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What Causes Inter Mestrual Bleeding After Taking I Pill?

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Posted on Wed, 21 May 2014
Question: Hi doc.We and my gf have sex on 8th day of her period I.e on 3rd april.After 6 hours she taken ipill.We have unprotected sex.6 to 7 days latter she noticed a little bit of bleeding in the morning. It was only in the morning. Which lasted for 3 days.It was only in the morning and very low bleeding which cant be called period.Her expected date of period was on 23rd of april.But her period hasnt come.She hast tested 4 times but all are negative. Even today in the morning.But negative.Now its 12 day late now.Is she pregnant. Earlier XXXXXXX we hav unprotected sex but period was necer late.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
The I pill may have delayed the periods.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I understand that 3rd April was day 8 of the period. So her last menstrual cycle was on 27 March. So her unsafe days are from 5th April to 15th April. Sex on these days is more likely to result in pregnancy.

You did have an unprotected sexual episode on 10 or 11 April. However the I pill leads to change in the menstrual cycle in many women and hence leads to irregular ovulation and periods.

The I pill that she took on 3rd protected her from the pregnancy and may also have been the reason for spotting. It also causes a change in the cycle many times so if there was spotting after the pill, likelihood of pregnancy due to sex on 10-11 April is very low.

A urine pregnancy test comes positive at least 3-3 and 1/2 weeks after the pregnancy is conceived. So if you have tested her 3 weeks after 11th, then the chances of pregnancy are not there [ provided that there were no unprotected sexual episodes after this. If you had unprotected sex after 11th, then testing must be done 3 weeks after the last unprotected sex and contraception like condom must be used in the intervening 3 weeks for the results to be valid. ] .

If the urine test was done before 3 weeks from 11 th April, then retest it using the first morning urine sample after a few days to rule out pregnancy.

If the test is still negative then do not worry, most likely it is the I pill that is delaying the periods. Periods usually come after 2-3 weeks after the expected date after using I pill. Sometimes even a month later. In some women they may come early before the expected date.

So wait until then. Do not get stressed. Stress will further delay periods.

If the periods remain absent even after a month, then other causes for delayed periods are ovarian cysts, minor hormonal imbalances especially the thyroid and prolactin and heavy exercise. These can be ruled out later by an examination and an ultrasound.

I understand that you are coencerned about the delayed period, however if pregnancy test 3 weeks after the LAST unprotected act is negative then pregnancy is ruled out.

So please do not worry. Just wait and follow the instructions.

If there is any further query or if any part of the answer is not clear please feel free to ask.

Hope this satisfies your query.
Thanks for using HCM.     
Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have.
Dr Madhuri Bagde
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (28 minutes later)
Doc we dont have sex on 10 or 11 april.It was on 3rd april that is her 8th day of her period. Her last period was on 27th march.And we have no sexual act after that.I am concerned that she has bleeding on 10th april which continues for 3 days.But it was very nominal and was only in the morning. It doesnt look like period bleeding. She has conducted an urine test today also.And it was in the morning. Her first urine.Its also negative. I am worried.Is she going through ecoptic pregnancy? Plz help me
doctor
Answered by Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Ectopic is unlikely

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

The first query said that you had sex 6-7 days later she noticed bleeding so I understood that there was a second episode of sex. Thanks for clarifying it.

Since there was a single episode and the urine test is negative today, so pregnancy chance is exceedingly low. I will dare to say it is not pregnancy.

Do not worry about the bleeding as this is very common after use of I pill.

Please do not worry about ectopic pregnancy. It gives a positive urine pregnancy test most of the times, there is usually a pain in abdomen more on one side, if it ruptures then there is generalised pain, giddiness, fainting etc. Please check to see if she is having these symptoms.

You had unprotected sex in the safe period and used the I pill. So pregnancy is not likely at all. The current symptoms are more likely to be due to the I pill.

However if you are feeling stressed about an ectopic pregnancy then you may see an obstetrician and get a transvaginal ultrasound to rule it out.

With the current symptoms of post I pill spotting and missed periods with negative urine pregnancy test it is very unlikely that she has a pregnancy [ ectopic is even more remote possibility].

So as of now either you can wait till she has a regular periods or see a doctor if the thought of ectopic is causing too much stress.

Do not worry, I do not think that there is any pregnancy at all, it is the I pill that is producing these symptoms.

I am always here for any further queries please feel free to ask.

Hope this helped.
Dr Madhuri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (39 minutes later)
Doc she has no such symptoms of pain or fainting of ectopic pregnancy. She is feeling very well.She has no pain in her abdomen. My only woory is her period.Should she visit to gynecologist? Becoz she lived in very small city and she has to visit with her mom.Thats why I am little bit worry of ectopic pregnancy. I am little bit of relived that she has remote chances of ectopic pregnancy. Thx doc
doctor
Answered by Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
She may see a doctor.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,

If there are no symptoms then there is no need to worry. The periods are not much of a cause of concern as of now. Even other wise we wait for a few weeks for spontaneous periods to come as minor hormonal issues commonly result in delayed periods and tend to correct themselves after a few months.

She may consult a doctor if there is too much stress as examination may reveal findings that are not possible with online consultation. So an evaluation by a gynecologist may be done if desired. It will also help in ruling out the ectopic.

Hope this helps in the query. I am always here for any further assistance.

Dr Madhuri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Madhuri N Bagde

OBGYN

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 1390 Questions

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What Causes Inter Mestrual Bleeding After Taking I Pill?

Brief Answer: The I pill may have delayed the periods. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, I understand that 3rd April was day 8 of the period. So her last menstrual cycle was on 27 March. So her unsafe days are from 5th April to 15th April. Sex on these days is more likely to result in pregnancy. You did have an unprotected sexual episode on 10 or 11 April. However the I pill leads to change in the menstrual cycle in many women and hence leads to irregular ovulation and periods. The I pill that she took on 3rd protected her from the pregnancy and may also have been the reason for spotting. It also causes a change in the cycle many times so if there was spotting after the pill, likelihood of pregnancy due to sex on 10-11 April is very low. A urine pregnancy test comes positive at least 3-3 and 1/2 weeks after the pregnancy is conceived. So if you have tested her 3 weeks after 11th, then the chances of pregnancy are not there [ provided that there were no unprotected sexual episodes after this. If you had unprotected sex after 11th, then testing must be done 3 weeks after the last unprotected sex and contraception like condom must be used in the intervening 3 weeks for the results to be valid. ] . If the urine test was done before 3 weeks from 11 th April, then retest it using the first morning urine sample after a few days to rule out pregnancy. If the test is still negative then do not worry, most likely it is the I pill that is delaying the periods. Periods usually come after 2-3 weeks after the expected date after using I pill. Sometimes even a month later. In some women they may come early before the expected date. So wait until then. Do not get stressed. Stress will further delay periods. If the periods remain absent even after a month, then other causes for delayed periods are ovarian cysts, minor hormonal imbalances especially the thyroid and prolactin and heavy exercise. These can be ruled out later by an examination and an ultrasound. I understand that you are coencerned about the delayed period, however if pregnancy test 3 weeks after the LAST unprotected act is negative then pregnancy is ruled out. So please do not worry. Just wait and follow the instructions. If there is any further query or if any part of the answer is not clear please feel free to ask. Hope this satisfies your query. Thanks for using HCM. Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have. Dr Madhuri Bagde Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist