Bleeding between periods & on the patch!! - Birth Control Message Board

mandeline04 · 01-02-2005, 12:26 PM

I have been on the ortho evra patch for over a year now & just recently started bleeding between my periods! It's not like a period but it's more like a brownish discharge that is very light. Is this normal or could it possibly mean that I'm pregnant? Someone please help me out here & give me some info, I'm worried to death!!!!!! THANKS

Mecpcpj · 01-02-2005, 02:25 PM

It's probably just breakthrough bleeding. Breakthrough bleeding can be red, like your period or it can be thick and brownish. Think of it as old blood that's coming out. Sometimes, after you've been on a certain birth control method for a while it's not strong enough hormones for you anymore. You may want to switch to something else to stop the breakthrough bleeding as it will probably continue to occur every month.

mandeline04 · 01-05-2005, 06:31 AM

So should i just wait & see what happens for the next couple months or has anyone ever had this happen to them & it be that they are pregnant? It's just never happened to me before,and although it makes sense that my body is just used to the hormones...i'm worried sick! Im supposed to have my period next week, so what do you guys think??

Rms11 · 01-05-2005, 09:01 AM

Breakthrough bleeding is very common on the patch. Although it usually happens within the first few months of use, it can occur anytime while using it. Since you are having this problem...if it continues you may want to talk to your doctor about switching, maybe this dosage of hormone and this form of b/c isn't for you. Since you are worried about pregnancy, you could always take a test to ease your mind. Take care and good luck with everything.

mandeline04 · 01-11-2005, 06:56 PM

okay guys, i'm really starting to freak out here. i know the only way that i can be sure if i'm pregnant or not, is to take a blame test....but i haven't done that yet...just want some more advice from you all!....ok i first made the post a little over a week ago i guess, i started having some bleeding in the middle of my cycle, not like aperiod, but just a brown type discharge...i did it for about 4 or 5 days then stopped. then i started it again on sunday night. well sunday started my patch off week...i'm supposed to start this week, i normally start on tues or wed, and have every time i've had my period the whole year and a half i've been on the patch. well i started doing the brown dischage type thing sunday night, then it turned more into a red blood by monday morning but only when i wiped would it be there, not like a continuous flow liek a normal period. today i have done the same thing and this is tuesday. and about an hour ago it stopped! so what is going on?....has anyone out there had this happen? please let me know, i might, if it was breakthrough bleeding could i just not have a period this month?...or what might it be? i need some info please....if anyone has some. i know i'm dying here and there's nothing really to get so upset over since i'm supposed to start tonight or tomorrow.....but just curious to know if anyone else out there has experienced this! HELP?????