i'm still bleeding

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2004
i'm still bleeding
3
Fri, 08-27-2004 - 10:59am
hello ladies,

i read on another message board that you all are the best!

i have a question, and i hope you guys can help me!!

i was othro-cyclen, and decided to switch to Ortho Evra (the patch).

last thursday (08/19/04) i got my period, and put the first patch on, i haven't had any other side effects (except some "dryness") but i'm still bleeding...a little bit, but it's there. and yesterday, i took that patch off, and put on a new one.

sorry if this sounds graphic, but you've all probably heard it all. when i wipe, there's still traces of blood, and when i pee, there's "drops" of blood in the water.

i'm getting a little scared, cause it's never lasted this long, and it's so light.

what could this be? i have a healthy sex life with my hubby.

another thing that started yesterday, and i don't know if it's linked with this, i was getting a sharp pain on my lower abdomen (left side). kinda like if someone were poking me from the inside.

thanks in advance for all your help!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Fri, 08-27-2004 - 12:03pm
Just speaking from personal experience as I've tried just about every BC pill out there, I had the same thing as you when I was on Ortho Tri-cyclen and when I tried the Depo shot. I was on my period for a month w/ the ortho (only took the pills for about a week), and I spotted every day for a year after getting two Depo shots (my dr. told me the spotting would go away with the second shot but after it didn't I quite getting them and it still took 9 months to stop!) Everyone's body reacts differently to the hormones and the different levels in each different kind of BC. Your body could just be adjusting to the different hormone levels in the patch and it could take up to 3 months to get used to it. Or you may just have to switch to a different form of BC if your body can't regulate the amount of hormones in the patch. But as far as needing to be worried about continuing to spot for long periods of time, the only thing you would need to worry about is anemia (low iron) and it doesn't sound like you are bleeding enough for that to be an issue. If you want some reassurance though you might just call your dr.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 08-27-2004 - 12:24pm
Hi nattybnice, welcome!

Irregular bleeding is a very common side effect for the first 3-4 cycles when beginning or switching hormonal methods/pills. So I don't think the bleeding is of concern. I don't know what the side pain might be. It might be a good idea to mention it to your doctor. I hope you're feeling better soon. Thanks for posting. Let us know how you like the patch, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2004
Fri, 08-27-2004 - 12:47pm
thank you guys sooooo much! i really appreciate all you comments!

i'll be waiting....to see what happens.