Manny asked
So I started birth control recently and I missed a pill in the first week and had unprotected sex that same week. I now am on the second week of my birth control and I started bleeding heavily 2 days ago and still am. I have no normal period symptoms and I just had a period two weeks ago before i started the pill. Is this breakthrough bleeding or just another Period? Is it possible to be pregnant and bleed?
Answer
The most likely reason you are experiencing breakthrough bleeding and spotting is that you started taking your birth control pill two week after menses (i.e. your period).
Birth control pills should generally be started in one of two ways:
- "Day 1 Starter": Start taking your birth control pills during the first 24 hours of your period. If you are a "day 1 starter", you do not need to use a back-up method of birth control.
- "Sunday Starter": Start taking your birth control pills on the Sunday after your period starts. You must use another method of birth control (e.g. condoms) as a back-up method until you have taken 7 consecutive days of active pills to be protected from pregnancy.
What Happens If You Start Birth Control Pills 2 Weeks Late
Per your question, you had your period two weeks before you started taking your birth control pills. In this situation, it is extremely likely that you will experience breakthrough bleeding or spotting during your cycle and especially around the time you usually have your period. It often takes a few cycles of birth control pills after first starting until breakthrough bleeding or spotting subsides.
It is possible to have spotting and be pregnant, but you won't have your usual period as the vaginal lining will not shed if implantation has occurred.
You also mentioned that you missed a dose during the first week. This can certainly cause spotting as well. Be sure to follow the patient insert for your specific birth control pill product for instructions on what to do for missed doses in the future.
