Help!! Unusual things happening....

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Help!! Unusual things happening....
1
Thu, 03-23-2006 - 9:10am
Since I am on birth control I figured that this would be an appropriate board to post on. I’ve been on the pill for 6 years now and I have had regular periods on it. I am 24 and married and have never been pregnant. I usually get my period on the wed. of the placebo week of pills every month. But this month I started bleeding the Monday of the week before (while still taking active pills, not the placeholder ones) but it wasn’t a "normal" period-like flow. (Sorry for details!!!) But it was "old blood" as in brown and kind of gooey. This has lasted since last Monday and is still going on. If it were a normal month I would have started my period yesterday. I am still bleeding the "old blood" but the normal bright red "period blood" didn’t start. What gives?? Could I be pregnant? I have recently lost some weight and started a rigorous training program to get ready for a 5K. Could this be the culprit? I am very worried. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 03-23-2006 - 4:32pm

Hi peeper759, welcome!

>> I have recently lost some weight and started a rigorous training program to get ready for a 5K. Could this be the culprit? <<

I think your weight loss and training program may very well be what has caused your irregular bleeding. Metabolizing fat during weight loss releases a little estrogen. The additional estrogen can be enough to upset the hormonal balance and cause irregular bleeding for some women on hormonal contraceptives. I think that as soon as your weight stabilizes and your body adjusts to your training the bleeding will stop. Another possibility is that over the years as your body changes the combination of hormones in your present pill may no longer be quite right to keep the lining of your uterus stable while you are on the active pills. If that is what is going on it should not decrease your protection. If you have been taking your pills correctly you shouldn’t have any cause for concern, but if it would make you feel better you could test, just for reassurance.

Thanks for posting. I'm betting that your weight loss and training are the cause of your bleeding. If you have more questions please ask. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill