I've taken birth control for years and have never witnessed any spotting or any of those symptoms before last week. I was taking the normal pills and two days before I was done I got my period or spotting, don't know which because it's always light.

Mild cramping but it is every month.

Lately I've gone on a health kick and take a multi vitamin with extra B vitamins and fish oil. I eat less processed foods and drink more water. I did a quick search and couldn't find any reason for the spotting. Should I be alarmed? Is this something that happens when a drastic change happens to the body? Is something more serious going on?

Sorry if this is graphic/nasty, I'm kind of alarmed.

3/18/2007 8:50:35 PM

not taking it

[Edited on March 18, 2007 at 8:53 PM. Reason : jk, i know that was smart-ass.. ]

3/18/2007 8:52:18 PM

If you've been [spotting], its time to let your [menstruation] know you mean businesses. Contact the [doctors'] offices of TWW, and let our group of distinguished [health] professionals go to work for you.

edit: In all seriousness, sounds like a trip to a GYN is in order.

[Edited on March 18, 2007 at 8:58 PM. Reason : ]

3/18/2007 8:57:33 PM

Break through bleeding is generally considered to be fairly normal with birth control. Sometimes people require a higher dosage of hormones in order to stop the spotting if it is an annoyance. But I really don't know what could cause spotting after taking BC for so many years without any problems.

^^Is right, however. If you don't take your pills at the same time every single day and you're off by too much, it can cause spotting.

[Edited on March 18, 2007 at 8:58 PM. Reason : .]

3/18/2007 8:57:54 PM

i don't understand any of htis.

3/18/2007 8:58:07 PM

I'm off only by a few hours if that.

It's alarming because I've never had this problem. However, I have made lots of drastic changes to my diet/health within the last week or two and wonder if that's the cause.

MY yearly check up is around the corner, I may just go earlier.

I bought the One-A-Day Weight management multi vitamin, dunno if it has anything to do with it.

3/18/2007 9:04:06 PM

I have had this problem before. Switch medications and that should do it. I have to switch every couple of years. I guess my body gets usded to it. Also, continualy taking pills and skipping periods will do this too. Make sure you let your body have a period every month.

3/18/2007 9:09:36 PM

I've been pn this type of pill for almost a year and have never skipped a period.

3/18/2007 9:17:04 PM

It sounds like the diet change is what has done it for you though. If the diet change is going to be permanent, it would be worth it to discuss the level of hormones you are on with your doctor. I use Ortho Tri Sprintec, and have for years, and have never had issues with spotting. When I tried other doses, such as OrthoLo or Yasmin, I had a lot of problems with spotting and cramping. When I experience a lot of stress or exercise or my diet changes, it'll throw off my period, not with spotting, but it may come sooner or later than expected, or be shorter or longer. I wouldn't think it's something to worry about though, no reason to push up your appointment just for that.

3/18/2007 9:19:21 PM

Cool thanks, that sounds similar to my situation. Yasmin made me psycho, that was hormone overload. This one is awesome until jsut recently.

3/18/2007 9:20:31 PM

yeah, Yasmin really messed me up, I was moody and paranoid... just ask the bf, I would randomnly break down and cry for absolutely no reason!

3/18/2007 9:25:26 PM

haha I was paranoid too. I got on his case for thinking about looking at another girl. It was insane, I'm glad he stuck through that.

I never cried as much as I did that year.

3/18/2007 9:26:37 PM

Yeah, she was loco for awhile there.

3/18/2007 9:31:29 PM

Hmm, I'm a BC afficionado, and the only time I've had spotting is if I don't take it at exactly the same time. Seriously, if I'm 30min to an hour off I'm in for a world of pain the next day. Generally extreme weight loss/gain will make your period out of whack, so if that's the case it's possible. As for the one-a-day, I took the women's ones and they gave me morning sickness, weirdest thing ever. Tried the GNC women's vitamins and they did the same thing, so something in them doesn't like me at all.

3/18/2007 9:39:32 PM

If your pills are generic and the pharmacy switched the brand, that may have caused the spotting. Even though the generics are supposed to be all the same ingredients, they can vary slightly and a switch of brands can cause spotting. Eckerds is really bad about chaning generic brands.

3/18/2007 9:53:41 PM

You're also losing weight, right? I lost about 15 pounds, and my period got kinda out of whack with spotting for a month and then went back to normal. Definitely talk to a doctor, but you shouldn't be very alarmed, just a little concerned.

3/18/2007 9:55:40 PM

It is generic, Target pharmacy. Same bright orange pills though.

I've lsot roughly 13 lbs so far....soooooooooo

[Edited on March 18, 2007 at 10:01 PM. Reason : tjghjgyj]

3/18/2007 9:56:01 PM

I would call the advise nurse at your GYN's office and see what she has to say. That phone call will keep you from worrying until your appointment. I bet it's just time for a new pill.

3/18/2007 10:00:07 PM

spotting is a common side effect. it doesn't indicate any major problems, but ask a doctor about it anyways.

3/18/2007 10:43:20 PM

^ exactly

i am sure somone has already said it but medications, namely antibiotics, can fuck up BC. Specifically make it not work

3/18/2007 10:51:58 PM

yeah, you need to triple check on that kind of thing, because docs don't always know what they're talking about

(or they're filthy anti-birth control prolife liars)

3/18/2007 10:57:02 PM

birth control is never 100%

Conan had a vascetomy and he still got Theresa pregnant.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1120AP_Monkey_Business.html

3/18/2007 11:03:36 PM

[Edited on March 18, 2007 at 11:59 PM. Reason : ///]

3/18/2007 11:59:07 PM

gross

[Edited on March 19, 2007 at 12:27 AM. Reason : .]

3/19/2007 12:27:11 AM

I <3 my IUD. It sucked for the first month, but after that ... no period, no breakthrough, nothing except once in a while a day or so of mild cramps with nothing to show for it. It's awesome.


Before the IUD I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen ... any small change in time of day or in diet caused problems with how I felt, when I'd bleed/how long/how much, and if I had spotting. It SUCKED.

3/19/2007 12:52:33 AM

No spotting here

3/19/2007 1:43:08 AM

TWW spottings

3/19/2007 1:45:36 AM

Nuva Ring

3/19/2007 6:57:00 AM

Quote :

"I <3 my IUD. It sucked for the first month, but after that ... no period, no breakthrough, nothing except once in a while a day or so of mild cramps with nothing to show for it. It's awesome. "

I was gonna chime in about an IUD, but you beat me to it

3/19/2007 8:23:45 AM

as you get older, your period will change. Also, your new health habits could play a roll. You could also have a mild infection that is causing hte spotting.

I read some where recently that women on the pill do not have a real period. The pill prevents the build up of a "real" lining. When you go off the pills for a week, you are shedding the mini lining.

3/19/2007 9:51:36 AM

Yaz Rx birth control, it made my periods completely stop...so I've stopped taking it, but I have a new one that I am supposed to start soon. It also made me lose weight

3/19/2007 10:34:51 AM

They may just need to change the dosage (just like with any medication the estrogen levels vary)..some women need more than others, and your body can become "immune" to the level you are using...its pretty common actually...especially if you have been taking the same birth control. I can't take it at all...any dose is too much for me, and I get too sick...

It will be a simple fix at the OBGYN!

3/19/2007 10:48:10 AM

doesn't seem like something to worry about. I've done lots of research and tried using it multiple times, but it just doesn't work with me. But in my research, it's common for changes in your weight or amount of exercise to affect your period on BC just as it would off of BC. This would be my guess. Also, if it's just light spotting, GYNs usually suggest that you keep on the same pill for another 1-3 months to see if it continues. Usually your body will adjust and there will be no need for a switch. Also, I would think that your period/spotting would have been induced by the weight loss more so than the actual taking of vitamins. On the other hand, asking your GYN can't hurt. I hope things get better soon for you.

3/19/2007 10:56:56 AM

Quote :

"What could cause birth control to fail?"

For Pills
> Taking it at irregular times or missing pills
> Taking certian common anti-biotics that affect the body's ability to take in the hormones
> Any stomach illness (vomiting, mudbutt, etc...) that prevents the pills from staying in the body long enough to be taken in.
> Some funky change in your body that would prevent them from being effective (only your doctor could spot/predict this)
> Some herbal supplements (St. John's Wart and others) have been shown to inhibit uptake of birth control hormones

If you have worries about these sorts of things, consult your doctor.

3/19/2007 11:12:03 AM

I've noticed that I'll spot if someone I have regular contact w/ is on their period. I'm on the 3 month pill, so I seem to be sensitive to hormones when I havent had a period in a while

3/19/2007 2:37:01 PM

Quote :

"mudbutt"

LOL

3/19/2007 4:33:44 PM