Breakthru bleeding *sigh*

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2003
Breakthru bleeding *sigh*
7
Sun, 07-30-2006 - 9:03am
i have posted on here previously...needing advice again.
i have been on several pills since arouund 2000.
was on triphasil for about 5 years no probs, then started having btb. changed to OTC, same problem...changed to nordette...changed to yasmin, tried the patch but I did not like how it got loose when I was swimming....changed to loestrin 1/20 (made it worse, I bled for 3/4 weeks a month + a lot of cramping) changed to OTC LO.
the problem is the saem every month (except for when i was on loestrin 1/20) i start bleeding during the third week of active pills and then into the inactive pill week.
was taking OTC lo about a year and tried mircette. similar experience to loestrin 1/20. actually the first month of mircette was perfect, but after that, was miserable. so i went back on OTC lo. it seems like i have the best luck so far with OTC Lo. some months are absolutely fine, like last month, but this month i am bleeding early. I am so tired of this, i want to quit pills altogether but I do not want to be pregnant.
i take it on time every day, except on the weekends i may be 1-2 hours late from sleeping in. on all of the pills i tried, i gave them at least 5 months to 'adjust' (except mircette because I was miserable)
I do nt want to use the ring, even though people love it, i feel uncomfortable about that.
no IUD or shot either.
my annual dr. appt is in 1.5 weeks so i thought i might as well try another switch. here is what i am considering
lo/ovral - heard it is good for BTB.
ortho-cyclen - because it is simliar to OTC LO except more norgestimate + estrogen and OTC LO has given me best 'result' so far...
any thoughts???
thanks in advance!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 07-30-2006 - 10:49am

Hi lions44, welcome back!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2003
Sun, 07-30-2006 - 12:31pm

thanks for the reply. I appreciate the insight.
if i change the time of day i take the pill, should i gradually adjust it, or just start taking at the new time when I start active pills again (this is my inactive week.)

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 07-30-2006 - 2:58pm

If you move your pill time from morning to evening that will lengthen the time between active pills and you will need to be careful, but you have several options:


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2003
Tue, 08-01-2006 - 11:54pm
just out of curiousity though, what do you think about my two other possible picks-ortho cyclen or lo/ovral...or any other ideas?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 08-02-2006 - 12:43am

To start with, I agree with Jill--if you're having trouble with breakthrough bleeding, the first thing to do is to make sure you're taking your pills as close to the same time every day as you can.

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2006
Wed, 08-02-2006 - 11:54pm
I was having the exact same problem and my doctor told me to take vitamin B6. My gyno(as well as my entire university women's health center for that matter) recommends women on birth control take 50 milligrams of vitamin B6 everyday to offset the side effects of birth control such as breakthrough bleeding, breast pain etc. I am starting out doing this now, you may want to give it a shot.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2006
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 10:07am
Thanks for the B6 advice. I've been fretting about starting the bcp because of side effects, but maybe I'll try the vitamin B6 and see if it helps. Thanks again!