Breakthrough Bleeding

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2004
Breakthrough Bleeding
2
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 11:57am
Hi everyone. I am currently on Estrostep but I'll be switching to Yasmin next month. My question is about breakthrough bleeding. I've tried a lot of different pills-Ortho-Tricyclene, Loestrin, Ovral, Lo-Ovral-and everything is great for the first three or four months, but then without fail, I get breakthrough bleeding. I take my pills everyday at the same time, so I know that's not the problem. Every time this happens, my doctor switches me to another pill. I'm about ready to give up on the pill all together. I've tried Deopo in the past, and while I didn't have any bleeding while on it, it made me really moody, so I don't want to go back to it. I don't like the ring or the patch (I haven't tried them, but I don't really want to), so at this point I don't know what to do. I've thought about getting my tubes tied, but my boyfriend doesn't want me to because I'm only 28 and he thinks we might want to have more kids someday. A nurse once told me that if I'm having breakthrough bleeding, it means my pill isn't strong enough and I could get pregnant. I would really appreciate any thoughts or ideas anyone has. Thanks!

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 09-21-2004 - 10:15pm
I guess it would depend on the breakthrough bleeding... Are you having regular periods regardless of where you are in your pill cycle? Or is it more like annoying spotting that shows up until your inactive week and then it becomes a regular period? If you're having regular periods regardless of where you are in the pill cycle, that can be an indicator that you're still ovulating. But if it's just spotting, it's likely that the pill is working, but something about it isn't maintaining the lining of your uterus like it's supposed to.

Have you tried any pills other than those you've listed? Have you tried any pills that have less than 30mcg of estrogen in them? It's possible that a lower estrogen dose would help, and even if you tried Loestrin 1/20, what about Mircette? It's got a reasonable amount of a strong progestin and a low estrogen dose. The patch and the ring have lower estrogen doses than most pills, the ring in particular has the lowest estrogen dose on the US market. It's possible that the Yasmin might work, it's got a different kind of progestin that may be different enough to help.

Have you considered barrier methods? While they're not en vogue with a lot of doctors, when used correctly a cap or a diaphragm can be very effective and that whole bleeding issue shouldn't be a problem.

Good luck, I know it's not easy to keep switching pills! Let us know what happens, okay?Judie




Edited 9/21/2004 10:16 pm ET ET by cl-judie_rae

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2004
Thu, 09-23-2004 - 12:32pm
Judie,

Hi and thanks so much for responding to my post. Since I started the Estrostep, my periods have been really light. They have been almost all the brown stuff like you get at the end of your period, with only a little red in them. Sorry, I know that was TMI. I had my last period on the 7th of this month, and it lasted about five or six days. Then I started bleeding on the 20th, and it's been more like a normal period. It looks like it is stopping now. I'm worried because I don't know if this means my pill is not working, and I don't want to get pregnant. I didn't know that when you are on the pill you don't ovulate. I have cramps a couple of weeks before my period is due, I thought this was normal. I really hope the Yasmin works for me. If not, I will try the Mircette. Thanks for your help and advice.

Amy