Can I get my period while taking birth control pills?

Contraceptive pills are recognized as one of the most effective methods of contraception today. These drugs have no equal in effectiveness. However, many women are afraid to take hormonal contraceptives, citing fear of gaining extra pounds, cost and complexity of the drug regimen. Today we will tell you what happens to your periods when you take birth control, how your cycle changes, and what is the likelihood of pregnancy if you take birth control.

How do birth control pills affect menstruation?

Birth control pills contain various hormones that prevent pregnancy. Such hormones are capable of:

• prevent ovulation;
• thin the lining layer of the uterine wall (endometrium) and thus prevent implantation of a fertilized egg;
• cause thickening of the cervical mucus, which prevents sperm from reaching the egg.

Birth control pills are usually taken at weekly intervals. At the same time, tablets for the first three weeks contain hormones, and tablets for the last week do not contain active substances. In fact, in the fourth week, women take a placebo, which simply helps them remember to take birth control pills daily.

When taken correctly, birth control pills are one of the most effective methods of contraception with a guarantee of protection against unwanted pregnancy of about 99%.

However, women often miss doses. In addition, if a woman vomits, her body may have difficulty absorbing the active ingredients of the tablets. These factors impair the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, thereby increasing the risk of unwanted pregnancy and breakthrough bleeding.

Reasons for missing periods

The following are factors that may cause you to miss your period while taking birth control pills.

Types of tablets

Some birth control pills cause menstrual periods to stop or become irregular. There are also types of pills that only cause four periods a year. They are usually called seasonal.

It should also be noted that each body reacts differently to certain medications, so the effect of birth control pills cannot always be predicted. If a woman has recently started taking a new type of pill, it may take some time for the body to adjust, which may cause a missed period.

Stress

Stress can affect the length of the menstrual cycle, both longer and shorter. In some cases, stress can cause menstruation to stop altogether.

Fast weight loss

Rapid weight loss often has negative effects on the body. For example, if a woman eats an extremely low-calorie diet, this may cause low production of the hormones needed to support ovulation.

Excessive weight or obesity

Overweight women sometimes produce too much estrogen, which can cause periods to become irregular or stop altogether.

Excessive physical activity

Intense physical activity sometimes places stress on the body and leads to hormonal imbalance. This may cause irregular menstrual cycles.

Diseases

Some diseases can cause menstruation to stop. One of the most common is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

If your period stops and pregnancy has been ruled out as a possible cause, your doctor may do certain tests to confirm or deny that the woman has certain medical conditions.

Pregnancy

While birth control pills are a relatively reliable method of contraception, they do not always work effectively. This happens rarely, but even when taking hormonal pills, a woman can become pregnant.

If a woman suspects she is pregnant, she can purchase a special test at the pharmacy that will resolve the uncertainty.

Does missing period mean pregnancy?

Pregnancy is one of the many reasons for missing periods.

It is important to understand that a woman can become pregnant even if she is taking birth control pills correctly. Therefore, every sexually active woman who does not have her period needs to purchase an appropriate test or meet with a doctor.

The chances of getting pregnant with proper use of oral contraceptives are extremely low, but they increase if a woman misses pills. In most cases, pregnancy occurs when a woman misses two or more doses in a row.

In addition to the absence of menstruation, signs of pregnancy include the following:

• nausea and vomiting;
• breast tenderness;
• weakness, slowness, fatigue;
• aching pain in the lower back;
• frequent urination.

Some of the listed signs may appear as early as a week after the absence of menstruation. If a woman does not experience the expected menstruation and has one of the symptoms of pregnancy, she needs to see a doctor.

Mechanism of action of contraceptive drugs

To understand how contraceptives work, you need to know the functioning of the female body during one menstrual cycle.

Throughout the entire period, hormones change in a woman’s body. In the first half of the cycle, estrogen “reigns”, and in the second half it is replaced by progesterone.

Under their influence, various important events occur:

• Maturation of the dominant follicle;
• Release of an egg ready for fertilization;
• Against the background of the conception of an egg by a sperm, the hormone prepares the uterine wall for implantation of the fertilized egg;
• “Insures” the life of the embryo (protects against failure);
• In another scenario of the life of the egg, when the meeting does not take place, it dies, and the controlling hormone adjusts the female body to the process of menstruation.

Birth control drugs are made from synthetic hormones. A woman, taking them orally, “fills” the body with a certain hormone. In this case, the body stops naturally producing the hormones it takes and the woman’s ovaries lose the ability to function. Which means there is no ovulation and no conception.

In addition, the oral contraceptive has an anti-implantation effect through its effect on the mucous membrane of the uterine walls.

Birth control pills also change the biochemical composition of the mucus produced by the cervix, aggressively “pitting” it on sperm. As a result, the hustlers become not hustlers and do not achieve the final goal.

As for the protection of oral contraceptives from unwanted pregnancy, manufacturers provide a 99% guarantee. None of the protection drugs give such a high percentage.

In fact, there is only one method that provides 100% protection against conception - sterilization of one or two sexual partners or complete sexual abstinence.

But let's return to our topic. So, why does it happen that when taking birth control pills there is a delay in menstruation?

Types of contraceptive hormonal drugs

All contraceptives can be divided into 2 groups.

Group 1 - Combined contraceptives. They contain two components in different proportions: estrogenic and histogenic components.

Table: Types of combined contraceptives

Important! In addition, based on estrogen content, there are low-dose (Diana-35, Yarina, Regulon, Marvelon), micro-dose (Logest, Mirel, Jess, Novinet) and tablets containing natural estrogen (Klayra, Zoelli). Low-dose drugs are suitable as contraceptives.

Group 2 - histogenic contraceptives. As the name suggests, they contain exclusively the hormone progestogen. This group includes:

1. Mini-pills (tablets). Preparations: Exluton, Microlut, Cherosetta.
2. Long-lasting forms: injection (Depo-Provera), implantation, intrauterine contraception.

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Reasons for missed periods

Of course, when there is no period, only one answer appears in the head - pregnancy.

But in fact, there can be many reasons for the delay:

• The most common source is a woman’s non-compliance with taking medications;
• Then follows the reason - poisoning, when the tablet was drunk, and as a result of vomiting or diarrhea it left the body;
• Alcohol can reduce the effect of contraceptives on the female body, as a result - there is no complete protection against pregnancy;
• After taking antibiotics, it also reduces the effect of oral contraceptives;
• It is possible that the purchased drug was a counterfeit and its “direct duties” did not include protection against conception.

In addition to all the listed reasons, I would like to highlight some features of the contraceptive. This means how many months in a row you can take birth control pills. There is no exact answer to this question. There are different opinions:

• According to gynecologists, taking contraceptives can be extended up to 6 months, and then take a break for a couple of cycles, and then resume taking them.
• Pill manufacturers are generally opposed to stopping birth control. In their opinion, it is worth taking the pills for the entire time until the woman decides to get pregnant.
• There is also an opinion among the people. Experienced girls believe that you need to take the drug for 3 months and give your body a rest for a month.

Which of the statements is true is unknown. But, according to reviews from American gynecologist colleagues, the latter type of contraceptive use is the most acceptable for the female body.

The thing is that after three months of using birth control pills, nothing will happen to the female body, there will be no delays or disruptions in the menstrual cycle. A month of abstinence from consumption is quite enough to restore the body to a healthy state.

If we talk about the ladies of our region, the majority prefer to use the recommendations of pharmacological manufacturers and take pills without breaks. Of course this is possible.

By using contraceptives in this way, a woman reduces the risk of unplanned pregnancy to a minimum. And at the same time, it increases the chance of disrupting your periods and causing problems with conception in the future. Do you need this, think about it?

There are many other methods of contraception. You can consult a gynecologist about what is best for you.

Characteristics of menstruation after stopping the use of contraceptives

After you stop taking contraceptive medications, you will not have periods for several months. This is due to the fact that the hypothalamic-pituitary system is not yet ready to start “its” normal menstrual cycle and the onset of menstruation. It takes 2-3 months for the body to adapt, after which “its” normal periods will come. Sometimes the bleeding is more profuse, but this goes away over time.

This is interesting! As a rule, in the first menstrual cycle after stopping the use of contraceptives, two eggs mature and ovulate at once. The likelihood of becoming pregnant during this period is higher, just as the likelihood of becoming pregnant with twins is high.

Long-term studies have shown that menstruation is restored in 100% of cases and taking medications does not in any way affect the ability to get pregnant. Subsequent pregnancy occurs without any difficulties.

Reasons for delay not related to OK

Is it worth it to immediately “sin” on oral contraceptives when you don’t have your period? you need to understand the situation and find out the reasons.

The absence of menstruation after taking contraceptives may be the result of completely different sources and not only of a gynecological nature.

Let's look at the most common ones:

• Delayed menstrual bleeding can be caused by severe stress, nervous strain, such as;
• Severe physical fatigue;
• Strict diet;
• Climate change;
• Diseases of the genitourinary system;
• The problem may lie in the field of gynecology, for example, an inflammatory process in the female genital organs;
• Taking oral contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, and it can cause the absence of menstrual periods;
• Concurrent use of other medications or treatment with certain folk remedies can also lead to a delay in menstruation;
• Pregnancy cannot be completely ruled out; if you don’t have your period, you should take a pregnancy test.

Yes, there are few reasons that caused a delay in menstruation, if this happens, you should not think and guess, but you need to go to the doctor for an examination. This will be the best decision.

Periodic visits to the doctor while taking OK

The use of oral contraceptives should be accompanied by regular examinations by a gynecologist in order to protect yourself from the consequences of taking contraceptives. The specialist examines the genital organs for the presence of tumors and other pathological phenomena. In addition to the examination, a woman must undergo a series of tests to ensure that her health is normal.

The doctor is interested in the progress of menstruation, how much the use of contraceptives has affected the cycle and how this affects the woman’s condition. After examinations and tests, the gynecologist makes a conclusion about whether the pills have a negative effect and whether they should be taken further.

Taking oral contraceptives

Since the topic concerns contraceptive drugs, it is worth recalling that any medication requires careful study of the instructions and strict adherence to the rules of administration:

• Usually you need to take pills from the first day of bleeding for 21 days, and then take a break for your period for 7 days.
• An important condition for taking contraception is to use it at the same time every day. Skipping results in a decrease in the effectiveness of birth control pills on the body. Therefore, it is recommended to simplify your task and place the blister with capsules on the bedside table or near a glass of toothbrushes. As the instructions say, it is better to take the drug before bedtime.
• If this happens and you forget to take the pill, the instructions say to continue taking it as usual, but during this period it is recommended to use additional protection.
• In addition, when several capsules are missed in a row, you do not need to take everything at one time, you should drink one at a time. Leave forgotten tablets untouched. And, of course, finish the course of using oral medications on the 21st day, and not later.
• If a woman discovers any alarming symptoms after taking the capsule, it is worth discussing this with a gynecologist.
• If there is sudden localization of pain in the chest area, headaches, or high blood pressure due to the use of birth control pills, you should immediately stop taking the drug and immediately consult a doctor.
• Remember, you should always talk to your doctor about taking other medications at the same time as oral contraceptives.
• It is recommended to quit smoking or minimize the number of cigarettes smoked.
• It is worth remembering that pregnancy can occur in the first month of the menstrual cycle after stopping taking contraceptive capsules.

But there is also a positive side to everything: by adhering to all the recommendations, the woman adjusts the exact frequency of the menstrual cycle. In addition, after such capsules, periods are more scanty and painless, which is the “ultimate dream” for a woman.

The modern world recognizes contraceptives as one of the most reliable ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy. But, as all rules have exceptions, so here too - do not forget to read the instructions and follow the rules of admission.

Then the effect of the capsules will be as reliable as possible.

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Source: livewomen.ru

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.

Intensity

A small amount of menstrual flow when taking OCs is considered normal. As a rule, women these days lose up to 60 mg of blood over the entire period. Your periods are less painful, are scanty and last much shorter than they were before you started taking birth control.

The shortened duration of menstruation contributes to an increase in the level of iron in the blood and an increase in hemoglobin. This occurs by reducing blood loss. Therefore, doctors often use this effect of contraceptive hormonal drugs when adjusting blood counts in patients, even if she does not need this drug as a contraceptive.

Taking such medications helps to even out the cycle and restore the regularity of the next menstruation. With the correct dosage and the woman’s strict adherence to the rules for taking OCs, menstruation occurs regularly, with the same frequency and is not delayed. Most often, the cycle is stable and averages 28 days.

Menstrual bleeding when taking hormonal pills is called conditionally. This is not entirely natural menstruation, but rather a menstrual-like reaction of the body to a dose of hormonal contraceptive. When a girl stops taking OK for a week, the level of hormones decreases and the endometrium begins to be rejected.

If a girl violates the instructions and continues to take the drug on the days of the supposed break, then her period will not come at all. But you shouldn’t do this, because such rash actions may periodically cause intermenstrual bleeding.

Many gynecologists believe that oral contraceptives help not only prevent unwanted pregnancy, but also have a qualitative impact on the patient’s health. Previously, these effects from hormonal birth control pills were considered side effects, but are now actively used.

But it happens that, due to the fault of illiterate doctors or the patient herself, periods when taking OCs do not come on time or do not go as expected. This occurs due to non-compliance with the recommended dosage or dosage regimen, incorrect choice of drug in terms of the phase of the cycle that it affects, insufficient preliminary examination of the woman and the presence of chronic diseases.

Causes of menstrual irregularities

Why do some girls experience scanty periods when taking OCs (oral contraceptives), if these pills have the ability to normalize the menstrual cycle? The reason for this phenomenon lies in the fact that the active ingredients of contraceptives - hormones - are active substances that have an effect even in microscopic quantities. Different drugs contain different combinations of hormonal components: some have more estrogen, some have more progesterone, and so on.

You can often find angry comments on forums, for example: “I’ve been drinking Yarina for a month, my periods are scanty and acne has appeared.” In most cases, such messages are left by women who, without consulting a gynecologist and without tests, bought contraceptives for themselves because they suited their mother or friend.

Incorrect selection of oral contraceptives

From the above, it becomes clear that the main reason for scanty periods when taking OCs is incorrect selection of the drug. Every woman should remember that only a gynecologist selects contraceptives; he cannot do this without a blood test for hormones. The drug is selected so as to balance the female active substances, then there will be no unwanted pregnancy and health problems.

Hormonal imbalance

Sometimes, while taking contraceptives, a woman's hormonal levels may change for reasons not related to the use of oral contraceptives:

• sudden weight loss, anorexia;
• exhausting physical activity;
• severe infectious diseases and poisoning;
• taking steroid drugs;
• sudden climate change;
• exposure to radiation or large amounts of x-rays;
• severe stress, depression.

When a woman’s hormonal levels are disrupted, the balance of active substances in her blood shifts, so old oral contraceptives are no longer suitable. In this case, it is recommended to stop taking OK, return your health to normal, and only then select a new drug with your doctor.

Normal reduction in bleeding

It is worth saying that when taking oral contraceptives, menstruation should be slightly reduced.
This happens because not enough endometrium is formed for the egg to attach. Many women note that while taking birth control pills, menstruation lasts 4-5 days, there is virtually no pain, and intense discharge is observed only in the first 2-3 days, after which it becomes scanty. This remark should reassure women who have the symptoms described above. But it is important to remember that scanty discharge from the first days of menstruation is not the norm. If this happens more than twice, you need to contact your gynecologist and choose a different drug.

Delay

The most common reason for the late onset of menstruation or its absence when taking hormones is the occurrence of an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.

If a girl does not get her period within a week after the break in taking the OC as instructed, or only a slight spotting occurs instead, this is a reason to take a pregnancy test. If the result is negative, you should consult your doctor before starting the next package of the drug.

If a woman wants to continue her pregnancy, then there is no point in using the drug in the future. If the test gives a positive reaction and there are two stripes, then the fact of pregnancy should be confirmed in the hospital using an ultrasound machine and blood tests. Until this point, the pills should be stopped because there is a possibility that they may harm the fetus due to hormonal imbalance.

Your period may come late. This depends on compliance with the rules for taking hormonal contraception, the timeliness of taking pills and the presence of any health problems. capable of causing hormonal imbalance. For example, pathologies of the thyroid gland or pituitary gland.

Intermenstrual discharge

Menstruation may occur out of sequence when taking contraceptive medications. Spotting and spotting may occur if the dosage of the drug is too low for a particular case. This side effect is more common when using pills with a low amount of synthetic estrogen. These tablets contain only 20 mcg.

Such extraordinary “periods” do not affect the effectiveness of contraceptives, but they can ruin a woman’s daily life. Including this moment creates certain inconveniences in the sex life of girls. They cannot be sure that they are ready for sexual intercourse and bleeding, even if not too heavy, will not spoil the romantic moment.

If you start smearing with blood in the first 2 weeks of the cycle, this means that there is not enough estrogen in the tablets. If discharge is present in the second half of the cycle, then we are talking about an insufficient amount of synthetic progesterone in the drug.

In this case, you should contact your gynecologist with the problem and ask about replacing the contraceptive with a higher dose. As a rule, the problem manifests itself within a maximum of 3 cycles. If such a moment is not observed, then the drug is suitable for the girl and most likely there will be no intermenstrual bleeding in the future.

If changing the dosage of the drug does not have a positive effect, you should turn your attention to non-hormonal contraceptives. These cases occur quite rarely in the practice of gynecologists.

Another option for such patients is to try triphasic agents. Due to the fact that their use is inappropriate in most cases, they are used quite rarely. But for such ladies who suffer from the ineffectiveness of other OCs, taking triphasic tablets can be a good solution.

Spotting is not dangerous, but if full-fledged extraordinary periods begin, heavy and outside the one-week break period, you should inform your doctor as soon as possible. After examination, doctors usually increase the dose of the drug. They do this temporarily, and then transfer the patient to a standard dosage regimen after her condition normalizes.

When intermenstrual bleeding begins, you should pay attention to the possible use of medications that could precede its appearance. Some antibiotics and folk remedies can significantly reduce or increase the effectiveness of contraceptives whose action is based on hormones. This factor can also cause spotting.

Abundant

In some particularly severe cases, menstruation in women who are protected with hormone-containing pills does not stop at all or is very heavy. At first, so-called breakthrough bleeding may occur.

This is how a woman’s reproductive system signals that the body is adapting to synthetic hormones that are unusual for it. Progestogens, which are included in the tablets, help accelerate atrophic processes in the endometrium. Subsequently, it is rejected, which provokes menstruation.

The abundance of such periods is explained by the fact that the selected contraceptive drugs contain relatively little estrogen component, which is responsible for the hemostatic process.

How does contraception work?

As a method of contraception, contraceptives are used widely throughout the world. Due to the presence of hormones in their composition, they affect ovulatory mechanisms in the period between menstruation. The maturation and release of the egg from the ovary is inhibited. Which makes it impossible for her to meet the sperm for fertilization.

Oral medications block sperm from entering the uterus, creating a kind of trap. This is possible due to an increase in the secretion of a more viscous secretion by the mucous membrane of the cervix. This is a barrier to their progress.

But if sperm penetrates the egg and fertilizes it, will pregnancy occur? The mechanism for preventing pregnancy is based on slowing down the passage of such an egg through the fallopian tubes into the uterine cavity, which prevents its progression. There is another mechanism to prevent pregnancy. This is a thinning of the lining of the uterus, to which the egg cannot attach.

If somehow the egg managed to implant itself from the endometrium, this does not mean that pregnancy has occurred. Under the influence of hormonal contraception, the nutrition and blood circulation of this layer are disrupted, which creates unfavorable conditions for the development of the fetus and its rejection occurs.

Cancel

Most women, after stopping hormonal contraceptives, have an increased chance of getting pregnant. They may ovulate soon after stopping taking the pills. If conception does not occur, then menstruation will begin after that. It may not be as abundant as usual. The effect of increasing the chance of pregnancy can last up to three cycles.

The opposite situation may also occur. In the case of prolonged use of oral contraception, a girl sometimes develops a syndrome called “ovarian hyperinhibition.” In this case, there is no ovulation and menstruation disappears. There is no need to be afraid, this condition is temporary and after adaptation to new conditions it goes away on its own within a few months.

How long this period will last depends on the following factors:

• the type of drug the woman took, its dosage;
• girl's age;
• duration of taking OK;
• the general condition of the female body after discontinuation of hormonal contraceptives and the presence of any acute diseases.

If, after taking the pills, menstruation has disappeared, then it is worth undergoing an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs, as well as donating blood for a hormonal analysis. It is especially important to establish the level of LH and FSH, since they are responsible for the processes that regulate the onset of menstruation.

There are cases when drug correction is required to restore the cycle after discontinuation of OCs. You should be prepared for the fact that this process can be lengthy. It lasts especially long if a woman has been taking hormones for several years, not allowing the ovaries to take a break from the pills and work on their own.

Source: uterus2.ru

How do periods change when taking hormonal contraceptives?

The change in the nature of the menstrual cycle during the use of COCs is due to the following effects on the female body:

• there is no ovulation due to the cessation of the production of pituitary hormones, as a result - the follicles do not mature;
• the contractile activity of the fallopian tubes is inhibited;
• the viscosity of vaginal secretions changes;
• the endometrium undergoes atrophic changes that prevent the attachment of a fertilized egg.

All this leads to significant changes in the monthly female cycle, which affect 80% of women taking contraceptives. The same phenomena can lead to no menstruation after discontinuation of hormonal contraceptives.

Due to changes in hormonal levels, the following problems may arise:

• delayed menstruation;
• menstruation may start earlier;
• scanty menstrual flow;
• heavy bleeding.

If heavy periods begin while taking hormonal contraceptives, then they are called breakthrough periods. If this happened only in the first month of taking it, you shouldn’t be scared and stop taking contraceptives. If breakthrough bleeding recurs, you should consult a gynecologist, as this indicates an incorrect selection of medications.

Discharge when taking hormonal contraceptives

Almost all women who start using COCs experience spotting between menstruation. This is a variant of the norm, as gradual addiction to synthetic hormones occurs.

Brown discharge when taking contraceptives can occur both at the beginning of the cycle and during ovulation. They occur due to the fact that contraceptive drugs contain only a small amount of the hormone estrogen, which may not be enough for the female body. If such discharge bothers a woman for more than 3 cycles in a row, then the drug she is taking should be replaced with one with a higher estrogen content.

Due to changes in the production of vaginal secretions, which should prevent the further passage of sperm, excessive leucorrhoea may occur. They are white, thin, odorless discharge. However, if symptoms such as itching and burning in the external genital area, changes in the color of leucorrhoea and the appearance of an unpleasant odor appear, then candidal vaginitis (thrush) can be suspected.

This disease requires mandatory treatment by a gynecologist. Otherwise, the inflammation will spread to the internal genital organs, and this may reduce the contraceptive activity of COCs.

Daily and emergency contraception

The less synthetic hormone contained in a contraceptive, the better for a woman’s body. Significant hormonal imbalance leads to menstrual irregularities, weight changes, and loss of libido. Therefore, it is better to use low-dose hormonal drugs (for example, Zhanine, Yarina). They are consumed as planned, for three weeks, with a one-week break.

Emergency contraception is designed to act quickly. Therefore, it introduces a significant hormonal imbalance into the body. An example would be Postinor. The frequency of its use is limited to 1 month (not more than once during one menstrual cycle). The woman's age is not younger than 16 years. This potent drug should be used only in emergency cases, since it causes significant disruption to the functioning of the female body.

Menstruation with hormonal contraception

• In the first three months, the body adapts to the hormonal drug. Ovarian function is inhibited and they produce less estrogen. After starting to take scheduled contraceptives (daily pills), women periodically experience spotting. The process of periodic appearance of blood smears lasts from 3 to 6 months.
• Menstruation with hormonal contraception should occur after 21 days or the end of the tablets in the blister. If spotting persistently appears earlier, this indicates insufficient estrogen levels in the drug and insufficient effect of suppressing the natural production of estrogen by the ovaries. To guarantee contraception, the drug must be replaced with a stronger one.
• Other failures are possible, for example, when after birth control there are no periods for a long time. This is due to the fact that the hormonal function of the ovaries is too suppressed.
• It is also possible that your period began during this method of contraception. The phenomenon is called breakthrough (heavy) bleeding. This situation may occur while taking OCs due to their hormonal imbalance.
• If a woman stops using OK, the cycle is adjusted over several months. Often after birth control there is no period, and this is considered normal for six months.
• Among hormonal contraception, there are several popular methods. Let's consider the features of their use.

Characteristics of menstruation when using contraceptives

The nature and timing of menstruation with hormonal contraception changes. After taking the first pill on the day of your period, they continue to go at their normal rhythm for 5-7 days. Then, before the next menstruation for three months, the girl may notice scanty spotting bloody discharge from the vagina. Don't be scared, this is normal. If the discharge continues for 4 months or longer, then you need to consult a gynecologist for advice.

The second and third periods will be significantly different from normal. As a rule, they are less abundant and do not last long. These periods occur between days 23 and 28, that is, during a week-long break from taking the drug. The days of menstruation may shift if the girl previously had an irregular cycle, and if the body has not fully adapted against the background of altered hormonal levels.

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Why is an ultrasound done after childbirth?

In some cases, there are no periods at all. The absence of menstruation while using birth control is normal and may go away over time. This suggests that the drug completely suppressed ovarian function, ovulation and endothelial transformation, so menstruation did not occur.

Important! The appearance of heavy periods while taking contraceptives is a reason to consult a gynecologist. This indicates that the hormonal levels are disturbed and unbalanced. In this case, it is best to replace the drug with another, more suitable one.

Postinor

Postinor is used as an “ambulance” for unplanned sexual intercourse, if no other means of contraception have been used. The effect of the drug is manifested in two directions. It suppresses ovulation (important for the first half of a woman’s monthly cycle) and thereby prevents fertilization. It also causes changes in the endometrial layer (the lining of the uterus), making it impossible for an egg to implant. This effect is important for the second half of the female cycle, when ovulation, as a rule, has already taken place.

The effectiveness of the drug is determined by the time of its use. The maximum is achieved by taking two tablets immediately after sexual intercourse and another one 12 hours later. If the interval between sexual intercourse and taking the contraceptive does not exceed 1 hour, then the effectiveness reaches 95%. When using emergency protection, after three days the protection is reduced to 58%.

Menstruation after postinor may change due to severe hormonal imbalance. The delay is possible for several days (up to 7 days). There may also be a change in the amount of discharge (a decrease or increase in menstrual bleeding compared to normal monthly bleeding).

Since the effectiveness of the contraceptive is not 100%, if your period is late, you should consider the possibility of pregnancy. If there is no menstruation after postinor, the test is negative, which means that contraception worked and delayed menstrual bleeding by several days. If after postinor your period comes on time, there is no longer any cause for concern (pregnancy is excluded).