On pill for 3 years -- now I got my period in the middle of my pill cycle!

Hi everyone,
I've been using Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo for three years now with no side-effects -- basically, my use and experience has been perfect.
Now, however, I've gotten my period in the middle of my pill cycle. I got my regular period at the right time on August 1 and finished about 4-5 days later. Now yesterday, August 19, I got it again -- at first I thought it might be breakthrough bleeding, but it's full-on!
Should I stop my current pack of pills and start on Day 1 with a new pack the day my period is over? Should I continue taking the pills (which I am doing now)?
As a sidenote: I had foot surgery last week, on August 15, and had epidural anesthetic and took a few anti-inflammatory drugs to regulate the swelling of my foot. Could that have had an effect?
I appreciate your help in advance as I am in a country other than where my gyn is so I can't really ask her any questions...

This just happened to me, too. Did you get a response? I'm pretty stressed out, but that's the only thing I can think of that might be a factor.

This just happened to me as well. I have been severely stressed. It sounds like both of you had stress factors too. Surgery would be stressful. I have a call into my GYN right now, when he responds, I will add the feedback here as well. I have been taking the pill for about five or six months now and have had no problems until now. My response was the same, I thought I had breakthrough- but it is a full period. I have had it for four days now. If either of you got responses already, please post them here so I can get more feedback. Thanks!

Did you all hear back from your gyns on this? I was sick this month and am having the same thing happening and would also like to know if I should just stop this pack and start again in a few days.

This just happened to me today for the first time and I have been on the pill for 5 years. I have also had a lot of stress in the past three weeks. I hope that's the major cause. I would appreciate any more info that anyone has heard.

I had this happen to me a few months ago and i just ignored it, i figured i would tell my doctor in a few months when i saw her but it happen again to me now! I am also on Try Cyclen Lo and have been for just over a year.

This just started happening to me for the first time a couple of days ago...If anyone has any feedback it would be greatly appreciated. If stress is the key factor here, that would be good but not knowing is even more stressful so it's probably just making the whole situation worse.

I'm having the same problem. In addition to a full on period the second week of pills, I'm having severe cramps. I am quite stressed out right now so I'm going to the doctor today and I'll give you guys feedback when I get back.

I just got back. The doctor was a bit puzzled herself. She said that the estrogen dose is probably not strong enough. She told me to stop taking the pills that I am right now, wait till the period is over and then start Day 1 of Tricyclen instead of Tricyclen-Lo. Hope that helps.

i stopped my pill after my period now i got my period again i got my period on july 1st and now i got them again on the 12th july,.... is this because i stopped my pill?

im back on the pill again but it has brought a period on when i have finished this pack im getting the bar in my arm i think that will be much wiser.

well i am glad to learn i am not alone. but i wouldnt say i have been stressed lately, just fighting a commonm cold. i dont know who to officially ask, as i am a chicken. but i like the idea of calling my dr.
thanks girls!

i am also on ortho tri cyclen lo and just got my period a week early, a week before the cycle is supposed to end. i am not really that stressed, but i did mess w/ the pills in Oct when i got married so i wouldn't have my friend on my honeymoon, but that was in Oct. I just think being on a low dosage of birth control might be a factor along w/ tricking my cycle. I have been on the pill for 10yrs and it is the first time this has ever happened.

This just happened to me two days ago, I'm on Yasmin, I think it might be from me intentionally skipping it last week, I was supposed to get it last Thursday but I was going away and I didn't want to have it, so I just kept taking my pills like I normally do, now two days ago I started a full blown period, I guess I'm gonna wait a few days and see what happens, or wait until I'm supposed to get it and see, otherwise I'll call the OBGYN

This is happening to me too and I'm on OTL. Did anyone end up being pregnant? I took a test and it was negative, but if I was pregnant the test would be premature as my period really shouldn't have arrived for 6 more days. My stress has gone up a bit as I am quitting my job and my brother got into an accident. But, I don't feel THAT stressed in spite of these things. I just want to know if it could be pregnancy.

this happened to me also. i have only been on the pill for a month, but was a bit surprised that i started bleeding while only on my second pack of active pills. i have been sick with tonsillitis over the last week, and have been under quite a bit of stress, so i am wondering if any kinds of stress to the body (sickness or just normal stress) is what is causing this to happen...

Hi There,

This happens to me also. I am positive that your reriod has started due to the drugs you took for you're surgery. The effectiveness of the pill is reduced by anti-biotics and anesthetics. If you are still concerned consult your doctor, however I wouldn't worry too much.

Lolabelle wrote:

Hi everyone,
I've been using Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo for three years now with no side-effects -- basically, my use and experience has been perfect.
Now, however, I've gotten my period in the middle of my pill cycle. I got my regular period at the right time on August 1 and finished about 4-5 days later. Now yesterday, August 19, I got it again -- at first I thought it might be breakthrough bleeding, but it's full-on!
Should I stop my current pack of pills and start on Day 1 with a new pack the day my period is over? Should I continue taking the pills (which I am doing now)?
As a sidenote: I had foot surgery last week, on August 15, and had epidural anesthetic and took a few anti-inflammatory drugs to regulate the swelling of my foot. Could that have had an effect?
I appreciate your help in advance as I am in a country other than where my gyn is so I can't really ask her any questions...

ooops I meant period :)

I just recently was switched from Kelnor to Ortho Tri Cyclen. I missed 5 pills during the month of April because I couldn't get into the doctor the week before my period. I took my last inactive pill on a Saturday and didn't get to see the Doc until the following Thursday. She changed my pills and told me to take those a week before having any unprotected sex, which hubby and I did. But I was due to have a period this past Saturday and didn't have one. I'm scared that I may be pregnant, but don't know if it's too soon to test or not. Or it could be my body getting used to new pills? Any help or knowledge will be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone,

the same thing has happened to me, unfortunately. at first i was freaking out that it could be pregnancy (even though i've had sex once in 3 months, WITH a condom that didnt break) and i was just spotting the first day then it came on as a full fledged period, cramps and all (havent had them since i started the pill 5 years ago). I took a pregnancy test the first day i saw the spotting which came out negative but again the timing probably wasnt ideal. If my period were on track i should be getting in in a little less than a week from now. I think it was due to the fact that i wasnt havign sex anymore (broke up with my boyfriend) i was very nonchalant about taking my pills, missing days here and there or doubling up more than twice in a week. That's probably why my body freaked out and started bleeding! haha but i can never be sure.. any doctors here??