Very Worried!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2004
Very Worried!
1
Wed, 07-06-2005 - 11:27am
Ok so here is whats going on. Saturday June 4th me and my boyfriend had unprotected sex. Well we had the spermacidal film but other then that nothing. So Tuesday June 7th I went to Planned Parenthood and took the morning after pill. Sunday June 12th I started my period and it was a day early and heavy but they said the pill would effect my period. So being dumb again me and my boyfriend had unprotected sex again on Sunday June 19th. The next Monday, the 20th, I went back to Planned Parenthood and took yet another dose of ECP. June 27th I started my period again, two weeks early, and it was very light and lasted about three days. So I called Planned Parenthood and they told me that this was probably because I took two doses so close together that it was normal for my period to be off for awhile. Then I called my PCP and she told me the same as Planned Parenthood and told me to start my birth control pills sunday the 3rd. So Sunday I started my pills and then last night, July 5th, when I went to the bathroom I was bleeding as if I started my period again. If this was actually my period starting then I would only be 4 days early. I'm not having any unsual pain and the period is still light so could this just be the period finishing up or something? They said my period would be off because of the ECP. Is that what is happening here? I took a pregnancy test about 3-4 days ago and it was negative. I have had periods before that started for 3 days, stopped, then started again a couple of days later. How is me taking the birth control now going to affect my period?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: me333206
Wed, 07-06-2005 - 5:32pm

Hi me333206, welcome!

(NB: This was my reply to your identical post on the Birth Control board)

>>I called my PCP and she told me the same as Planned Parenthood and told me to start my birth control pills sunday the 3rd. So Sunday I started my pills and then last night, July 5th, when I went to the bathroom I was bleeding as if I started my period again. If this was actually my period starting then I would only be 4 days early. I'm not having any unsual pain and the period is still light so could this just be the period finishing up or something? They said my period would be off because of the ECP. Is that what is happening here? <<

If your last period began on June 12th then you were very late in your cycle starting BCPs and this cycle was complicated by the EC you took so it is impossible to say for sure exactly what is going on. But, it is very common to have irregular bleeding when starting or switching BCPs so that may be what is happening. It usually takes about 3 cycles for your body to adjust to the hormones so you may have side effects for a few weeks while adjusting. And, since you started your pills on a day other than the first day of your period you should be using back-up for at least the first week of pills. This board recommends that when starting BCPs back-up be used for the entire first cycle while you learns to take your pills correctly so if Aunt Flo doesn’t show when expected or is different in duration or consistency you won’t have a pg freak-out.

>>I have had periods before that started for 3 days, stopped, then started again a couple of days later. How is me taking the birth control now going to affect my period? <<

What usually happens when a woman is taking her BCPs correctly, is that her cycles are controlled by the hormones in her pills. Normally her cycles become regular and her periods become shorter and lighter but not always. It can take 3 to 5 cycles for your period to settle into a pattern and Aunt Flow should arrive somewhere from the 2nd to 5th hormone free day of your placebo week. Since you are new to hormonal contraceptives you might want to read the posts in the FAQs about how the pill works, common pill side effects, irregular bleeding and taking your pills correctly. Thanks for posting. Come back and let us know how you’re doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill