Is my Pill no longer protecting me?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2006
Is my Pill no longer protecting me?
2
Wed, 06-14-2006 - 4:29pm
I have been on Ortho-tri-cyclen for a little over 2 years. For quite some time, I have experienced spotting a few days before my period starts. The spotting gradually shifted to happening about a week before, then it would go away, and then my period would come. Before my last cycle, I had red spotting a week and a half before my period, which turned brown and lasted about 2 more days. My period came as normal. This time, I had one day of red spotting (like one wipe of bright red) a week before. Then yesterday, as is usual, I had the brown spotting which always signals the start of my actual period on the Wednesday of the placebo week. But it's 4:30 and so far, no AF. There have been tiny traces of red when I wipe, but I don't think it's period blood- my boyfriend and I had sex this morning, and I'm always usually dry right before my period, so I think it's just blood from that, since it hurt a little bit to get started. I know that your body can "get used" to the Pill, which can cause pre-period spotting, but does that mean that I'm no longer protected by it? I asked for help during the last cycle when I had bright red spotting (and thought it was implantation bleeding), and I was told not to worry about it, and to see what happened this next cycle- but am I too late? My boyfriend and I are in a monogamous relationship, so I only use the Pill, but I'm RELIGIOUS about taking it, so I know the spotting is not caused by me screwing up the pill.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Wed, 06-14-2006 - 5:31pm

Hi

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2006
Wed, 06-14-2006 - 5:44pm
Thanks for your response. I haven't been sick or had diarrhea lately. And I haven't been losing weight or taking any medications/supplements, etc. So I really really hope AF comes today or tomorrow. I had it happen once when it didn't come until Thursday, but we'll see, I guess.