Missed Birth Control Pills - Help!

Avatar for berly90
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2004
Missed Birth Control Pills - Help!
3
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 10:41am
I have been on Orth Tri Cyclen for almost 5 years. Well last week I was really bad, and forgot to take several of my pills, at least 4 in a row. So I just started taking them when I realized it. Needless to say, since I was so far behing, I got my period. That's normal - you bleed if you miss more than 3 pills. Here is what's weird. I thought I finished my period. Then I started my next, new pack of pills, and I started bleeding again. Does anyone know what is going on? It's not really heavy bleeding, but I do need to wear a tampon. Is this happening because I missed so many pills in a row?

Please help!

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 12:37pm
Hi Kim, welcome!

You lost your protection and won't get it back until you have taken at least 7 active pills consecutively and correctly. I hope you have been using back-up! I think if you miss that many pills the manufacturer usually recommends throwing away the old pack and starting over. It will tell you in the patient information that comes with your pills.

Your bleeding is probably because you have confused your body with the stopping and starting of hormones. It should sort out what it wants to do in a few days if you continue to take your pills on time. If you have problems remembering your pill time you can set the alarm on a watch or a reminder message on a cell phone, PDA or computer to jog your memory. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2003
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 12:47pm
Kim-

I am not an expert or anything, but it sounds like missing your pills is the answer to your prob. Obviously, when you miss that many in a row, you can't take them at one time to catch up like if you just missed one. Since your body is programmed to start menstration when the hormones are taken away, it was just doing what it thought it was to do and so you had your period. How long after starting your new pack did you start to bleed? If it was close to the start, then it was probably your body out of whack from not staying in the normal routine. If it was a week or two, it could still be that same reason, but if you are still having complications when your next period comes around, talk to your gyno. Hope everything evens out for you.

staci

Avatar for berly90
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2004
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 4:48pm
Jill,

Thanks so much for the information! This puts my mind at ease. I'm sure you're right, and I've remembered to take my pills correctly since I started the new pack Sunday. I will be sure to from now on. I've been on it 5 years and never that careless, so I got a little nervous.

I told my boyfriend no lovin' until I had the pill situation straigtened out!

Thanks again,

Kim