Break through bleeding symptoms and conditions

im on my third week of my first nuvaring and ive noticed a lot of changes. i get the mood swings, headache, low sex drive, but another symptom i was worried about is that after my last period it seems like ive been bleeding very minimally ever since and every time my boyfriend and i have sex i bleed a little. this has never happened before so if anyone else is experiencing this let me know.

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I am in awe reading all of these comments and to the point of tears due to my new found emotional self. I just made an appointment today with my doctor because this past month has been awful with the amount of side effects I have been coming across. After the appointment, for some strange reason, I decided to look up what the side effects of Femcon were from other people's point of view. Now, I have been on this birth control for quite a while, and in the beginning I had a lot of break through bleeding, but the doctor said it was normal. And I thought that my restless sleeping was because of my stressful life and the amount of activities I was doing in a daily schedule. However, over the past couple months my attitude and mood swings have been out of control. Unfortunately my boy friend of four years has witnessed a side of me that not even I've seen. I have break through bleeding constantly, I'm extremely emotional, sometimes depressed, and I feel nausea after EVERY time I take that pill. If I miss the pill and take it a few hours later or the next morning, I can predict that I will have an emotional outbreak, feel nausea, and have cold sweats. I originally went on this pill to help with the pain of cysts in my ovaries, but this isn't even worth it anymore. I can't wait to tell my doctor to get me off of this stuff as soon as possible.

Thanks everyone for sharing. This has helped clarify my gut instincts.

I have been on Fem Con for 2 weeks.. I have no side effects that I know of except depression. I don't want anything to do with anybody, I don't want to DO anything, I want to cry all the time and my life is better than it has ever been. I have noticed nothing else but this has been bad enough.

The first few days I think I was a little hungrier than normal but I think that has tapered off. I am on them for menopausal symptoms, regulating periods,
ceasing painful ovulations.

I am going to stick it out as long as I can because my symptoms are HORRIBLE without something, pain, pain bleeding, more bleeding, bloating.. at least with this, I am only depressed.. If I live THROUGH this maybe I'll be ok...MAN!! The things we have to deal with.

recently I went to the doctor and I told her ive had break through bleeding and was on orthocy lo. She told me that possibly having a straight dose of hormones the whole month may help that. So I switched. After the first week on loestrin, I was miserable. I cried for three days straight, I was moody, miserable, and gained two pounds. Now I am almost done with my pack and ive gained almost 5 pounds. The mood swings stopped but I started to get severe cramping in my ovaries for no reason. I had sex the other night and was very dry. After, I got such bad cramps that I threw up and just today I woke up from a nap in so much pain I couldn't move. I guess I would rather have break through bleeding than all these crazy side effects. When I get mr period I am goi g to start taking my old pills again. Any advice on a pill that doesn't cause break thru bleedding or any of the loestrin side effects?!

I had the Mirena placed in October of 2004 and had it removed October of 2005. I suffered from not only profuse acne, but raging mood swings that my GYN attributed to postpartum depression (I'd given birth in March 2004). I was put on three different anti-depressants. My husband-who's known me for over 20 years-didn't know who I was any more and our relationship suffered greatly. I didn't know what was going on, either. I was devastated as I watched myself crumble emotionally and physically. It wasn't until his even-keeled sister got the Mirena in 2006 and suddenly began biting people's heads off that my husband realized that he'd responded very badly to my unsolicited mood swings. He had believed that I'd just lost control after having our third child. I also gained 20+ pounds and had difficulty losing the weight. I suffered from extreme fatigue and had night sweats. I, too, was annoyed by the break-through bleeding and 10-12 day periods. How many pair of Hanes did I throw away because of all the brown spotting? Who knows! Oh, yes, the insertion: I was very angered that the doctor didn't tell me that I could experience EXTREME pain!!! I actually went into shock and was kept in the examination room for four hours because of my reaction! Yet another memory, my husband could feel the Mirena 'strings' when he penetrated deeply-as most of us like to experience during sex. He often complained of feeling a poking sensation and was actually discouraged from continuing sex on a couple of occasions.
If there was a class action suit brought against the Mirena producers, I'd take my thick gynecological file and march with the rest of its seemingly purposefully uninformed women that have suffered of this uterine parasite.

My gyn put me on Loestrin because it's low dose and wouldn't affect my hypertension as much as other pills. well...it gave me horrendous headaches around the second week I was on it. They were sooo bad that I would sit in my office at work with the lights off and an ice pack on my head. and OTC drugs like Tylenol and Excedrin wouldn't help them. Also I started having really heavy break through bleeding that lasted from the time I started the pill until about three weeks later. I mean heavy to the point that I would stand up and it would GUSH. Soaking through a super tampon, super pad, and onto my pants. On a few days I had to change my pants at work. I stopped taking it and when I went to the doctor, they said I was severely anemic from all the bleeding to the point that I almost needed a blood transfusion. I'm not messing with this pill anymore.

I started taking this BC pill about two weeks ago and after reading some of the posts I've gotten a bit nervous. It is the first pill I've ever taken. For the most part things seem to be going okay. I did feel a bit more emotional, but it's the holidays so I have to put the blame on both the pill and the time of year. I figure my body is just getting used to the pill. However, I have experienced a bit of an increase in appetite, which I am not happy about because I just lost around 20 lbs and have no desire to gain any weight back. I take my pill about the same time every morning, give or take 10 minutes. I have felt a bit nauseated on a couple of mornings but it doesn't last very long for me at all. However, yesterday I started to experience spotting/semi-bleeding. It's not a normal flow, but I am getting cramps as if it were my normal period. I don't want to have two periods a month, light bleeding or not. I figure I'll test it out for a few more months, give my body time to adjust. If the increased appetite and the mid-pack bleeding still happen after my third month I'll talk to my doctor. How long does the mid-pack break through bleeding seem to last for people?

I've been on Femcon FE for three months and I've noticed a lot of changes which considering my pills are the only thing that I've changed I'm guessing after researching and reading some other comments are side effects. I'm nauseous every day or so, to the point where I worry more about being pregnant more recently than when I wasn't on any birth control. I get really horrible problems, and its getting worse, I've started having depressed and suicidal thoughts usually in the week before my period. The week before my period I cry for no reason and am extremely moody and irritable, during the rest of the month I'm ok. I've had ovarian cysts in the last three months. My breast have gotten almost 3 cups sizes bigger ( might think thats a plus but its not- In July/August '07 i was a 40 dd now I'm a 40 G). My breast are constantly achy, I think because they are growing. I've gained weight and have had stomach pains, I've seen my gyno who said they were cysts and I've seen my general doctor who couldn't find anything wrong. Before I was on NuvaRing which gave me horrible head aches and before that I was on ortho trycyclin lo- which made me nauseous and have break through bleeding every month. after reading that other people are having the same problems with Femcon that I am I'm thinking maybe I should stop taking them now and get on something else.

Oh my goodness, you'd think this stuff was evil in a pill. ALL birth control pills, and hormonal methods of birth control (and medication for that matter) has side effects. Everyone's body is different. I have severe migraines, but taking a pill with a higher estrogen level makes it much worse. Not to mention Yasmin was my fourth try before I was comfortable on the pill again after a long time BCP free. I suffered through break-through bleeding, constant bleeding, turning into satan, constant PMS symptoms, infections, migraines, you name it. Finally, I found Yasmin and I lost a little weight and my periods remained the same (sometimes too long, sometimes too painful, but that never changed with any of them -- and I hear the same thing with the new "miracle" pill Yaz), and I was fine. I have spent time off of Yasmin, simply because I was ill and on antibiotics so I didn't fill a couple of months worth, and I noticed no difference in the before and after (other than having to use condoms in the meantime).

I've been on Yasmin for three years, absent two months. Everyone's body is different, everyone reacts differently, and this site is NOT this place to get the information you need to make a decision about medication. A starting point maybe, then go off the pill, see how you fill (talk to your doctor first). What's not being taken into consideration is other medications these users are on, ages, individual physical illnesses or situations, or other things that could be reasons or interferences with the pill. Good luck ladies. :)

Oh, and an acne tip... rather than putting more chemicals into your bodies, try Proactive. I had AWFUL skin in areas that nothing worked for, from cheapest to most expensive to prescribed. I started using it in 1996 or so and my skin is perfect. I use it now because it keeps my face clear and makes it radiant, and I don't even have to use it every day. I don't have to wear ANY make up on my skin at all. Something to think about instead of putting worrying about trying to find a BCP that works for you and for your skin. :]

Hi, reading all of this is so freaking me out!!! IV been on YASMIN for about a month now and was meant to get my 1st period on it yesterday, but it never arrived!! Also last week Monday I came to know of BREAK THROUGH BLEEDING!! It was the worst WEEK of my life, I thought I was going to die, I have never bled so much, EVER, It made my whole body lame, every one who saw me thought I was seriously sick. The cramps are back pain didn’t help either, it last for about 4- 5 days and then just suddenly stopped. So I can’t say I am eagerly awaiting my period this week, if it comes… I don’t know what’s up with that.
My face hasn’t really improved much I have had 2 huge mountains that left like it was under my skin, extremely painful! But other than that, I believe everything is ok. My sex drive has sky rocketing, in fact it’s almost embarrassing, ha ha ha ha. My moods have also really changed, but unlike a lot of you, mine has improved and so has my weight, I feel and look so slim!! I think I’m happy. BUT very scared after reading all of this now… keeping my fingers X

I have been on Yasmin for over 2 years now and have been very happy with it. I also take 25mg spironolactone (which is what the "drsp" is in Yasmin) twice a day in addition to Yasmin for my acne. I have never had such clear skin in my entire life. I have not had any mood issues or panic attacks, nor did I have any side effects when starting the pill. Most of the posts are all the side effects that come with changing to a new medication. I would probably not stay on a pill either if it made me sick. I have noticed that I have gained a small amount of weight (5-10lbs) since I have been on Yasmin. I'm not sure if it is because of the pill or if my metabolism has slowed down (I just turned 26). Overall, I have been very happy with this birth control and do not plan on changing it.

I've been on various pills over the past 8-9 years, including OrthoNovum, OrthoTri-cyclen, Orthocyclen, Estrostep and others. I basically switched every year because I had constant break through bleeding.

By contrast, Yasmin is by far the worst birth control I have ever been on. I'd been on it around 2 years, maybe longer. I am a level-headed, career minded woman. About a year ago I started to suspect I might be bi-polar or depressed.

Here is a list of the side-effects I had while on Yasmin that have disappeared since I stopped taking it 3 months ago:

-Depression
-Suicidal thoughts
-Paranoia
-Anxiety
-Nausea
-Decreased libido
-Intense Anger/Rage
-Irritability
-Increased thirst
-General disinterest/lack of motivation
-Acne
-Break-through bleeding
-Irregular periods
-Overly sensitive/swollen nipples
-Yellow discharge

I only had the above symptoms during the time I was taking Yasmin, not before and not after. This stuff is vile.

If you don't have any side-effects from this pill you are lucky. But I still urge you to pay very close attention. It is very easy for these symptoms to slowly grow over time until one day you wake up and don't even recognize your own self.

Since I stopped taking hormonal birth control I feel normal again, which by comparison means even the worst day is 10x better than a single day on Yasmin.

I had been on Yasmine for about two years with no complications until last week. Last week my heart began beating extremely fast just while sitting at my desk typing. Later on in the day my chest began feelign tight and I had an "anxious" feeling in my upper body. At the same time my lower body felt completely weak- as if my legs could not support my body weight if I were to stand. Evenso, I thought nothing of it and just assumed my normal one cup of coffee just so happened to have a strong effect on me that day. The next day the anxious feeling and weakness had subsided but my left arm and hand were tingling. It felt as if they had fallen asleep and now had that "cotton" feeling. The next morning I lost all feeling in my left hand except for my first three fingers. This is when I began trying to figure out what on earth I may have eaten, where I had been, had i drank too much coffee, etc.

I rarely drink alcahol, don't smoke, have no family history of heart problems, etc. I don't take any other medications, I don't take vitamins, I dont eat strange foods, and exercise regularly. The only thing I could possibly change is my birth control. I immediately quit taking Yasmine and all problems disappeared in two days.

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I have been experiencing problems with the NuvaRing as well. After having my first ring in for just shy of two weeks, my hands and feet started itching a LOT. I just thought it was the change in weather and started lathering them with lotion thinking it would help. It didn't, and in fact, my symptoms worsened to hives on my butt, knees, and hands. My fingers swelled, along with my toes, making it painful to walk. I started researching side effects of NR and found several people having similar symptoms as me. At first I was worried that I was having an allergic reaction to the Gardasil (HPV) shot, which I got on Monday (the 15th), but my skin was starting to itch prior to my shot. After reading up on the NR, I'm starting to think that is what's causing my hives/welts and swelling! I already called my doctor about the swelling, because I thought it was from the Gardasil, but now that I'm almost certain that it's from the NR, I'm going to call them on Monday and tell them I need to stop using it. This is the 5th birth control I've been on in two years...it's getting ridiculous! They can't find one that works for me...the oral pills work for a month or two, and then I start breakthrough bleeding because the hormone levels are too low! I'm starting to think that my body rejects birth control, and that it's not for me! Is this possible?!

I am 32 and just had an experience with Loestrin. I have never been one to go to the Gyn like I should, but I also had no problems with my cycles or anything until about a year ago. I started bleeding in between periods and my periods became really heavy every time. I went to a gyno and saw the nurse practitioner. She talked with me and did an examination and decided WITHOUT any bloodwork or anything that my problem is probably hormone imbalance(which makes me wonder how she can know this for sure), so she put me on Loestrin. I took it that night like she instructed and was fine for about 2 days, then I started break through bleeding some. I started the pill on Monday last week, I helped a friend move on Friday and have been bleeding ever since. Not bad or anything, but enough to most of the time appear to be a light period. I stopped taking the pill at the suggestion of a nurse friend and now am having an actual period with cramps. I am going to see a different doctor and was also told by her to stop taking the pill. From what I have read it is quite common to bleed a lot on this pill. I'm sorry if that is all that is wrong with me, I would rather bleed a couple of days and then deal with the bad period than bleed every day of the month!!!

paragard is the IUD that I have-I don't know why it's not listed on here--but here goes---i got the copper iud and it has zero hormones in it! so you don't gain any weight and i have actually lost weight by having it! it has its downsides though--heavier periods that last about 7 days--give or take--i have not had any break through bleeding between periods. you will cramp before you start but midol will take care of it. i'd like to add that in my case, the first period i had was about like the ones i have now but it felt like i was literally having contractions that came about 10 min. apart---though i haven't ever had kids--it hurt!!!! but that was the only time and i have had it for 3 years--i think its like a foreign body that your uterus isn't used to--but it stopped after a few days so don't worry---and you may not ever have that happen so --unlike the mirena--you don't gain weight--hope this helped a little for anyone interested.

I am 40 years old had been on the Depo-provera shot for almost one year for endometriosis and had NO side effects other than a significant (25 lbs.) weight gain. After complaining to my doctor about the weight gain he changed my prescription to Loestrin 24 Fe and told me that within approximately six weeks I should see that weight start to drop off. Well, I've only been taking this BC pill for not even a full month and I have significant side effects, such as: severe headaches every day, break-through bleeding, insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, bloating, extremely swollen and tender breasts which have increased a full cup size in just a month and am still continuing to gain weight by the week. I would NOT recommend this pill to anyone.

I'm into my 8th pack of Loestrin 24 Fe and I'm ready to get off of them. Major issue is no sex drive and spotting right before period is supposed to start. So its like I have a really long period anyways. I've been on these pills for more than half of a year and there has been no change in my periods (no shorter periods or lighter periods) :-( And the website says "shorter periods less than 3 days by cycle 6". So its like I'm paying $50 for a "regular pill"anyways. Oh and my boobs hurt like all the time!!! I'm thru with it!!! Does anyone have a recommendation of a pill I can ask my doctor about next month??

I've been taking Yaz for over 4 months now, and the first month was fine.
But then i noticed i was having a lot of break through bleeding for about 2 weeks straight. Than the next month, out of the blue i had even worse break through bleeding for about a week, than a couple weeks later i started having very very heavy break through bleeding and horrible stomach pains every day. And i never ever get stomach pains. The constant bleeding confuses and scares me and i can't find any answers to why this keeps randomly occurring.
Please help answer this.

I was on the NuvaRing for about 4 years and loved it. I never had any spotting or break through bleeding the entire time I was on it. I did notice that my periods lasted longer than before. I never felt the Ring when it was in, not even during sex! I guess everything just reacts differently with different people's bodies. I would at least recommend that everyone try this out. It was great not to have to worry about taking a pill every day. I recently switched to Seasonique becuase the idea of 4 periods a year sounded great. I am experiencing a lot of nausea and some other side effects that I never had with the Ring...if the side effects don't subside within a few months I will be switching back to the Ring.

Ugh, I gained 25 pounds during the 4-months I was on Loestrin 24. Plus, I bled the entire time and no significant change in my mood; still strong feelings of sadness prior to my period. I’m tired all the time, no desire to do anything but sit in front of the TV, could eat a horse, and zero sex drive (my poor husband). I’m hopeful for Yazmin; my doctor literally switched me today. I think the marketing literature, that comes in the box, was a little off; they say occasional break through bleeding may occur during the first month of use while adjusting to Loestrin 24; not. I had just lost 60 pound prior to starting Loestrin 24 and with the gain of 25 in such a short time, I feel derailed with my weight loss.

I had been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for 6.5 years and NEVER eperienced any problems. I got on Femcon because I was moving to a new state and inbetween insurance companies. My doc gave me a 6month supply before I left so that I could still be on the pill. I'm on the first two weeks, and like everyone else I have experienced break through bleeding. I haven't gotten headaches or mood swings. But as a teacher and a coach, I can't afford to have any of these problems. I'll stick it out for a little bit longer until my new insurance kicks in, but then I think I'm switching back. Anyone know how long this bleeding will last??? did anyone stay on it long enough to see if things setteled down afterwards?

I have been on this pill for almost a month, I starte bleeding on the end of the second week, my doctor told me this was normal. I usually have horrible cramps but with this I ahve been fine so far. BUT....the weight gain is out of control....and the mood swings are bad too, no headaches or any other symptoms. I am very concerned about the weight gain though it reall is out of control, I have not been doing anything out of the ordinary with my diet, and I have no energy to get up and do anything. Is anyone else feeling this too? I am very happy that I only have two more months left on this crap. Good luck to you all, and know that there are other women going through the same thing.

Ive been on Femcon fe for about 4 months, I was without a period for like 6 months prior to this. The docs then put me on a medication to start my period and then Femcon to keep it regular. This was all done to find out if there was a need to have surgery on the fibroid that is on my uterus. I have experienced the worse migraines in my life on this pill. I get them on and off every hour. The really bad ones leave my right side of my face and arm to where I cant move it. I can barely open my eyes and when I can, the vision is blury. Right now I dont have a migraine, but by the time I finish, im sure I will. They come that regular. I take esgic for the migraines but it does not help. The migraines are too strong. My sex drive has increased a lot since I got on this pill. But what I have trouble with is when i am about to have a orgasm, I get a very BIG migraine. Its very umcomfortable and I am going to contact any office I can find about this pill. My doctor has told me to stop taking this pill b/c of the complications it has caused in my body. I use to have hair down to my shoulders, but now all of my hair comes out in my hand or the comb or brush. I have patches of hair missing in my head and the longest my hair is now is about a inch or two. When I wake up in the morning, its like Im in the early stages of pregnancy. I feel sick to the stomach and light headed. I take my pill right before bed. Ive also experienced a little depression, but not much. I know how you ladies feel and I hope that one day, we can find a good birth control. Thank you.

At first I was taking Loestrin 24 after having my baby and that pill made me bleed for 3 weeks straight. So my doctor switched me to Femcon Fe. All was going good until a couple weeks ago. Every night I got extremely terrible pains in my stomach. I didnt know if I was going to vomit or have diarrhea. And I have also been bleeding for the past 2 weeks again.. I am debaiting whether or not to continue taking the pill. Does anyone have the same problems or any advice?