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abnormal bleeding.
An_245971 posted:
I am having adnormal bleeding in between my periods(usually mid way through). I have been on birth control for about 13 years and I would say a 1 year and half ago this problem started. At first I thought I must of take my pill late. It happen two months in a row and then didn't happen again until about 5months later after I had mentioned it to my doctor and she did not seem phased by it. After that it happens almost every month some months its just a few spots and other times it last for a few days. One month i bleed straight for three weeks. One week being the week when I would have my normal period. I have alot of pressure in my cervic. The blood is usually dark red. I dont always take my pill exactly on time but no more than an hour late. I have recently changed pills as I was not sure if maybe that pill was not longer working. I had gained weight since I got the pill. I am now in my early 30s. I have a sister with endometriosis. Also, my mother went into menopause in her mid-thirties. I have no children and have never been pregnant. I am obesty. This spotting is still happening with the new pill. I am confused because when I look up possible reasons for this abnormal bleeding everything says being on the birth control should help. I am not sure if I should stop taking my pill for a month and re-start it. Or if something is wrong with me.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:abnormal bleeding.I am having adnormal bleeding in between my periods(usually mid way through). I have been on birth control for about 13 years and I would say a 1 year and half ago this problem started. At first I thought I must of take my pill late. It happen two months in a row and then didn't happen again until about 5months later after I had mentioned it to my doctor and she did not seem phased by it. After that it happens almost every month some months its just a few spots and other times it last for a few days. One month i bleed straight for three weeks. One week being the week when I would have my normal period. I have alot of pressure in my cervic. The blood is usually dark red. I dont always take my pill exactly on time but no more than an hour late. I have recently changed pills as I was not sure if maybe that pill was not longer working. I had gained weight since I got the pill. I am now in my early 30s. I have a sister with endometriosis. Also, my mother went into menopause in her mid-thirties. I have no children and have never been pregnant. I am obesty. This spotting is still happening with the new pill. I am confused because when I look up possible reasons for this abnormal bleeding everything says being on the birth control should help. I am not sure if I should stop taking my pill for a month and re-start it. Or if something is wrong with me.
Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:
Dear An: When a woman uses hormonal birth control it can make the lining of the uterus more unstable--so it is easier to have some of it begin to shed. Sometimes the lining is less stable because the hormones make the lining much thinner (actually this is good as a thin lining is a healthy lining). This is one of the most common reasons for erratic bleeding in a long term pill user like your self.
Sometimes the lining is unstable because the hormones can make parts of the lining out of synch. This is the most common reason in new users.
Alas, breakthrough bleeding (BTB) can be a common side effect of most types of hormonal birth control (eg pills/patch/ring/shot/Mirena IUD). Among birth control pill users BTB frequently occurs after a missed or late pill. In your case it sounds like you are generally good about trying to take pills at the same time daily. More remotely, BTB in a pill user can arise if she has gotten a chlamydia infection. Yet, if you both are monogamous this is not going to apply. Neither being obese, nor early menopause is not usually a major risk for BTB. Endometriosis, if it is present in the muscular walls of the uterus, can sometimes prompt erratic spotting--but usually there are bad period cramps and a boggy/tender uterus. Lastly, if there are polyps in the lining of the uterus, these can prompt BTB.
So what to do now? Go back to the GYN. They will likely try you on yet another pill. If the BTB persists they may investigate for polyps of the uterine lining. Endometriosis of the walls of the uterus is very difficult to diagnose; it is usually found at hysterectomy (and I would NOT advise that!). I would see your GYN before considering stopping and restarting your pills. I hear what you are saying, but I am not sure it would guarantee a fix.
Yours,
Jane
Sometimes the lining is unstable because the hormones can make parts of the lining out of synch. This is the most common reason in new users.
Alas, breakthrough bleeding (BTB) can be a common side effect of most types of hormonal birth control (eg pills/patch/ring/shot/Mirena IUD). Among birth control pill users BTB frequently occurs after a missed or late pill. In your case it sounds like you are generally good about trying to take pills at the same time daily. More remotely, BTB in a pill user can arise if she has gotten a chlamydia infection. Yet, if you both are monogamous this is not going to apply. Neither being obese, nor early menopause is not usually a major risk for BTB. Endometriosis, if it is present in the muscular walls of the uterus, can sometimes prompt erratic spotting--but usually there are bad period cramps and a boggy/tender uterus. Lastly, if there are polyps in the lining of the uterus, these can prompt BTB.
So what to do now? Go back to the GYN. They will likely try you on yet another pill. If the BTB persists they may investigate for polyps of the uterine lining. Endometriosis of the walls of the uterus is very difficult to diagnose; it is usually found at hysterectomy (and I would NOT advise that!). I would see your GYN before considering stopping and restarting your pills. I hear what you are saying, but I am not sure it would guarantee a fix.
Yours,
Jane
Report This| Share this:abnormal bleeding.Dear An: When a woman uses hormonal birth control it can make the lining of the uterus more unstable--so it is easier to have some of it begin to shed. Sometimes the lining is less stable because the hormones make the lining much thinner (actually this is good as a thin lining is a healthy lining). This is one of the most common reasons for erratic bleeding in a long term pill user like your self.<br /><br />Sometimes the lining is unstable because the hormones can make parts of the lining out of synch. This is the most common reason in new users.<br /><br />Alas, breakthrough bleeding (BTB) can be a common side effect of most types of hormonal birth control (eg pills/patch/ring/shot/Mirena IUD). Among birth control pill users BTB frequently occurs after a missed or late pill. In your case it sounds like you are generally good about trying to take pills at the same time daily. More remotely, BTB in a pill user can arise if she has gotten a chlamydia infection. Yet, if you both are monogamous this is not going to apply. Neither being obese, nor early menopause is not usually a major risk for BTB. Endometriosis, if it is present in the muscular walls of the uterus, can sometimes prompt erratic spotting--but usually there are bad period cramps and a boggy/tender uterus. Lastly, if there are polyps in the lining of the uterus, these can prompt BTB.<br /><br />So what to do now? Go back to the GYN. They will likely try you on yet another pill. If the BTB persists they may investigate for polyps of the uterine lining. Endometriosis of the walls of the uterus is very difficult to diagnose; it is usually found at hysterectomy (and I would NOT advise that!). I would see your GYN before considering stopping and restarting your pills. I hear what you are saying, but I am not sure it would guarantee a fix.<br /><br />Yours,<br />Jane
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