Period on the pill

[Fender909]

Hey guys,

I'm on the placebo pills of my second pack of birth control. In my first pack i got my period on the Tuesday of my placebo pills. It hasn't shown up yet in this pack. I don't know if these pills will suppress my period. The one I had in my first pack was maybe only a little lighter than the ones I had when I wasn't on birth control. I dont want to use birth control that will make me not have my period.

But should I expect irregularity when I first start taking birth control? It's not exactly late because today isn't over yet, (it could come tonight) but I just would like to know what to expect.

[Karyn]

Some variation is normal, especially in the first few months (but even after that, you might find that you have a two or three day window in which your withdrawal bleed arrives). As long as you get your bleed at some point during the placebo week, you're all good.

[Fender909]

Thanks! By "2 or 3 day window" do you mean between the active and placebo pills or do you mean variation from when I normally get withdrawal bleeds?

[Karyn]

Sorry, I should have been clearer: I meant variation from when you normally get withdrawal bleeds. Even if you end up normally getting it on a Tuesday, you might sometimes get it on Monday or Wednesday or Thursday and it wouldn't be a cause for concern.

[Fender909]

Thank you, Karyn, that's very helpful.

Another quick question, can external causes such as stress or sickness, etc. affect your period/withdrawal bleed even when you're on birth control and do not ovulate?

[Karyn]

Yep. The same things that can affect your cycle off birth control can affect it on birth control.