Periods getting lighter & lighter

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2003
Periods getting lighter & lighter
2
Tue, 07-13-2004 - 11:35am
I'm 26 and I've been taking the pill (generic form of Ortho Tri-Cyclen) for 7 years now. I've always had super-predictable, very normal periods. However, over the past 5-6 months, my periods have started getting lighter and lighter.

At first, I freaked out and thought I might be pregnant, but the periods always come right on time and last the usual amount of time (about 5 days). Now I'm just baffled. I wouldn't say they're light enough to be considered "spotting," but they're often too light to justify using a tampon (much of the time, a very thin pad or even a mere panty liner is adequate). I'd love to be psyched about this convenient turn of events, but I'm having a hard time getting past my concern!

Is it OK to have periods this light for so many consecutive months? And have any other OTC-users experienced this kind of a shift? I just find it odd that it's happening now after so many years on the pill.

Just curious!! :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 07-13-2004 - 12:03pm
Hi caitlin5, welcome back!

Our bodies change as we age so what may be happening is the hormones in your pills are reacting with your changed body chemistry to lighten your periods. I think you should be fine but you might want to have a talk with your doctor and see what s/he says.

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 7:53am
I had that with Loestrin--it's not necessarily unusual. What worried me, when it happened, was not only were they getting lighter, but they were showing up later and stopping sooner! But it's no big deal, you don't have to have much bleeding to "count" as a period, and if you're taking your pills the way you're supposed to, it shouldn't be a concern. When I switched to a different pill, that all changed again!

Good luck!

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