Missed Pill Confusion
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Missed Pill Confusion
| Mon, 06-21-2004 - 2:22pm |
I stupidly missed one of my COC's last Wednesday, I usually take them around 11 o'clock at night. I didn't discover the forgotten pill until 11 o'clock the following night, making it 24 hours late. I tried to follow the guidelines for a forgotten pill in the instruction leaflet that came with them (I take a make called Cilest) but since I didn't really understand what it was telling me to do I consulted my mum whom advised me to throw away the pill I missed and take the next one as normal, on the Thursday night, and as this was the last in the pack, start a new pack on the Friday instead of taking a seven day break when I would usually have my period.
Anyway, I started the new pack, and have not had sex since, but I have bled a little today, not regularly however and it's dark brown in colour. Is this my period? Should I get my period even though I have been taking this new pack of pills for the past few days? My boyfriend and I last had sex a week before I missed the pill, could I be at risk from pregnancy? Was it wrong to throw the missed pill away?
Anyway, I started the new pack, and have not had sex since, but I have bled a little today, not regularly however and it's dark brown in colour. Is this my period? Should I get my period even though I have been taking this new pack of pills for the past few days? My boyfriend and I last had sex a week before I missed the pill, could I be at risk from pregnancy? Was it wrong to throw the missed pill away?

From what you said the pill you missed was your active pill, the second to last. This means you should have taken it, even though it you would have taken two at the same time.
for future reference:
if you miss one dose, take it as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two pills at once.
if you miss two doses, take two pills the first day and two the next.
if you miss 3 or more throw away the pack and start a new one.
as for skipping your inactives, that's not really necessary but maybe not a bad idea since you did miss a dose so close to the end of the pack.
Your breakthrough bleeding could be due to missing a pill or to skipping your inactive week, and could probably be considered your period since it is roughly time for your monthly bleed.
Just use protection until you've had 7 accident-free days.
However, it was so light at points I didn't even need to wear a pad. I noticed the bleeding disappeared completely Friday, but this morning I found a light brown watery discharge in my panties. It is now a fair bit thicker and darker, but it isn't a heavy flow if you can understand that. Could anybody tell me what's happening to me? I'm getting scared and I plan to go see my doctor tomorrow.
Since you had no hormone free interval between packs what is probably happening is that the hormone mix in your pills is not able to keep your endometrium stable for more than 3 or 4 weeks without irregular bleeding. When you see your doc you can ask him or her about that and see what he says. I think you are probably ok. Let us know what s/he says, ok?
Good luck,
Jill
Your symptoms could be one of several things anxiety, PMSish side effects from taking your packs back to back or an unrelated condition. My guess is that you could be worrying yourself into a funk. Just to relieve your mind, why don’t you take a test? That will give you an accurate indication of where things stand in that regard before you see your doc. When is your appointment? Let us know how you’re doing, ok?
Hugs,
Jill
A urine test looks for HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, which is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy that can be detected in the mother's blood or urine even before the woman's missed period. HCG is the same thing that’s tested for in home pregnancy tests. I hope you get the result you want.
Good luck,
Jill