Prior Birth control users weigh in please (TW MC mentioned briefly )

iceandsnowflakes29 · April 2016

Hey everyone,

Sorry I don't check in much. I'm benched / on a mental health break and have been limiting my time on the bump.

TW m/c mentioned -

I took cytotec for my miscarriage on March 11th. I bled 10 days.

5 days ago I started the mini pill. It is my first time EVER using hormonal birth control.

This morning I started to bleed very very lightly. But more than "spotting".

So my dumb question is- is this CD 1? Or is this "break through bleeding" from birth control pills??

I usually have roaring PMS and heavy cramps, etc. My bleeding was a total shock this morning so I'm not sure what to count this as and I'm not charting since I'm on the pill.

Thoughts? I went ahead and put it in FF which is counting it as CD1 since I marked it as light...

But since this is so different from my norm I'm skeptical? I figured it would be a BRUTAL period post loss but can the opposite happen? When I had my f/u ultrasound to see if this miscarriage wad complete the dr said my lining was super duper thin and there were no remaining POC.

Anyway TIA.

MooFish2364 · April 2016

Sorry, I don't have any advice for you. I've never taken bcp so I can't speak from experience. I just wanted to say welcome back to the Bump!

LCRbelle · April 2016

I've never taken that either. I normally mark it as spotting until I have to use a tampon or pad then I mark it as CD1/light. Maybe you'll just have to wait and see what happens next to determine if it's actually CD1? Sometimes it can be confusing on when it's actually started so I just follow the above rule. Hope that makes sense, I feel like I'm rambling. Lol

Spartanrd4 · April 2016

I took bcp for years but when I first started I was 18 so don't remember exactly what happened when I first started but if I recall spotting in the beginning can happen randomly. My periods on the pill were definitely lighter than they are now off and my cramps are worse now than on bcp. I also took the combination pill (estrogen/progesterone) not the mini pill. Sorry I'm not more help

BornReady · April 2016

I took the mini pill while I was breastfeeding. I never bled while I was on it. I think you will have to wait to see what happens in the next days to see if it continues or is a one day event. what does your doctor think, could you call their nurse line?

roper2617 · April 2016

I get how confusing that is! I had a hard time for a bit after getting off BCP figuring out what it was. For me I would count it as CD 1 if it requires a panty liner change throughout the day.
I would maybe put a note in FF as potentially not CD 1 or something and keep an eye on what happens in the coming days.

Edit to add: I was never on the mini pill, but was on BCP for ~9 years. I can't remember what it was like when I first started on the pill but my getting off the pill is similar to your current situation.

RiverSong15 · April 2016

I was on the mini pill for years prior to TTC. I never had breakthrough bleeding mid-pack and my period always came on a regular schedule. However, it is common for women to have mid-pack spotting, to have much lighter periods, or have periods stop altogether on the mini-pill. I think this is because it's a progesterone-only pill, so there are no placebo pills or an "off" week.

ThePax89 · April 2016

I used to have breakthrough bleeding. It is not cycle day 1. I'm unfamiliar with the workings of the mini pill, however, and would call your doctor.

virginiaham · April 2016

Hey @iceandsnowflakes29 I have little to add but just wanted to send you creepy hugs for your journey the last few months. I didn't pay attention to my periods on HBC (I was taking it to help with acne), but on Mirena they were always very light. Not the same, probably not helpful, but I'd see what it does over the next few days.

iceandsnowflakes29 · April 2016

Thanks everyone. I will see what happens this weekend and I might call my Dr monday if it is still wishy- washy.

Hope everyone has a pleasant weekend

catiecatp · April 2016

I was on BC for years but not the mini pill - I never had break through bleeding and my cycle was like clockwork. But I started taking it in HS for acne and horrible cramps - relative to how I am now I can say that it helped with both of those things and it also made for a much lighter flow. I found that it really helped to take it at a very consistent time - I used to take it at night, say around 9pm - but sometimes as early as 8:30 and sometimes as late as 10:30-11. When I got a new cell phone I programmed in a reminder and found that when I took it within +/- 15 minutes of the same time it worked even better... This might be even more the case with the mini pill because it would be a lower dose than I was on (though I was on a low dose BC).

iceandsnowflakes29 · April 2016

It's definitely a period. Flow picked up but is still lighter than my pre loss CD 1s. I'm not complaining - wonderful "side effect".

@catiecatp I have to take it at the same time or I risk pregnancy (according to my doctor). It's less hormones and less effective and if I'm 3 hrs late with it or more we have to back it up with a barrier method.

I was using a diaphragm and spermicide but we had a sex blunder with it. My husband thought he could feel himself hitting the diaphragm so I switched to the mini pill which I also "back up" with spermicide before intercourse.

Anyway - I'm rambling

Thanks again. I just didn't think my cycle would return so soon (it's been a bit over a month since first day of MC bleeding ).

yolandamunoz · April 2016

Hello @iceandsnowflakes29

i was on birth control for years before TTC and it affected my periods making them milder. Less bleeding, less pain, less days. As soon as I was off, my periods went back to awful. Maybe your body is adjusting.

let us know how it's going
hugs!
-Y

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Prior Birth control users weigh in please (TW MC mentioned briefly )

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