Never happened to me before

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-11-2003
Never happened to me before
1
Wed, 06-09-2004 - 1:14pm
Hi! I was hoping someone might be able to help on this. I have been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for 3 years now and I am 19. I take it for PCOS and my acne. About 2 days ago I started cramping, my breasts are swollen and ache and I am bleeding with pretty thick clots. I have 4 hormone pills left, at the time I started bleeding I had 6. I've never had spotting while on this pill, even when I first started taking it. I've never really had cramps in my life either! I didn't think it was possible to bleed profusely while on the hormone pills. I have not skipped or missed a pill at all. Could anyone fill me in on what could be happening here? Is this something I should call my GYN about? Thanks so much!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 06-09-2004 - 1:43pm
Calling your gyn is a good idea, but it's likely that they're not going to be too worried yet. It's possible to need a pill change at various times in your life, as your own hormones and body chemistry change continuously, there can come a time when the pill you've been taking for several years isn't quite the right pill anymore. In case it's something else, though, you should call your gyn just to be on the safe side (that and there's no way to get a different prescription without calling).

A lot of times when this happens, it's because there isn't enough progestin (or too much estrogen) in the pill you're taking to keep the lining of the uterus intact all 21 days (or however many it normally is for you). An easy solution is a pill with either more progestin or less estrogen, and if you've been taking Ortho Tri Cyclen, your doctor might go next toward Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo, which has less estrogen (less growth in the uterus than with more estrogen, should help cramps and heaviness). There are other pills that may help just as well too, so don't freak if your doctor prescribes something you've never heard of--we've heard of it. ;)

Good luck, make that phone call!

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