Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Extra Periods While on the Birth Control Pill | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
What is wrong with me?! I am on Estrostep FE, and in the past two months I have had my period four times--twice at the regular time, exactly when I am supposed to get it, and twice about half way between. The "extra" periods are not normal looking to me, kind of darker red or brown even with a kind of tissue like substance in it. I have no idea what is going on...I don't think this is a sign that I could be pregnant, however I did have unprotected sex about a week before my first "extra" period. Please shed some light, I don't know what I should do.— Therese in NJ | | | ANSWER |
January 17, 2002 | | | Dear Therese,
While it isn't likely that you are pregnant, a home pregnancy test will get you a quick answer to that question. What you are probably experiencing is breakthrough bleeding, when the balance of the hormones of your pills allows the uterine lining to get so thin that it just starts to bleed on its own. Lo-Estrin is a great pill, but it is very low-dose, and about 20 percent of women who take it will get some breakthrough bleeding. Infection of the cervix with chlamydia, as well as dysplasia or cancer, can cause bleeding. But those are pretty rare causes, so just be sure that your Pap test and cultures are up to date.
I recommend contacting your doctor or nurse practitioner so she can assess your individual situation and make decisions about changing your pill, or adding some extra estrogen for a few weeks. Usually this will resolve the breakthrough bleeding, although sometimes it does recur in the future, requiring further hormonal adjustments. Most of the time, we can find the pill that is right for each woman. Good luck to you.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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