Why do we still get our period while on birth control?
The bc pills are supposed to fool our bodies into thinking that we are pregnant. If that is the case, then why do we still have our periods? Some women say that the bleeding is not really our periods, but breakthrough bleeding. But if the bleeding is not our periods, then why do we still get menstrual cramps? This is so confusing. So do we get our periods when we're on birth control? Or is that some kind of 'fake' period?
Re: Why do we still get our period while on birth control?
The pill supresses your natural menstruation, and all you are experiencing while on the pill is a withdrawal bleed that is brought on by the sudden drop in hormone levels during your placebo week. I know this is very confusing, and it's unfortunate that the doctors don't take more time to explain this to you.
During a natural menstrual period, the ovaries are signalled to shed the lining of the uterus in preparation for ovulation to occur between 10-18 days later (depending on the woman). This is all a completely natural thing that is how women are supposed to menstruate.
For a woman who is on the pill, there is never a natural menstrual period. Rather, the pill tricks the body into thinking it's already pregnant and therefore should not be ovulating. The 7-day placebo break that is at the end of the pill pack is there to help the woman to shed her lining, although it's an artificial shedding that is brought on simply because the hormone levels in the pill are suddenly dropped in that placebo week. It has nothing to do with the body's natural tendency toward a menstrual bleed.
Breakthrough bleeding and spotting can occur when there is not a high enough estrogen level in the pill that the woman is taking. It happens because the level of hormone in the body is not enough, and therefore causes the fake bleed to occur.
I hope that helps to explain this a little better. Your doctor really should have explained all of this to you before giving you the pill, but unfortunately, they just don't care enough about their patients to ensure they are fully informed about their meds before prescribing them.
Re: Why do we still get our period while on birth control?
If it' withdrawal blood when we're on the pill, then why do we still get cramps? I mean, if our bodies think its pregnant, then there shouldn't be any cramps, right?
Sorry for all the questions, this is indeed very confusing.
Re: Why do we still get our period while on birth control?
Cramps are often a sign of zinc and magnesium deficiency. Repeated clinical studies have proven that the pill dramatically depletes the body of these essential nutrients, which causes the uterine muscle to cramp. By incorporating these essential nutrients, it should help make cramps less bothersome.
Additionally, the sudden drop in hormones which causes your uterine lining to shed also causes your uterus to cramp. Hormone flucuations will cause cramps, that's why women still have cramps while on the pill.
Re: Why do we still get our period while on birth control?
The whole 'fooling your body into thinking it's pregnant' idea is a very very over-simplified explanation of what's going on. Many women still ovulate while on the pill (but don't get pregnant for other reasons) and the uterus still goes through the phase of building up the lining. When you stop your pills (or take the placebos), your body is signalled that it is not pregnant, and that it is time to shed the lining, just like a real period. It is not breakthrough bleeding - that is when you bleed at any time during your cycle other than your period. Some people call it "withdrawal" bleeding. But regardless, it is still your period, because your uterus is going through the process of shedding the lining. This sometimes involves cramps. Most women have normal cycles including menstruation because the hormones only do certain things, and are not strong enough to totally suppress the everything (ovulation and menstruation).
