Thread: Does irregular bleeding increase risk of pregnancy while on the pill?

hello everyone,
First of all I'm 17 looking for advice not critisism. I have always taken my pills correctly so i ask you to please refrain from calling me immature or "too young to be having sex".

I've been taking the birth control pill Microgestin perscribed by my doctor for about six months now and ive generally started my period a few days before the end of my active pills. Once it has been a few days later but in general i "start" earlier. I didnt think much of this (but i guess i should have now) untill a few days ago when i woke up with cramps and bleeding 6 days before the end of my active pills. I went to my doctor and they suggested i switch to Tri-Levlen and told me to continue my last pack of the old stuff and then begin taking the new pills.

My problem is this: yesterday (with 3 active pills left in the month) i had sex with my boyfriend without any condom and he came inside me. I am worried that since ive already been having my period (or continuous spotting) that i will ovulate before i start my new pills and risk becoming pregnant. Does irregular bleeding and the effectiveness of the pill directly related or should i assume that i will be covered durring the "empty" pills? Also, can i just be bleeding irregularly making this not my real period?

Help me out please!
thank you

You definately should be talking to your dr about this, but to answer your question I dont think there is any correlation between breakthrough bleeding and pregnancy while taking oral contraceptives. If they are taken properly. Have you been taking them everyday, around the same time ?? The pill works in three ways. Supresses ovulation, changes the thickness of your cervical mucus and makes the uterus inhabitable for a fertilized egg. Ideally one of these 3 things would stop the pregnancy but if you dont take the pills faithfully everyday it could increase your chances of accidental pregnancy.

Truthfully the breakthrough bleeding and wacky periods you seem to have been having sounds like the amount of hormones in the Microgestin was not agreeing with you. If I'm not mistaken Micrgestin is the same level of hormone consisitantly through the month. The Tri-Levelen (which is what I usually take) is a combo pill each color being 3 different hormone levels. When I googled Microgestin I see many women complain of this bleeding after taking the pill for months.

Also since you were already on the pill, you would be immediately protected when you made the switch. So try not to worry.