should use alternative means of contraception.

The main causes of brown discharge

If any unusual discharge appears instead of menstruation, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis. If a woman is planning a pregnancy and does not use protection during sexual intercourse, spotting may indicate conception. But even in this case, it is necessary to find out the reasons for its appearance.

The causes of hypomenorrhea can be more varied: hormonal imbalance, including when taking contraceptives and abnormalities in the thyroid gland, metabolic disorders, inflammation in the genitals.

Long-term use of COCs

Even the most modern contraceptive drugs, to one degree or another, cause hormonal imbalance in women. Oral contraceptives (OCs) contain progesterone and estrogen. A minimal dose of these hormones, penetrating into the blood, can cause a change in the color and volume of menstruation.

Brown spotting instead of menstruation may appear due to the ability of drugs to reduce the formation of the endometrium. Accordingly, menstruation becomes darker in color and its volume decreases. Due to the decrease in the amount of endometrium, a barrier is created for the egg. In addition to thinning the outer layer of the uterus, OCs lead to a decrease in the ovulation period and thickening of the mucus in the fallopian tubes. In combination, this not only makes fertilization of the egg impossible, but also affects menstruation.

Scanty brown discharge may appear for the following reasons:

• incorrectly selected dosage of the active hormone in the selected drug;
• uncontrolled or irregular intake of OCs;
• incorrectly selected contraceptive drug;
• development of side effects while taking oral contraceptives;
• pregnancy or hormonal imbalance after medications.

In the first few months of taking hormonal contraceptives, undesirable consequences are possible, such as a change in the duration of the cycle, a slight delay, and a deterioration in general well-being. This is due to the fact that the reproductive system adapts to the regular intake of progesterone and estrogen into the body. During this same period, thick, rich discharge may appear - not abundant, with a brown tint, the structure of coffee grounds. But if these phenomena do not disappear within six months, you need to contact a specialist.

Pregnancy

Typically, brown spotting is observed in many women in the early stages of pregnancy.

Changes occur against the background of hormonal changes for the following reasons:

1. Tissue remaining inside the uterus that did not come out during the last menstruation. They may come out at the beginning of your next period. Due to their long stay in the body, they acquire a rich brown tint.
2. Taking oral contraceptives after conception.
3. The onset of ovulation. This is evidenced by brown discharge that appears after the end of menstruation. Ovulatory bleeding is observed in every eighth representative of the fairer sex and is considered a normal condition of the female body.
4. Increased uterine tone. Light brown discharge instead of menstruation during pregnancy may appear due to intense contractions of the organ, causing endometrial detachment. When leaving the body, it acquires a brown tint.
5. The presence of various diseases of the reproductive system, for example, endometriosis.

If there is pregnancy at the time when the first menstruation should have started, various types of spotting, including a brownish tint, may also be observed. The causes of this condition are considered:

• the first signs of a woman’s hormonal changes;
• taking hormone-containing medications prescribed by a doctor as part of therapy to maintain pregnancy;
• the period when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterus. Short-term thick discharge also often appears.

A pathological situation is when spotting appears repeatedly in the first 6–8 weeks of pregnancy.

Under the influence of an increase in the concentration of progesterone, the woman’s body retains the attached fertilized egg. If the level of this hormone is reduced, discharge may indicate a threat of miscarriage and impaired fetal development.

Even less common are cases of repeat spotting throughout the first trimester on days when a woman is scheduled to have her menstruation.

Hormonal disorders

Hormonal imbalances can cause brown discharge that occurs instead of menstruation. Most often they develop against the background of such diseases:

• endometriosis;
• fibroid or myoma of the uterus;
• tumor process;
• thyroid dysfunction;
• ovarian hyperplasia.

Unstable hormonal levels during puberty can provoke scanty dark discharge instead of menstruation. This phenomenon is especially often observed in the first year from the beginning of menstruation. Without additional pathological signs, this is considered a normal variant.

In the first stages of menopause, brown discharge occurs instead of menstruation, which is also considered a physiological norm. Reproductive function gradually decreases and eventually disappears completely.

In the first 1-3 years of menopause, the body gradually adapts to age-related changes, the menstrual cycle is disrupted, and periods stop. Brown spotting may appear instead of menstruation, as well as in the period between menstruation. The duration of bleeding changes - it can be reduced to 1-2 or, conversely, increased to 10 days or more.

Weight problems

Body weight also affects the characteristics of the menstrual cycle. If brown discharge appears, but there is no period, this may indicate a hormonal imbalance due to sudden weight loss.

Exhaustion of the body, weight loss, adherence to strict restrictive diets lead to cycle disruption and the absence of normal menstruation.

Excess weight causes a number of pathologies that also affect menstruation:

• metabolic disease;
• diabetes;
• infertility.

Extra pounds lead to a large accumulation of adipose tissue, which produces female hormones estrogens. Changes in their concentration also contribute to hormonal disorders. Against the background of sudden weight loss, amenorrhea occurs due to hormonal deficiency. With adequate therapy and correction of body weight, the monthly cycle is quickly restored.

Menstruation after certain medications

Different oral contraceptives contain different combinations of active substances that ensure the effect of the drug. Some birth control pills cause almost the same negative effects in many girls, so before taking OK pills you should read reviews about them and their features.

Progesterone injections

Progesterone injections or tablets can be classified as emergency contraception - a measure to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse (without a condom, OCs and other drugs), which must be carried out within 72 hours. After progesterone injections, the course of menstruation may be disrupted.

This result of using this emergency contraceptive is associated with the peculiarity of the action of the hormone. The main effect of progesterone is on the mucous membrane of the uterus - the endometrium. The hormone causes its liquefaction, speeds up the separation and removal from the uterus. Insufficiently dense endometrium does not allow the fertilized egg to attach and begin to develop. In addition, progesterone thickens the mucus in the fallopian tubes, so sperm simply cannot fertilize the female reproductive cell.

Within 1-2 months after injections or progesterone tablets, very scanty periods are observed, but if this procedure is not repeated, they will gradually recover without any treatment.

Yarina

Yarina tablets are one of the “oldest” contraceptive drugs that have not yet left the market due to their good action. Their cotraceptive effect is due to thickening of the mucus in the fallopian tubes and thinning of the uterine mucosa.

Some girls notice menstrual irregularities when taking Yarina. This is due to the fact that the drug contains estrogen, but does not have progesterone, so the pills can disrupt the balance of hormones and worsen the separation of the endometrium. Less often, scanty periods occur due to the body getting used to new pills during the first 2-3 months.

Yarina has a pronounced antiandrogenic effect and can promote weight gain, breast and hip enlargement, as well as a decrease in body hair (sometimes there is increased hair loss on the head).

Regulon

Regulon is one of the most popular drugs, which girls also often complain about. The drug contains estrogen and a progesterone analogue. Its action is more extensive, unlike Yarina. Regulon not only thins the endometrium and thickens cervical mucus, but also inhibits the synthesis of two hormones: FSH and luteotropin in the pituitary gland. These two active substances play an important role in ovulation and preparing the body for pregnancy, and their deficiency reduces the chance of fertilization of the egg.

Sometimes when taking Regulon, menstruation is disrupted, it becomes too scanty, more like a brown spot. This effect may occur due to too intense hormonal effects. In this case, you cannot wait longer than two months; you need to stop taking the drug and choose a new one.

Against the background of Regulon, rashes appear in girls with oily skin, intermenstrual bleeding may occur and lactation may be disrupted, so in no case should you start taking this contraceptive without preliminary tests.

The decision to take oral contraceptives is an important and responsible step for a woman, because these drugs will determine her hormonal levels and affect the endocrine system, so their choice must be approached correctly. Unsuitable OCs can not only contribute to weight gain and acne, but also disrupt the menstrual cycle, causing scanty periods. If light menstruation continues for more than 3 months while taking birth control pills, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause of this disorder.

“>