Breakthrough bleeding?
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Breakthrough bleeding?
| Mon, 06-07-2004 - 7:12pm |
Hello all. I have been on the Nuvaring for 3-4 months now. I will be visiting my boyfriend in a few weeks and to make sure I would not get my period on the week I will be going there, I have decided to leave the ring in for an extra week (total of 4 weeks). I would have taken it out yesterday like usual (3 weeks), but I have heard from several people that it is ok to leave the ring an extra week to delay the period. So, I'm just starting my 4th week of leaving it in, but today I noticed spotting or breakthrough bleeding? I am concerned because it just started today and the ring has to be in for another 6 days! Will I still get my period after I take it out in 6 days? Did my plan fail? Any help is appreciated.

The hormones in your ring will still protect you during the 4th week but as you have seen you may have irregular bleeding. If you can tolerate the spotting and leave the ring in for the remainder of the 4th week then you should get your period after you remove it at week 5.
Good luck,
Jill
Thanks for responding. I believe I will wait it out and leave the ring in the rest of the week...it's wierd because I'm starting to feel heavy cramps like it's my period, but it is light spotting.
If you find out that you're going to have your period anyway (and you might), you can always remove the ring and reinsert a new one on your regular start day so that you get it over with and keep your regular schedule. You might only have 3-4 days without a ring, but that's okay. I love the flexibility of the ring as far as moving periods a few days here and there!
If you have any questions, holler!
Co-cl for Birth Control
Well, I think I'm in trouble. As you know, I decided to leave the ring in for a 4th week to try to delay my period so I wouldn't get it when I visit my boyfriend in a month. I am in the 4th week now and will be taking it out on Sunday. However, I have been having cramps like I would on my period and have been having to wear pads because of heavy spotting. This has been going on since Monday. I'm afraid at the rate I'm going, I probably won't get my period next week after I have taken the ring out...due to the heavy spotting I'm having this week. I know it's not a full-blown period because I would have to be wearing tampons. But, if I have spotting like this until I'm scheduled to take it out Sunday, all this spotting from this week could count as a period I guess? I'm afraid this probably didn't work and do you think I'll end up getting my period on the week I visit my boyfriend? I was hoping that leaving the ring in a 4th week would solve this dilemma. What else can I do? I'm quite frustrated right now. Should I just continue leaving it in until Sunday, wait a week (even if I don't get my period next week), and then put another in? Please help! Thanks!
As far as the scheduling, if your visit is still several weeks away (good planning!), you can leave the ring in until Sunday, take a week off, and insert a new ring with your ring-free week shifted one week later than it was before. That part will still work! But the next week and a half could be icky (just bleeding-wise, not contraceptive-wise).
Better? ;) Whenever I need to reschedule, I try to do it ahead of time too to try to avoid the possibility of bleeding issues at the time I don't want to be bleeding!
Co-cl for Birth Control