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What Causes Prolonged Menstrual Bleeding After Taking Birth Control Pill?

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Posted on Thu, 27 Aug 2015
Twitter Fri, 28 Aug 2015 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 18 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on
Question : Hi, I am 27 years old and recently had unprotected incident. I took a contraceptive or birth control pill next day, my weight is about 165 lbs. I am having continuos periods almost now about 8 days after that day and I am not sure if I am pregnant. I did take the pregnancy tests twice and it came out negative. Can you please help me, and tell If this is pregnancy or not? If not, can I confirm or I won't be or need to still wait?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
a blood test may confirm or exclude pregnancy

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

if you begun bleeding after taking the pill, then this is something that may happen. Unless it isn't getting any worse and it's not accompanied by other symptoms (like dizziness, pain, etc) you shouldn't worry too much because - although not so often - it may be a side effect of the pill.

10-14 days after the estimated conception, the levels of the serum beta chorionic gonadotropin should begin to rise. Thus measuring it is a good way to exclude pregnancy (if it's not rising). Just make sure you don't measure it too early! 8 days is not enough time for a pregnancy test kit either! Most pregnancy test kits produce valid results after the estimated date of your next period (the missed period, if you're pregnant).

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (13 minutes later)
Thanks Doctor.
Do you see that I am going to be pregnant in this case or I am not?

I did the test, and it came out negative. If you think I am going to be, How soon I would get to know about it?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (2 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I can't tell whether you're pregnant or not...

Detailed Answer:
I can't tell whether you're pregnant or not... that would be only a guess.
As I've told you in my previous answer, serum beta chorionic gonadotropin can be detected 10-14 days after the suspected conception (the 'incident'). Pregnancy test kits detect pregnancy after missing a period. If you have a 28 days cycle and you had sex on the 10th day of your period, you could get a positive test about 18 days later.

I hope this is clear enough!

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3815 Questions

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What Causes Prolonged Menstrual Bleeding After Taking Birth Control Pill?

Brief Answer: a blood test may confirm or exclude pregnancy Detailed Answer: Hello, if you begun bleeding after taking the pill, then this is something that may happen. Unless it isn't getting any worse and it's not accompanied by other symptoms (like dizziness, pain, etc) you shouldn't worry too much because - although not so often - it may be a side effect of the pill. 10-14 days after the estimated conception, the levels of the serum beta chorionic gonadotropin should begin to rise. Thus measuring it is a good way to exclude pregnancy (if it's not rising). Just make sure you don't measure it too early! 8 days is not enough time for a pregnancy test kit either! Most pregnancy test kits produce valid results after the estimated date of your next period (the missed period, if you're pregnant). Kind Regards!