Is Delay In Periods Caused Due To Ipill?

Posted on Sun, 19 Jan 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 19 Jan 2014 Answered on

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I took an ipill within around 18 hours of having sex. It was protected, but we had a slight doubt about one of the condoms breaking so I took one. I had some bleeding exactly a week after that. Since I started having sex in September 2013, my cycle's changed and become a 30 day cycle. Its been 30 days since I bled after taking the pill and Im a day late to get my period. It was expected to start on 18th January. I had sex on the day it was expected. Could it be one of the reasons my period has been delayed? Anxious here! :(

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer: DELAY MOSTLY DUE TO I PILL. Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for writing to us with your health concern. IT is very common for cycles to be disturbed after taking the I pill. The normal expected period can be preponed or postponed by upto a week, maybe ten days. Since it has already been a month to the date you took the I pill, please take a pregnancy test just to be sure. AM sure that the reason for the delay is the I pill that was taken, but a simple and inexpensive test will further reassure you. All the best. Please feel free to discuss further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (10 minutes later)

I usually start my chums at night. So figured I wont stress out and delay it further. Will take a pregnancy test though! I had another question- how likely am I to get pregnant after having protected sex the day my period is supposed to start?

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (1 minute later)

Brief Answer: DELAYED BELOW Detailed Answer: Generally speaking, having sex the day your period is supposed to start carries next to nil chances of getting pregnant. However, since you took the I pill last month, ovulation might be unpredictable in the next cycle, that is , this time round. So, I cant say for sure that you wont get pregnant from this encounter.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (16 minutes later)

Would it make sense to take an ipill again?

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer: DETAILED BELOW Detailed Answer: An I pill is not something I would advice you to take repeatedly. When taken multiple times, it interferes with normal cycles and loses efficacy as a contraceptive. If you take an I pill again, the cycle would perpetuate - as in, further periods would be irregular, again you would have a withdrawal bleed, again the anxiety of a pregnancy after 4 weeks. If you are prepared for that, go ahead and take it. As such, there is no other option now to reduce the chances of pregnancy. I pill can be taken in a 72 hour window, why not wait for a few hours, as you say, you normally menstruate at night. If the period does not start, take another I pill.

Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar