Can period start before taking placebos?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
Can period start before taking placebos?
4
Mon, 10-11-2004 - 11:40am
Is it possible to begin your period before you start on the placebo pills in your birth control pack?

I am finshing off only my second pack of BC pills that I have ever taken and I was having some spotting that started about a week ago. I started the placebos yesterday(Sunday), but Friday I was starting to get cramps and had heavier bleeding. Is this my period?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 10-11-2004 - 12:58pm
I would say, yes that happens fairly often, especailly in the early months, with lo dose pills and/or if you are off at ALL on taking them at the same time each day. It should be nothing to worry about unless you take them completly on time and continue to break thru most/every month...you should let your doc know as you might need a different pill to be safe.

Sandy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 10-11-2004 - 11:29pm
Yep, that would be your period. Well, it's technically not a period because you didn't ovulate, but it's bleeding nonetheless.

As Sandy said, the most important thing you can do to try to prevent breakthrough bleeding is to take your pills at the same time every day. If that doesn't work and you still have breakthrough bleeding after 3-4 months on the same pill, then you would call your doctor and talk to them about switching to a different pill. Sometimes it takes a couple tries to get it right!

Good luck--it doesn't mean that your pills aren't working, but you should make sure that you're taking them exactly as directed. That includes not taking anything that may interfere with the absorption of the hormones like certain prescription medications or herbal supplements ( St. John's Wort has been shown to cause problems, diet pills may also), no vomiting or diarrhea within two hours of taking a pill, and sometimes ceasing large doses of vitamin C can cause irregular bleeding.

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 8:15am
I guess I just don't understand how, if the 21 pills that aren't placebos are supposed to suppress your period, then how can my period start when I am still taking those??
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2004
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 9:44am
It`s not really that they suppress your period - they kind of keep the environment in your uterus stable until a fluctuation in hormones (either taking your placebos, missing an active, taking an active late, etc.) signals for the lining to be shed, which is why you may spot or bleed before your placebos. As the months wear on and both your body becomes more used to the hormones in the pills and you become more accustomed to taking them correctly and on time, these fluctations aren`t as likely to occur.