newbie to seasonale

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2006
newbie to seasonale
4
Sun, 04-02-2006 - 9:04pm
I just started seasonale about 5 weeks ago and im not a happy camper. It feels like i have been having break through bleeding for a month. First it was a lil spotting and now its like regular period. If i dont take the pill anymore will my real period come and then go after 5 days or will i bleed for another month? Or should i switch to another brand with no breaks in between? This is the first time im on birth control pills and not happy at all..
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 04-02-2006 - 10:26pm

Hi pinksunflower76, welcome!

I’m sorry you are having a bad time with Seasonale. Irregular bleeding is a common side effect when starting or switching BCPs and that is especially true when starting Seasonale because it has 84 active pills in a row. It can take as long as 3 extended cycles for a new user’s body to adjust to taking that many active pills without mid-cycle bleeding.

Often bleeding during the first 3 extended cycles on Seasonale can be controlled by stopping your active pills for a few days to get your period then beginning the actives again. That way you should be able to build up your tolerance over time so that you are able to go for longer and longer on active pills without bleeding. The only caution when stopping periodically that way is that you should take at least 21 active pills in a row before stopping so that you are protected during your hormone free intervals of not more than 7 24-hour days.

Since you are new to hormonal contraceptives you might want to read several of the posts in our FAQs about how the pill works, common pill side effects, irregular bleeding and taking your pills correctly.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have more questions please let us know. I hope Seasonale will work well for you once you adjust to it. Please come back and let us know how things are going, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2006
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 12:18pm
When I switched to seasonale, I had break through for 8 weeks (two pages of the pack) It finally went away. I've been on seasonale for over a year now and haven't had a problem since.

~Debbie~

   

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2006
Wed, 04-05-2006 - 1:29am
The same exact thing is happening to me right now, atleast I know I am not alone. I am sitting here debating whether to keep taking it. Let me know if you find anything out
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2006
Sun, 04-09-2006 - 10:48am
well i finally called up my ob/gyn and told her the problem. she said it does happen but if im not happy she will prescribe me a new pill...which she did..so i got off of this one..just had my regular period and now the first time im not spotting..lol...and going to start ortho tricyclen next month. she told me to start sunday..but i just dont want to have any spotting if it occurs with this one as well to happen...maybe next month..