Continuous BC failed - Dr.'s advice... Help!

**Yassou** · 02-16-2011 11:01 PM

Hi all,

Hoping someone can help me out-- I am on Reclipsen (generic for Desogen). Last month, near the end of my pack of BC, I decided I wanted to try to do continuous (3 packs, break for period, repeat; in other words, I skipped the placebo week and went straight to the next pack), as my Dr. OK'd it. Well, it did not work for me-- I am very aware that it's normal for women to experience breakthrough bleeding and spotting when they first begin this method, as your body is getting used to the change, but I've decided it's just not worth it to me, and I'd like to go back to 1 pack, period, repeat.

In the last month, I had a long period (1week+) right when I tried to continue to the next pack (so I basically not only got my period anyway, but it was longer), then I had no period for only about 4 days, then ever since then, I've had a light period (nearly 1 1/2 -2 weeks). It sucks!

Today, I went to my Dr. She understood my concern and understood that I wanted to just go back to the way I took my BC before. SO-- what she advised me to do in order to get my body back on track was to NOT take my placebo pills AGAIN (I have 3 pills left before I am supposed to start my official, regular period). She said to skip those again since I have basically been having a period for 2 weeks and there would be nothing left to bleed, and take the second pack again, then after that's done, to break for my period. She said it might come a bit early, but that it would get my body back on track faster than it would if I breaked and took my placebo pills in 3 days.

Does anyone have any wisdom to share with me?? I mean, I'm going to trust my Dr., but it seems weird to me! I do NOT want to be spotting/having my period all month again!! Any help would be appreciated, as I don't really have another go-to Dr. whose opinion I trust.

Thank you!!

I'm sorry this was so long : /

**Beautiful Disaster** · 02-17-2011 06:48 AM

The thing with birth control pills is, they give you yucky side effects alot of times when you take them EXACTLY like the box tells you to. So when you switch things around to try to "control" the birth control, there WILL be side effects. As a woman, it's important to learn to listen to what your body is telling you. Right now, it's telling you "Hey woman, I do NOT like what you've been doing to me!".

There are pills made specifically for the whole 3 month cycle thing, Seasonique and Lo Seasonique. I did not have good experience with this. Yes, I skipped periods, but I felt bloated, crampy and felt constantly like I was going to start but didn't. Breakthrough bleeding happened regularly. By the end of that, I was begging for a period just to feel normal again. Aside from that, the pills and shots that eliminate a period are showing more and more to cause fertility problems in women who go off them to try to get pregnant. Some women take up to 2 years after depo to have a period again.

Your best bet if you're going to stay on the pill, is to take them exactly like they are supposed to be taken. If you trust your doctor, then do as she advised for this month, be prepared for another month of spotting and possible light period and then hope that things will start to regulate. Then, take them like they are supposed to be taken.......and listen to your body.

**Yassou** · 02-17-2011 11:43 AM

Thanks for your re.

Yeah, I have been taking my birth control JUST as directed since this happened -- same time, everyday, etc. (and I was always good at that to begin with), but my period/spotting just won't cease!

I'm just not sure whether to trust my Doc and take this second pack again continuously (since that is what got me in the situation I'm currently in!) or to take the placebo pills and break for (another) "period" in 3 days. : /

Thanks again for your input.

**auntie_awesome** · 02-17-2011 12:08 PM

I did the same thing and ended up with almost a month long period at one point. Ugh right? lol I continued taking my pills, but I stopped trying the continuous method and things leveled back out after a month or two.