What's going on?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
What's going on?
4
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 12:05pm
I went off of my birth control five weeks ago. I have not had my period yet. I also was at the doctor last week, I had a pap smear test done on Tuesday and a pap smear test done on Friday (not related to this question, the tests were for something else). After getting both of the test done, I bleed a little, maybe for like 30 minutes and it was a lot of blood, just a teensy amount, and it was more brown colored than red colored. Can anyone explain what is going on? Is my period just messed up because I went off of the pill? Am I pregnant? (I should note that I took a pregnancy test a week ago and it was negative). Anyone got any thoughts? Thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-14-2005
Wed, 09-06-2006 - 12:20am
i don't really know your situation, and i'm by no means an expert, but i have been on and off of BC a few times. i never had regular periods to begin with, but when i went off the pill it took me a long time to get my period. i went off of it a little before halloween, and didn't get my period until christmas day. then the next one i got wasn't until mid-april, then early july. its normal for your body to take a while to get back to normal after going off the pill, though i don't know why you would bleed after a pap.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-06-2006 - 7:42am

Bleeding after a pap can be common.

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2003
Wed, 09-06-2006 - 11:13am

If you’ve been using other birth control, I probably wouldn’t worry. However, if you haven’t, you could be pregnant. I went off the patch last year and bled as usual 3 days after stopping the patch. I got a + test 36 days (or 5 weeks) after stopping the patch but a – test when I took it 4 weeks after stopping the patch.

I’d test again in a few more days if you haven’t been using any form of birth control and have been sexually active.

I know it is normal to spot after a pap test.
Good luck,
Holly

Holly
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2006
Fri, 09-08-2006 - 6:48pm
Did you mean to say it was "not" a lot of blood? A little bit is normal and blood mixes with oxygen (in the air) it turns brown so that's ok.
I'd guess you'll just need to give it a little more time.
Honestly, the thing that gets my period started when it's late is having sex. Ejaculate has proglastalins (not sure if spelled right) in it, the same things that are used to ripen the cervix to get labor started, so that (plus maybe the movement is stimulating?)
helps me.