OTC-Lo and period

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
OTC-Lo and period
4
Mon, 04-19-2004 - 11:48pm
Hello Everyone...

I just have a quick question that hopefully someone can answer. I started using OTC lo and i'm now in my third pack. I have never used birth control pills before, but I ws under the impression that your period would start after you stopped using the hormone pills and were using the placebo pills. I am a sunday start, and i have light spotting and brown discharge starting the thursday before the sunday that i would start the placebo pills.. then it gets heavier on sunday and monday and lasts for about a week total. Is this normal? Or should I consult my doctor about it?

Thanks....

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 04-20-2004 - 11:07am
Hi, lauren8211,

You have only had two pill-periods on OTC –Lo, right? It can take four or more cycles on oral contraceptives before AF settles into a predictable routine. Asking your doc. is never a bad thing but I wouldn’t worry just yet. Typically your period will arrive between the 2nd and 5th placebo pills, sometimes earlier, sometimes later and your flow could be quite different than you are used to. Whatever your body decides given the hormones you are putting in it is what will be ‘normal’ for you.

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-02-2003
Tue, 04-20-2004 - 6:08pm
I just tried OTC Lo for 3 months...I would start my period like 2 weeks into the hormone pills...WAY before the placebo pills. I had a lot of breakthrough bleeding. If I was late, even by 1 hour, taking my pill, I would start bleeding. I switched to a different pill...my favorite is OTC (regular dose). I've also heard that if you have breakthrough bleeding, it's not strong enough for you, and you could get pregnant while on it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 04-20-2004 - 6:24pm
Actually, bleeding and ovulation are two separate mechanisms so that if you are taking your pills correctly; on time (+/-2 hours of your pill-time), haven’t been ill and vomited or had diarrhea within 2 hrs. after you took your pill and aren’t taking meds or supplements that might reduce the effectiveness of your pill then even if you are experiencing irregular bleeding you should still be protected from pregnancy. Ok?

Good luck to you

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-20-2004
Tue, 04-20-2004 - 11:17pm
Hi Lauren:

I was on OTC Lo and had a similar experience. After my first few packs my periods became "regular" again (meaning they came at the same time each month during the time I was using the placebo pills). That being said, however, my period was much heavier than ever before (even without the pill) even if it did only last 3 days, the heaviness of flow was enough for me to say goodbye to OTC and OTC Lo.

What you're experiencing is normal for OTC, in my opinion. But if you are unhappy with it, as I was, I would contact your doctor about switching. I had a much better experience with Cyclessa.

Hope that helps!

Andi in NY