no withdrawal on new pill

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
no withdrawal on new pill
8
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 9:26am
This month I began using Ovcon 35, which was a change for me from OTC. I was having BTB problems on OTC, so my gyn wanted me to try a monophasic. This month, I had about 3 days of light BTB on the beginning of my third week, but that went away. I took my last active pill last Wednesday. It has now been 5 days of no hormones, and I still have not begun to have my period. I took each pill on time this month, and just to be safe, took a HPT this morning. It was negative. I was wondering why I would not be experiencing any withdrawal bleeding this month, especially if I had BTB last week, while still on active pills. Should I be concerned? I will be starting active pills again in a few days, and I'm concerned my body will not have had a withdrawal bleed before I begin next month's round of hormones. Any ideas? Anyone experience this?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 10:13am
My "periods" were always very irregular on the pill. I always counted *any* bleeding as my period for that month, even if it occurred during active pills, rather than the placebo week.

Especially since this is your first month on these pills, I wouldn't be too concerned. Start your next package on time & see what happens next month.

Good Luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 10:16am
I should also add that since the day I took my last active pill, I have been on antibiotics for a bladder infection. Don't know if that will have any effect...
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 11:56am
Do you think I should take another pregnancy test later this week?

Also, I only had sex twice this entire month, once was at the end of last month's inactive pill week, and once was last weekend, using a condom. I really do not think I could be pregnant, but I've never experienced a completely missed period.

If I miss my period, does this mean that my uterine lining is building up right now? Will I ovulate this month?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 12:39pm
I wouldn't spend the money on an hpt, but that is up to you & your peace of mind. Your sexual habits lately really don't make pregnancy sound likely! Remember, an *absence* of bleeding is a possible indication of bleeding, not irregular bleeding (at odd times).

Estrogen will cause uterine lining buildup - that has no effect on ovulation. If you are taking your pills correctly, there is very little chance you will ovulate. Bleeding control & ovulation control are not controlled by the same mechanisms by the pill. (Sorry if this sentance makes little sense, I hope you can understand what I am trying to say.)

You should be fine.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 12:54pm
Thanks for writing back. What does this mean, though...Remember, an *absence* of bleeding is a possible indication of bleeding, not irregular bleeding (at odd times).

Also, I did bleed while I was still on my active pills, which makes me feel like I could not be pregnant. I just think it's weird to not have a period at all this month. I've never skipped a month, whether I was on BCPs or not. Usually, I begin my period almost immediately after I stop taking the active pills.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2003
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 2:37pm
Sorry, bad typing. Meant to say:

Remember, an *absence* of bleeding is a possible indication of pregnancy, not irregular bleeding (at odd times).

Skipped periods do happen, on or off the pill. I always took any bleeding as a sign I wasn't pregnant, even if it didn't happen at quite the right time. (As an aside, not to scare you, I *did* become pregnant on the pill..... all bleeding stopped.)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 7:59am
If you skip your period, you may not have much for uterine lining to get rid of, otherwise you'd be getting rid of it right now, right? Without the progestin to maintain it, if there was much there, it would be deteriorating. Without estrogen, it's not going to be developing until you start taking active pills again. Once you start up again, and you should make sure you start on time, you may find that you have breakthrough bleeding later in the second month, but be prepared for anything in case you do or don't. Some women only bleed every other month when they're on the pill! It would be unnerving for me, but maybe not for others.

Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Wed, 07-28-2004 - 9:30am
Thanks, your reasoning completely makes sense. I guess I'm just scared that I'm pregnant. I honestly only had IC twice last month, and I don't think I could have become pregnant from either of the times. I just don't understand how I could have BTB, and then stop taking my active pills, but not have a period... :-(