period on 3rd week of pills - why?

Avatar for mistressskywalker
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
period on 3rd week of pills - why?
3
Fri, 09-29-2006 - 1:47pm

I've been on OTC generics for over a year now and have always gotten my period right when I'm supposed to - during my fourth week of pills (the placebo week). However, last weekend when I was at the end of my second pill week, I started cramping really bad and spotting, and pretty much got my period on Wednesday (on my third week of pills). Has this happened to anyone else? I just don't understand why this would happen now, since I've been taking them for months without incident. I take my pills around 11 p.m. every day and haven't missed any.

My other question is that my b/f and I had sex last night - should I be concerned? DOes this mean my pills aren't protecting me like they should be? Any input would help!
Cheers,
M

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 09-29-2006 - 2:15pm

Hi mistressskywalker, welcome back!


      Jill

    

Avatar for mistressskywalker
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 9:19am
Well I started taking echinachea and some DayQuil that week for a cold... would that have had any impact in your opinion? I have been spotting since last Monday (I just started the placebo week of my pack) and have killer cramps yesterday.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 9:57am

I was taking Vitamin C Supplements a while back while I was on Iron Supplements due to iron deficiency since I had read that this will help with iron absorption. During that time, I had a period of spotting and cramping mid-cycle, and had a heavier than normal period after that.

After doing some research I read somewhere that Vitamin C can affect the way your body absorbs the hormones, however it doesn't affect the effectiveness of the Birth control pills. The problem ceased when I stopped the supplements and I never had a problem again. Maybe that was just sheer luck, but I thought i'd pass it on. If you're taking echinacea supplements, a lot of times they make the pills combo pills that contain Vitamin C as well....

Just a thought...

Laura