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I lost my birth control and haven't taken it in a few days but my period started ealier than usual. What is wrong?

By June 10, 2010 - 7:57pm
 
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I am out of the country, so I bought 2 packs of birth control to take while I am gone. My last period was on May 23rd-May 27th, and I was only the second week of this birth control pack. For some reason, I lost my birth control pack, and I can not find it anywhere. So I decided to take 2 of the pills from the new pack to make up for the last 2 days I missed my pills. But then I realized that I will not have enough pills to take until I go back to the US, I will be 7 pills short. So after I have calculated, I stopped taking the pills and will wait until June 13th to take it again, that way I will have enough pill to catch up for the next pack when I get back to the US. Note that during that time I am out of the country, I will not be having sex, this is why I thought it was okay to skip a few days of this birth control pack. When I get back to the US, then I possibly will have sex again, so I need to take the up coming pack completely. But today, June 11th, I found out that my period has started again, at least I saw blood and it looks like my period. I don't know why I haven't been taking my pills but I have my period so soon. It has only been about 18 days since the last cycle. I am just a little paranoid because I am not sure what is going on? Please help me asap! I am really worried!

Add a Comment5 Comments

Yes they make sense.
I have another question. I started my first birth control pack ever on a Thursday, and it has been like that ever since. Should I start it again like that or I can choose whatever day now? Should I wait for this period ends to start or start now? I won't be back to the US until July 8th, if I wait until then to start again, will that higher that chance of me getting pregnant if I don't use a back up method?

Thank you so much for the fast reply and your help!

June 10, 2010 - 9:09pm
(reply to Angaroo)

Hi, Angeroo,

If Thursday is easier for you to remember because it's a habit you've had for a long time, sure, go ahead and start that day again. Many women start on the first Sunday after their period starts because it's easy to keep up with.

I would wait for your period to end, and start afterward, almost like you would normally.

If you wait until you get back to the U.S. and don't use a backup method, yes, it would increase the chances of you getting pregnant. Your body's own hormones would have taken back over and starting the pill at that point will give you unpredictable protection until the pill is totally effective. If you really don't want to use backup protection once you're back in the States, you might start those pills 7 days before you get back. But again, it's best to do it after a period rather than mid-cycle.

Does that help at all? I know this is tough to figure out!

June 15, 2010 - 9:00am
(reply to Diane Porter)

yes, that helps a lot! Thank you very much for your help!

June 15, 2010 - 7:03pm

It is actually perfectly normal for your period to begin sooner than you thought, since you have stopped taking your hormonal contraception in the middle of your cycle. The pill works to regulate your period in many ways, as well as to help prevent pregnancy (by preventing ovulation, changing cervical mucus, etc). When you stop taking pills, your body "kicks back into gear" to be able to become pregnant again, with beginning the process for you to ovulate, etc. This entire process also includes your uterine lining thickening (for a fertilized egg), and when you do not have an egg fertlized, then the thickened uterine lining sloughs off....which is our menstrual period. When you take the pills, this entire process is stopped and what you experience as a "period" during your 7 days of inactive pills is actually "withdrawal bleeding" from not taking the pill for those 7 days. So, the bleeding you are experiencing "early" could be a period or withdrawal bleeding.

Your period will be irregular for a cycle or two, as you go on-and-off your pills. If you are not having sex for a few months and have lost your pills, you can choose not to take your pills and begin taking them again at a specified time (follow the directions for your prescription; usually for a Sunday starter, you take the first pill of your new pack on the first Sunday after you start your period). Taking the pill "haphazardly" in the middle of your cycle may not provide the most effectiveness, as each pill is designed specifically for certain days in your cycle.

Does this all make sense?

Most importantly, when you do decide to have sex again, you MUST you back-up method (condom) for at least 7 days (make it 14) after you begin your new pack of pills!

June 10, 2010 - 8:53pm
(reply to Alison Beaver)

Yes they make sense.
I have another question. I started my first birth control pack ever on a Thursday, and it has been like that ever since. Should I start it again like that or I can choose whatever day now? Should I wait for this period ends to start or start now? I won't be back to the US until July 8th, if I wait until then to start again, will that higher that chance of me getting pregnant if I don't use a back up method?

Thank you so much for the fast reply and your help!

June 14, 2010 - 2:20am
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