A BCP question...a little TMI

Hey everyone!

I'm not TTC, but I have a BCP question and I figured maybe you girls would know.

I've been on the pill for about 8 years (ortho tri cyclin lo) and I've taken it religiously more or less at 8pm each night. Maybe I'll take it at 8:30, but usually on time.

Anyways this month I've been HORRIBLE since I teach a night class from 5-8:30, and I've forgotten and taken it at 10 sometimes. On sat I took it at 1AM because I left my pills at home and we went out to a friend's house

I've had brownish spotting for about 3-4 days and it got heavier today. Does this happen on the pill if you mess up your schedule? I've taken it every day, just really varying times. I just wanted to know what you thought. I have my annual GYN appointment next month, so I will talk to my dr. about it. I just wanted to know if anyone else experienced it. How long should I expect the spotting to last?

Thanks!

Re: A BCP question...a little TMI

Yes- the same thing happened to me a lot- since I was bad about taking my Pill the same time every day.

I would get brownish spotting and and it would be off and on, sometimes for over a week. It was annoying, and sometimes it would be kind of heavy and prolonged.

However, my doctor said some pills are more "sensitive" than others and if you don't take them at the exact same time each day, you tend to spot more. He switched me to another pill since I was not good at taking them at the same time each day.

I would ask your doctor about this. Unfortunately, I don't remember the one he switched me too, but I remember once I switched the spotting stopped. GL!

Re: A BCP question...a little TMI

I was on Othro Tri Cyclen Lo for years and would take it whenever I went to bed, be it 10pm or 2am and never had a problem.

Re: A BCP question...a little TMI

Yes, thats normal. I was on the same BCP as you, and took mine when i went to bed each night - sometimes 11:00 pm, sometimes as late as 2 or 3:00 a.m. I infrequently got spotting, but when i did the dr. had said it was nothing to worry about, and that sometimes we just get it.
I was spotting more than 'normal' at one point and they found a small cyst in there, but after it was removed it stopped.

i think my spotting was only for a day or two, nothing more than that and it didn't get heavier. if you really want to know or are concerned, i'd call your dr. and ask them, just to be safe

Re: A BCP question...a little TMI

I would get the same thing if I was way off on the time of day I took it. Worse if I missed one. If you're not TTC, you may want to use a back-up method this cycle.

Re: A BCP question...a little TMI

yikes, I just read everyone's responses and got a little nervous!!

I have been on the pill for almost TEN years and I just take it at night... no set time...... just before I go to sleep. I usually go to sleep around the same time- but in college that was totally not the case. Sometimes 11... sometimes 3am ... sometimes 8am ...


Anyway I hope I haven't been messing myself up! I never had any weird brown spotting but it just makes me nervous to see that everyone else is so rigid about their pill schedule and I'm so ... .not ... I just hope it doesn't mess me up long term since I plan to TTC within the year.

Re: A BCP question...a little TMI

Re: A BCP question...a little TMI

over the years i was on triphasil and femcon among other - i took it at completely different times every day. just like the other girls right before bed but that wasnt always consistent at all. never had a problem although did have the occasional spotting though.