[srvsiy]

This summer I purposefully skipped my period 3 times in a row by just skipping my white pills and taking the blue ones instead. Right after I skipped my 3rd period I started having breakthrough bleeding that was occuring every day. I didn't know what to do because I had just started the third pack. I continued bleeding (lightly - only brown blood) for about 2 weeks. I think the breakthrough bleeding was due to the fact that I was taking a generic Tri-Sprintec that was low dosage.

I didn't want to stop taking my BC because my boyfriend and I were having sex at the time. In the middle of August he left to study abroad for 4 months, and I knew I wasn't going to have sex during that time so I just stopped taking my BC, which allowed me to have a full period that lasted about 4-5 days.

It's now been about 5 weeks since that period ended and I still haven't started my next period. I don't know what's happening but I'm a little worried. I'm definitely not pregnant because I haven't had sex since my last period. I wanted to start taking birth control again before my boyfriend comes home in December, but I don't know when I should start the next pack. I thought you were supposed to start it the Sunday after your most recent period, but what do I do if I don't get my period before December?

Sorry about the long post, but I would appreciate some help because I'm really confused!

[ItsASecret]

When you deviate from taking the pill exactly as directed, which means skipping the placebos, your body reacts by having to entirely shift it's processes to get used to that new routine. It is fine to skip the placebos maybe once every few months but doing so more than recommended will result in breakthrough bleeding. That just means your body is reacting to what it thought would happen (it was so used to getting the period before your summer break and now that routine was no longer there) so it reacts by having a minor bleed and shedding of the uterine wall. This is the brown stuff, it is old blood and uterine lining. Old does not mean weeks or months ago it means maybe that day or a few days prior there was some bleeding and it simply was never pushed out so it ends up oxidizing inside your body. Brown is normal it happens to all women at some point.

As for your late period, likely due to the skipping of all the placebo pills and making your body think that no placebos is the new routine. When you start back up like you did when you went abroad your body is not seeing yet again a new change in routine with placebos being there. This means again your body will have to readjust the physiology. It is only recommended to start taking your pills after your period because it means it would line up with your normal menstrual cycle so taking it right after your last period just means it is easier to keep track of. Wait maybe another week then go in to discuss with a nurse or drop in clinic. There is not a whole lot you can do but wait for your body to readjust.

[srvsiy]

thanks for the reply!