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Maternal (Expert Forum)
Birth control pill after pregnancy
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
Birth control pill after pregnancy
by An__0, Apr 27, 1999 12:00AM
Posted by Ann on April 27, 1999 at 14:54:47
Hi, I am 11 weeks postpartum with child number three and am 38 years old. I bleed for 5 weeks (red) and spotted 2 weeks more. I stopped nursing at 7 weeks. I started on Demulen 1/35 at 7 and 1/2 weeks. I had no blood or spotting weeks 7 (before pill )and 8 (1st week on pill) I began spotting week 2 and bleeding red (3-6 pads/day) week 3. It is now the week of having menses for the pill schedule and I am bleeding moderately. These are my questions:
1. With all this bleeding am I protected against pregnancy?
2. Should I continue with Demulen or switch to ortho tricylen (am I less likely to have breakthrough bleeding with it?)( I was on Demulen for 5 years before preg.#1 and for 5 years between pregs #2 & #3) (my only problems were dizzy spells and longer periods toward the last year I was on it)
3. I assume some of my problem is widely flucuating hormone levels. Should I just go off the pill completely for awhile?
4. At what point should I be concerned with amemia? (My doctor's office nurse advised me that I could continue on the Demulen and that this "breakthrough" bleeding could continue for several months. I would like to avoid months of bleeding like this. (it's been 9 out of 11 weeks so far) PS at lest my baby is doing GREAT. Thank you for your help.
Posted by hfhs.md.rcs on April 27, 1999 at 18:36:53
Dear Ann:
Breakthrough bleeding is common in the first cycle of all birth conrol pills. Staying with the formulation through three cycles, 92+% of women will exerience controlled cycles. Changing formulatons may not improve the original problem may add second problems such as headache, or may trade on set ofsymptoms for a second.
During breakthrough bleeding, ovulation is blocked and contraception is being provided.
Anemia can be avoided by a blanced diet combined with a multiple vitamin with iron.
Do not stop the birth control pills until you have an alternate contraception plan in place.
Keywords: breakthrough bleeding, oral contraception
This information is provided for education purposes and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please speak with your healthcare provider.
