Are my pills still effective?

[nina2008]

I take my pills back to back and this time I bled and I'm still bleeding and I was wondering if this means that my pills are no longer effective. Also, last month I started my pills two weeks late and I know that my body is getting used to having the hormones again but my question is, since I'm bleeding, and it feels like my period is on because i have period cramps, does it mean my pills are no longer protecting me from getting pregnant? PS: I've been on yasmin for about two years now. Thanks in advance.

[evette]

I'm not sure AT ALL, but isn't a common side effect to the pill (any of them) vaginal bleeding??  Pull out the instructions and things that came with the prescription and read the side effects... I dunno... it may be different depending on the type of pill...

[JoAnnaRF]

You have to take the pills as directed for them to be affective which means no skipping or forgeting. But if you are taking them everyday and are experiencing breakthorugh bleeding, the pills are still affective as a BC but you need to address the bleeding with your Gyn. Sounds like you need a change from the Yasmin, so give the doc a call. Good Luck--J

[cugirl]

B/C pills need to be taken as directed...no skipping or things like break through bleeding occur.  Read the instructions that come with the yasmin.  If you take B/C and you no longer are having a monthly cycle or you are taking them properly but having break through bleeding consult your doctor...your hormone levels may need to be increased or decreased.

[monkeyflower]

If you don't take breaks now and then, the lining of your uterus generally becomes unstable and you can start spotting/bleeding. That's why Seasonale gives you four breaks a year. It doesn't mean you're not protected, but it is pretty annoying. I'd call your doctor and ask what s/he thinks; and if it were me, I'd plan to take the break at the end of your next cycle.

[monkeyflower]

I just reread your post. You can skip the inactive pills and skip your period, which is what I thought you meant by back-to-back. However, your pills won't be effective unless you take your pill every single day (except for the week off, if you decide to take a break). I'm not sure how you could take your pills back-to-back and still take them two weeks late (which implies at least a two-week break), but anyway... that's probably the problem.

[nina2008]

I missed two weeks of pills because I wasn't able to get them for financial reasons and I take my pills back to back to skip my period sometimes but I don't do it all the time. sometimes i take the placebo pills to let my period come. but i think i'm bleeding because i stopped the pill and started them again.