periods and birth control, and I don't know what to do!

I just switched from depo back to the pill last month, and am now experiencing my first REAL period since last summer. I forgot how much cramps suck! That's manageable though. The problem is that I am due to start my second pill pack today, and I just started having a real period today. Since there's no man in my life right now, should I hold off on the pill for another week and give my body a chance to have a period, or start the second pack tonight, like I'm supposed to? I'd stop with the pill altogether, but my ex and me sometimes hook up; we're not over each other entirely. Blah. This is so complicated! Opinions? Thanks!

~Nova

 

just call your doc and ask. probably depends on the pill in question. If it were me, I'd wait a few months before switching hormonal birth control. DepoProvera can stay in your system a very long time.


Pain is not a normal part of menstruation!!! It is your body's way of telling you something is wrong. If your doc is not concerned, find another one. Painful periods can be a sign of endometriosis, which is often made even worse by taking any medications that contain estrogen. Many women with endo experience less pain while on BCP, but the estrogen feeds the growth of more endo, and as soon as they stop taking it they are in even more pain than ever before.

 

personally, I just stuck through it and took the second pack when I was supposed to. Depo can make your periods quite irregular, I found that the pills helped re-regulate that

 

Depo will make that first period a real doozy. "Sucks, didn't it?" was how my OBGYN described a first period after being on Depo.

However, if you are going to go on the BC pill, you need to take it the way it was meant to be taken. That means the Sunday after your period starts. You may screw up your entire first month, otherwise. And, with the newer pills being lower in homones, it may not be as efficient. I'd start it today.

Plus, if you and your ex occasionall hook up, you don't want to take a chance on getting pregnant.

 

Depro provera sucked, I gained like 30 lbs in the first few months, it wasn't worth it, I stopped taking it.