early period while on Birth Control

I am on Lutera (generic BC pills) and I started my period a full week early.

My concern is whether I should skip the rest of the white pills and take the green ones while on my period... and then start the next pack the day after it stops.

If I continue to take my pills normally... I will taking the green pills during the week AFTER my period... that will leave me unprotected during the most critical week, right?

My instinct is to skip the rest of the white pills and start the new pack as soon as my period stops, but I am not certain this is the correct action.

Tonya

Take the pills like you normally would if you weren't having your period at the wrong time. The pill won't leave you unproected during the week after your period because BC works by keeping your body from releasing an egg at all. No egg, no way to get pregnant. However, if it makes you feel better to start a new pack, it won't hurt you (which is only true with monophasic BCs like Lutera, not triphasic like ortho tricyclen) you will just be delaying your next period. DO NOT switch to the green pills just because you are bleeding, this can cause the accidental release of an egg and increase your risk of pregnancy.

the second and third week i was on the patch i was bleeding and i was wanting to know if i was still going to have a period on my patch free week?

For the past few months I have been bleeding for a week before my period. It is nothing major - just a little more than spotting. It usually goes away after a day or so. Then I get my period again the following week for the normal time I get it (4-5days). I have taken pregnancy tests and everything is negative. I have no symptoms. Is it normal to always bleed a week before? I have been on the pill for almost 10 years now, this particular one for 7 years. I heard the walls tend to thin out so that can cause bleeding anyone else heard of this?

Thanks

I have two comments. First to Tonya: I also take Lutera and am having this same problem. It is strange because a few years ago I was on another generic that is the same as Lutera and had no problems. I am going to the Dr. in a few weeks though to look into switching. DO NOT stop taking your regular pills!!!!!

Jenny: Actually, birth control pills DO stop you from releasing an egg. They also increase the thickness of the mucus in your vagina to add an extra layer of protection. Make sure you have your facts straight before posting info! You may confuse other girls who aren't sure about how birth control pills work.

This is untrue. The pill works by stopping ovulation - not by creating a mucus barrier.

Jenny wrote:

The pill doesn't stop you from releasing the egg. It just puts a mucus border over your cervix so that your chances of getting pregnant are much smaller. That's why some people who are on the pill still get pregnant.

Everyone should stop posting information if they don't know what the hell they are talking about, especially on a topic as important as this. If you think you know what your talking about, check it first. However, I thank everyone who posted "information" because it has inspired me to go to a doctor for all my future questions.

sally wrote:

Everyone should stop posting information if they don't know what the hell they are talking about, especially on a topic as important as this. If you think you know what your talking about, check it first. However, I thank everyone who posted "information" because it has inspired me to go to a doctor for all my future questions.

DUH...always consult your doctor. You can usually ask a nurse a question. I imagine they are they for a good purpose.

sally wrote:

Everyone should stop posting information if they don't know what the hell they are talking about, especially on a topic as important as this. If you think you know what your talking about, check it first. However, I thank everyone who posted "information" because it has inspired me to go to a doctor for all my future questions.

It is true that a mucus barrier is created and that you still ovulate. I asked my doctor specifically what happens and that is what he explained to me.

Yeah the same thing happened to me,
I've started my period a week and two days! earlier then expected, I'm a little nervous & I don't know what it could be?..
Do I keep taking my pills as I normally should? Or just take my green ones and skip to the new pack.
Is this normal to be happening?

Im taking Sprintec and this is my first month on it. I just got my period after i took my pill for the day while I still have one hormone pill to take tomorrow. I dont know whether I should still take the other hormone pill tomorrow or not. I haven't missed any pills all month. I thought you couldnt even bleed until after you took the placebo pills for a day or two. So what should I do now?

hi i've been on lutera bcp for several months now and I got my period a week early. I took plan b pills three weeks before and I was wondering if this could be related to that? Im a little worried because it's a sudden change... and the color of the blood is dark-ish red/brown (i know its gross.) tomorrow i go on my sugar pills & im supposed to get my period tomorrow! but im still bleeding from last week!:( help!

I'm on Ortho Tri-cyclen, and I've been on it for a year now. I've never had any problems with it, but today, and yesterday, I've noticed some spotting, and my period isn't due for 3 more days. Is this a bad sign, or should I just blow it off?

Wow, lets not get mean. Here is a good link to check out on how BC works. http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/0663.html

Spotting, or even heavy spotting is normal. Do not stop taking the active pills. Remeber you are putting a hormone in your body. It's going to do different things to you at different times. Just like hormones do cazy thing naturally.

i am on the evra patch and my period came 4 days early and usually it is four days late (or after the patch come off). i am going to take a pregnancy test to be sure that it is my period and not spotting caused by egg implantation. i have two children so i know the signs of a possible pregnancy. the evra patch has been good to me but my last pack had one patch stick to my clothes and i am not sure how long it was ripped off. hopefully this is a hormone thing but i would like one more baby so it may be a blessing.

i'll let you know what happens to me!

Hi, i'm on my 6 month of taking bc pills (alesse) and I skipped my sugar pills and decided to continue taking the active pills so I can skip my period. Right now I'm on my 3rd week of active pills but this weekend I missed 2 pills (I didnt have sex) and Sunday night I got my period. What do I do now? I think I confused the cycle or something because I'm suppose to be on my period next week. What should I do continue taking the active pills?

natalie wrote:

i am on the evra patch and my period came 4 days early and usually it is four days late (or after the patch come off). i am going to take a pregnancy test to be sure that it is my period and not spotting caused by egg implantation. i have two children so i know the signs of a possible pregnancy. the evra patch has been good to me but my last pack had one patch stick to my clothes and i am not sure how long it was ripped off. hopefully this is a hormone thing but i would like one more baby so it may be a blessing.
i'll let you know what happens to me!

Good luck, and I hope it works out the way you want :)

XXAB wrote:

Hi, i'm on my 6 month of taking bc pills (alesse) and I skipped my sugar pills and decided to continue taking the active pills so I can skip my period. Right now I'm on my 3rd week of active pills but this weekend I missed 2 pills (I didnt have sex) and Sunday night I got my period. What do I do now? I think I confused the cycle or something because I'm suppose to be on my period next week. What should I do continue taking the active pills?

Double check with a pharmasist, but I believe you should throw out the pack you are using now and start a new one on your regular start day (most are Sundays, so this Sunday you would start a new pack). I also think it's recomenede to use a back up form of BC for a month just to make sure (I have never done that, and maybe just got luckk).

Allymaeshine wrote:

<quoted text>
Good luck, and I hope it works out the way you want :)

i think it is old aunty flo in for a visit. but i have decided to stop my evra patch. its not making me feel so good physically. i'll go it the old fashioned way. my husband and i really want another baby but it is nice to not be pregnant. i am relieved but if i had been pregnant then it would have worked out. we have survived 2 so far and i think one more at this point would simply mean less sleep and more laundry;)

natalie wrote:

<quoted text>
i think it is old aunty flo in for a visit. but i have decided to stop my evra patch. its not making me feel so good physically. i'll go it the old fashioned way. my husband and i really want another baby but it is nice to not be pregnant. i am relieved but if i had been pregnant then it would have worked out. we have survived 2 so far and i think one more at this point would simply mean less sleep and more laundry;)

Less sleep and more laundry are two of the reasons my husband and I do not have one child yet, lol!:) Our child time line keeps getting pushed back another year (we are 28), and "maybe next year" seems to come into play when we are around out nephews. See, our nephews go home to sleep!:) You never know what the future holds for you.