Breakthrough bleeding - how long does it take? - Women's Health Message Board

PC82 · 07-03-2004, 09:37 AM

I stopped my Seasonale - the last one I took was on July 1. I stopped it because of 3.5 weeks of breakthrough bleeding that I felt was intolerable. How long after you stop taking bcp will it take for the bleeding to stop and your body return to normal?

Belle2003 · 07-04-2004, 01:09 AM

Your body is having a period. I would think that you would have to go through a complete cycle for your body to be itself again. When I went off the pill mid cycle because I was sick of break through bleeding, I really regretted it.

I had the worst period ever. It was like I was hemmoraging.(spelling?) Wearing pads from spotting seemed so insignificant compared to this. My next period was totally normal and I went to using a diaphram.

PC82 · 07-04-2004, 03:47 PM

Thanks for your reply. Had I just been spotting I would have continued on the pill. This was a full blown change your pad every 2 hours clots included period that I was getting. The pill was supposed to avoid that but it didn't so I stopped it. I now am worried because I've been off the pill for 2 days and I see no change. It is not any worse but it is not any better. If this is my normal period that I'm getting, will I bleed 7-8 days (as I normally did) before it stops? That will make a total of 36 days of bleeding...since June 8. Did I do irrepairable damage to myself in taking a continuous bcp? I should mention I will be 40 in August and I have a fibroid. I've had them before and had a myomectomy 4 years ago to take them out.

I'm just really scared that this isn't stopping. Is a hysterectomy the only answer now.

lannie2006 · 07-05-2004, 07:53 AM

Hi - I will be 40 this year also and also have 2 fibroids. I have them out twice before and they do come back. This could also be contributing to your bleeding problems. I've still yet to figure out if my bleeding problems were from the pill or the fibroids. I would imagine it is a combination of both.

PC82 · 07-05-2004, 07:05 PM

Terri, I've read your stories here too that you've posted. Are you still having bleeding problems with your new pill? how are things going for you now?