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Question
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I've been told that one of the side effects of taking the pill is breakthrough
bleeding. What is this?
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Answer
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Breakthrough bleeding, also sometimes known as "spotting," is simply a
little bit of bleeding that occurs not during your menstrual period. A
woman who is experiencing this will often notice a couple drops of blood staining
her underwear when she was not expecting her period.
There can be many causes for this, including birth control pills, but it is
usually simply an annoyance, and not indicative of a serious problem. Combined
oral contraceptives actually rarely cause break through bleeding. In fact, they
are sometimes prescribed for this very condition. It is the mini-pill (birth
control pills that contain only Progestin), Depo-Provera, and Norplant that are
actually the most likely to cause spotting. In fact, in some studies, it was
one of the primary reasons that women chose to discontinue these methods of
birth control.
So, if breakthrough bleeding is the primary reason you are worried about the
Pill, I wouldn't be too concerned. It is unlikely to happen, and if it does,
you can either use a panty liner, or switch to a different form of pill (which
usually takes care of it).
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Best,
Dr. Sandor Gardos
MyPleasure provides up-to-date and useful sexual education materials in combination
with a store that allows people to buy, try, and learn about new aspects of
sexuality. We believe everybody deserves a great sex life.
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