Confused--could You Please Answer!!! - Birth Control Message Board

RICH7 · 03-29-2005, 12:50 PM

I am on Yasmine. I have heard that the bleeding you have each cycle while taking birth control pills is just "withdrawl bleeding".....not an actual period.

So...does this mean that if you would happen to get pregnant while on the pill you wouldnt even know it because you would have withdrawl bleeding and not a PERIOD???????? OR would you skip the withdrawl bleeding just like you would a regular period if you got pregnant and that would indicate a problem. OR....would you keep having the withdrawl bleeding and could still be pregnant????????????????????????

I am confused. I hope I didnt confuse you guys.

I am just concerned that in that 1-2% chance of getting pregnant while on the pill....how would you know...if while on the pill you are in IN FACT NOT EVEN HAVING A REAL PERIOD?????

verylongday · 03-29-2005, 01:45 PM

I have to be curious as to the source of your information. I have never heard of "withdrawel bleeding" and have been on the pill for a decade, and had a number of doctors. When you stop taking the active pills, your body sheds the uterine lining just as it would during your period were you not on the pill. Therefore, when you bleed while on BCP, you are having a Period ;-)

Chances are if you are pregant you will not bleed, just as if you were not on the Pill (because that lining is needed for the baby). I do understand that some women spot during pregnancy, and I could see that causing confusion as to whether or not you are pregnant. But in general, on the pill you treat it as if you were not on the pill -- miss a period, take a test to see. If you have your period chances are you are NOT pregnant.

Sugarhi16 · 03-29-2005, 02:44 PM

My Doctor told me that you do not have a real period on the pill because you do not ovulate. Therefore the bleeding that occurs every month happens because you are not taking an active hormonal pill, so you shed the lining as you would without the pill. Essentially you are going through hormone withdrawl and bleed because of it.

That is why pills like Seasonale can work, you just take active pills the 4 week for 3 months and then you can have a period every 4th month. Since it isn't a real period, you don't need to bleed every month, but you must have a period at least every 3 months.

If pregnancy should occur while on birth control you would miss your period entirely becuase the fetus would need the lining.

I'm trying to remember everything my Doctor told me on this subject, when I was inquiring about why Seasonale would work, but I'm not sure if this is all? Maybe someone else can shead more light?

minstey · 03-30-2005, 03:31 AM

Hey im on yasim too! my doctor told me that you get a 'withdrawal period' also! But you will have no bleeding if you are preganant, just like normal! Hope this helps!

rush_rulz · 03-30-2005, 06:13 PM

That is also what my ob gyn told me, that the bleeding isn't a "real" period. I've heard of women who've bled the entire 9 months while pregnant so I've wondered this too but my guess is (and you may not like this) if you were to accidently conceive, you'd probably abort it by continuing to take the pill (on accident of course) as the hormones would be too much for it--unless you missed a dose or something and THEN got pregnant which I've known to happen too...