9 day withdrawal bleed on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo...or something else?

[jesexxxica.livejournal.com]

I'm generally concerned as to why I've been bleeding for so long. I've always been a girl to only have my period for 4, MAYBE 5, days even before I started taking birth control in July 2008. Since I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo my withdrawal bleeds show up on any day of the inactive week and last for about 4 days, predictably.

On April 16 at about 8 a.m. I began my withdrawal bleed (finally!) considering my new month of active pills was to start Friday morning. That was scary enough, but I have learned to not expect my bleed right away.

Anyway, my issue is... I'm still bleeding! I've been taking my active pills since the 17th and here we are on the 9th day straight of bleeding...and this isn't just visible on the t.p. bleeding...it is showing up in my underwear and all. And the funny thing is that sometimes it's red and other times it's brown.

Has anyone else ever experienced this? I really don't have a gynecologist to call...the one that prescribed this to me has only seen my once, ended up leaving the practice about 6 months later, and is located in another state anyway -- I have since moved. Is this something I should call the pill company about? A doctor? Can I just call any doctor in general?

Thanks for help...oh, and my boyfriend and I have stopped having sex in order to find out what the problem is. We're hoping that this wasn't a "bad" pack of pills and hoping that I haven't started ovulating. While I'm here...this isn't a possible sign of pregnancy is it? I don't have any other symptoms, luckily. In case it's of any importance: I've never missed a pill and I take mine at 8 a.m. every single day and we also practice withdrawal during intercourse.

Comments

[melodic-lyrics.livejournal.com]

It just sounds like you may have breakthrough bleeding (http://vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=Hormonal_Birth_Control#Common_Side_Effects). It's also not unusual for cycles to change sometimes. Have you been spending a lot of time with your female friends? Sometimes cycles will sync up, and break through bleeding can be part of that as well.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

While I'm here...this isn't a possible sign of pregnancy is it?

If you Google, yes, it will tell you that spotting is a possible sign of pregnancy. But then again, so are: a) having a uterus, b) breathing. ;) Basically, things that can be pregnancy signs can also be signs of a lot of other things -- and some of those other things are much more likely.

Such as -- like melodic_lyrics mentioned -- breakthrough bleeding, which is technically any bleeding during your active pills. It's most common during your first 3 months on a brand, but it's never really an uncommon thing to experience. (For example, I had breakthrough bleeding for... the majority of the 3 years I was on combined HBC.) Even if you've been on this same brand for several months, it's still much more likely to be a cause than is pregnancy when you've been taking your pill correctly and using an additional form of contraception.