goodmorning, please help.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2004
goodmorning, please help.
5
Thu, 10-21-2004 - 8:14am

hello all, i am new to this board. my question, or really just a check in, i have been on the ring (about 3 or 4 mos.) and not realizing i didn't need to take it out for my annual last week i took it out. that was last friday. well the bad part is that i forgot to put it back in. so, saturday night i am feeling crampy and sunday a.m. i am really emotional, then sunday night i start bleeding. so after a bit i realized i didn't place another ring in. i placed a new one in on sunday evening but have been having what seems to be a period, not just spotting. is this normal? this has never happened to me, so i am a bit nervous about it. i was reading other posts and saw that similar things have happened. i guess i just need some reassurance. thanks.

shell

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 10-21-2004 - 10:27am

Hi shelleygds, welcome!

If you took your ring out for several days mid-cycle then it's normal for you to get your period. What concerns me is that since you didn't keep your ring in for 3 weeks you probably lost your protection during the time you had it out. You should be using back-up for at least the first week your new ring is in until your hormonal protection becomes effective again. Depending on when you had intercourse you might want to consider EC, but EC is only effective for the first 72 hours after the event of concern then somewhat effective for the 4th or 5th days. It would be a good idea to talk with your doctor as soon as you can, explain what’s going on and take his or her advice. Let us know how you’re doing, ok?

Hugs,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2004
Thu, 10-21-2004 - 12:07pm
thanks so much jill for your help. funny thing is my boyfriend and i are not to worried about the protection part. it's mainly the period that is bothering me, it's kindof heavy. do you think i should leave my ring in for the rest of the 2 weeks remaining? I am done with bc after this. i don't know what i will do but this is not fun. so far everyone has told me not to worry about this period and i really appriciate your help. plus i am a smoker so i really should not be on anything until i quit. anyway, thanks for your reassurance, i just really needed to know that it was ok.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 10-21-2004 - 12:24pm

This board usually recommends not stopping the pill, patch or ring mid-cycle unless you are having severe side effects as you are going to bleed again and perhaps for quite a while since you will have confused your body. However, because you’re a smoker it might be best to stop as soon as possible. Let us know what you decide and what other method of contraception you decide to use, ok?

Good luck to you,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2004
Thu, 10-21-2004 - 12:45pm

thanks again jill, i actually did just get in touch with my doctors office. he is not in today but his assitant is amazing. i will let her know what is going on and hopefully dr. carroll can call me later today. if not i will probably make an appointment with him and let him decide what to do. i really don't want to keep bleeding so i think i'll leave it in until i hear from him.

you are great!
shell

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 10-21-2004 - 1:41pm

As Jill probably mentioned, what you're experiencing is very likely a result of having your ring out for several days. The drop in hormones allows the lining of the uterus to become unstable, just as it does during your ring-free week. You may bleed like a normal period, or it might stop earlier because the new ring may help stabilize things again.

Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control