Help! Never-ending period on pill

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-04-2004
Help! Never-ending period on pill
4
Fri, 06-04-2004 - 9:22am
Hi,

I am 34 years old, I was on the pill for ten years, stopped for five and just started taking ortho-tricyclen last Thursday, the day my period started. Since then, my period has been heavy and it still hasn't stopped.

Is this normal? I am seriously thinking about stopping the pill. I (obviously) feel lousy after 8 days of heavy period. I thought it was supposed to lighten your period. I was on tri-phasic pills before, as well as mono-phasic, and didn't have a problem. Is this because I'm older now?

Can anyone please tell me if they have heard anything like this? I am putting a call into my gyno today, but I probably won't hear from her till tonight, at best and am going crazy about this.

Any information would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Fri, 06-04-2004 - 10:31am
You started the pill during your period, right? This means you might be experiencing breakthrough bleeding. Normall this doesn't start until you've been on your pill a week or so, but because you were already bleeding when you started it, your body needs time to adjust to the new hormone levels. I'd say when you have your next withdrawal bleed (after your inactive pills), everything will get better during your next month. Most pills take 1-3 months for your body to adjust to them anyway. You might want to talk to your doctor, but she might request that you try to persevere through a few more months. Good luck.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2004
Sat, 06-05-2004 - 3:37am
Hi,

I had a similar experience, I'm about your age. Been off pills for a few years. I started OTC Lo this month on a Sunday start about 4 days after my period. I had my next period start on the Weds of actives and kept going for 9 days w/cramps. My normal period goes for three days, so I'm disappointed. Going to talk to the doc on Monday. The nurse mentioned I could stay on this pill for a couple more months, or take my old Loestrin pill, which has higher progestin; it also is a different kind. At this point, I'm really thinking I'm bailing out on this pill, even though my skin is clear, because I was a little moody this month too. I kind of think that I need more of something in my bcp but I'm not sure yet if its estrogen or progestin. Or maybe I really need to give these pills two more months but I'm not sure if I want to risk a long period again. I will post my experience and what my doc said in case it helps someone.

Hope you feel better and tell us how you are doing too,

Anita

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-04-2004
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 8:59am
Thank you. It is a relief to know others are going throuhg this too. my doc said to try and stick it out for another couple of months, and since it looks like my period is **finally** ending today, I think I can do that. It just has been so exhausting and depressing. Hopefully the next couple of cycles will be better.

Thanks for relating your story, and I hope you too get it all straightened out and feel well soon.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 9:41am
Breakthrough bleeding is --really-- common when you switch pills, I've had it when I changed dosage significantly (and Loestrin to OTC Lo is a significant difference), but only for the first month. If you can manage it, it really is a good idea to give a new pill at the very least two or three cycles before you draw any conclusions, it's a big hormonal adjustment even just to switch from one pill to another. You never know, it might be totally different in the next cycle!

Good luck....

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control