Tired Of Bleeding? 4 Causes Of Irregular Bleeding While On Birth Control

Posted on: 12 May 2017

Many forms of birth control have an added benefit — they stop your period. However, not all people respond to the hormones found in birth control quite the same way. It's not uncommon for some women to experience irregular or breakthrough bleeding. The bleeding usually clears up on its own after a few months once the body gets used to the hormones, but some women continue to experience problems. If you've been bleeding or even spotting for more than three months, you should talk to your doctor. You should also report any heavy bleeding. Following are four reasons why it may be occurring. 

Unstable Lining

The first few months of taking birth control pills can be rough. While your body is adjusting to the hormones, the lining of your uterus may become unstable, shedding when it's not supposed to. The pill may also affect different areas of the lining in a different way, meaning that some areas may shed while others remain in tact. Nothing is in sync, so to speak. Your lining may also become unstable if you miss a dose and the level of hormones in your body drops.  

Thin Lining

Certain types of birth control, such as the shot, implant, ring, IUD, and patch, thin the lining of your uterus. If it becomes too thin, it may get irritated and start to bleed. In some cases, the bleeding will stop after your body gets used to the hormones, but there is less of a chance of that happening with these forms of birth control than with the pill. 

Missed Dosage

If you miss or forget to take a dose of any form of birth control, you're at risk for bleeding. For example, if you're several days late in getting your birth control shot, you may begin to have a period. 

Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions can cause irregular vaginal bleeding, which is why it's so important to have your bleeding evaluated by a doctor. Medical conditions that may cause bleeding include polyps, cervical inflammation, cervical cancer, hormonal changes and/or abnormalities, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and more. There are many other causes of irregular bleeding, so be sure to talk to your doctor. 

Breakthrough or irregular bleeding can occur for a variety of reasons. If you notice a prolonged pattern of irregular bleeding, even if it is a small amount, talk to a doctor like George L Stankevych, MD. You don't have to simply put up with it. 

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Spotlight on Reproductive Health

When I was growing up, I always knew that I wanted to have children, but I wanted to wait until I had graduated from college and had a stable career to have one. One I was married and settled down, we began attempting to conceive, but with no luck. I almost gave up on having a child before I even consulted my OBGYN about my problem. She gave me many helpful tips for conceiving and after following her tips, I finally became pregnant with my first child! I think that more women need to become informed about their reproductive health and what affects it, so I decided to start a blog to share tips my OBGYN has given me and advice about other female health topics that I have learned since. I hope I can help you learn more about female health!

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