Spotting on Pill

Avatar for tbanana
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
Spotting on Pill
8
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 9:16am
Has anyone ever had any trouble with spotting while on BCP? My dr has switched my pill 3 times now and nothing can stop the spotting. I start spotting during the 2nd week of active pills and spot until I get my period again. Not to mention, the killer cramps I get 3 weeks out of the month! I can't stand it anymore. I was wondering if anyone had anything similar happen to them and what they did about it. I'm thinking of just going off of it. Thanks ladies!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-13-2004
In reply to: tbanana
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 10:33am
Hey - are you staying on each pill for 2, 3 cycles and this still happens? Whenever I changed methods I would have spotting (no cramping though).

If you haven't waited a couple cycles, I might encourage you to do so. Good luck

Avatar for tbanana
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
In reply to: tbanana
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 10:53am
I've switched 3 times in 3 years and have been on each pill for 1 year. No luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: tbanana
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 11:15am
Hi tbanana, welcome!

Irregular bleeding is quite common for the first several cycles when beginning OCs but it should be controllable. Which pills have you been on? For some suggestions on how to handle irregular bleeding, see: http://www.fpnotebook.com/GYN87.htm cl-judie rae is very knowledgeable about hormonal contraceptives. Perhaps she can suggest some pills that might work better for you. Let us know what pills you have tried, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: tbanana
Tue, 06-08-2004 - 7:57am
I agree with Jill--let us know what pills you've tried, okay? For example, if your doctor has had you on Ortho Tri Cyclen, Ortho Cyclen, and Alesse, I can see why maybe you're still having a problem (they're all low-progestin pills, two of which have a fair amount of estrogen). There are lots of other pills out there though, and without knowing what you've already tried, it's hard to recommend where to go next.
Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
Avatar for tbanana
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
In reply to: tbanana
Wed, 06-09-2004 - 4:07pm
Hi Jill! Thanks for responding. I have been on Ortho Novum, Yasmin and presently on Ovcon-35. Like I said, I was on each one for 1 year straight with bleeding for 2-3 weeks every single month. I'm at my wits end! Thanks again for any advice.
Avatar for tbanana
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
In reply to: tbanana
Wed, 06-09-2004 - 4:12pm
Hi Judie! Thanks so much for your response. In my previous post I mentioned what I've been on. I'd really appreciate any recommendations!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
In reply to: tbanana
Wed, 06-09-2004 - 6:44pm
Hi,

I had the same thing with my pills and my doctor told me to cut back on Vitamin C. I don't know why because she didn't give me reasons but I did and the following month I got my period during the third week of the active pills for three days and nothing at all during the sugar pills. I was concerned about that too but she said not to worry, the pills are not any less efffective if my period doesn't fall on the inactive pills. So long as I get three days only of bleeding a month, whenever it falls, I don't care. Good luck

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: tbanana
Thu, 06-10-2004 - 8:36am
You could try pills with stronger progestins or 20 mcg pills, there are several yet! Ovcon and Ortho Novum have the same progestin, just different doses and slightly different estrogen doses. Yasmin has a stronger progestin than Ovcon and Ortho Novum, but still 30mcg of estrogen.

Ideas? Pills with levonorgestrel or desogestrel--those are the strongest two progestins on the US market, and that's what helps to control bleeding.

30 microgram pills: Nordette (levnorgestrel), LoOvral (norgestrel), Desogen (desogestrel)

20 microgram pills: Alesse (levonorgestrel--but not a whole lot), Mircette (desogestrel) The patch has 20mcg daily estrogen, but the progestin isn't as strong as levonorgestrel.

Nuvaring has 15 micrograms of daily estrogen, the lowest on the US market and the progestin is a derivative of desogestrel. When not on the pill, I had heavy periods. I had "normal" periods (normal for most people) on the pill, but on Nuvaring I actually have light periods, about 3 days or so of actual bleeding.

All of these are options that may be better than what you've tried...let us know how it goes, okay?

Good luck!

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