Stacking and withdrawal bleed in first cycle

[hellgamatic.livejournal.com]

Okay, my trusty vagpag, this question is asked on behalf of my sister.

She is 17, a virgin, has PCOS, and just started nuvaring a few weeks ago. This is the week it was supposed to be out; specifically it was supposed to come out yesterday (Monday) and the new one was supposed to be inserted Sunday. She chose to stack during this first month, both because she is going camping this week (who wants to deal with bleeding AND camping?) using the "four weeks in, switch immediately" method. She chose that (as opposed to "three weeks in, switch" or "four weeks in, one week out") so as to not alert my mother to the fact that she is not using the rings exactly the way the doctor ordered. Our mother is a bit...overbearing.

So, today, on the second day of "supposed to be ring-free week," she is bleeding.

It was always my impression that if you were going to bleed when stacking, it would be after a month or two, because of too much built-up hormone. Was I wrong? She says the bleeding is pretty heavy, and has had a few large jelly-like clots (which, as far as I know, only come from a period, not from, like, vaginal trauma). Any ideas what's going on?

Comments

[dlb5367.livejournal.com]

Stacking doesn't work for everyone, some people can stack with no problem, others will bleed, others will spot.

[paraxeni.livejournal.com]

Some PCOSers actually switch to having a normal cycle, including ovulation, BECAUSE of hormonal BC. Me included. This means that even if I were to stack I'd still get the normal rise in hormones pre-o, then a drop-off afterward to prepare the lining to shed, then a bleed. I only ever ovulate on hormonal BC, I've seen it on a scan. Without BC I have no cycle to speak of at all. Looks like this could be what's happening with your sis. The Ring may have provoked a normal cycle, including a proper period rather than a withdrawal bleed. It's nothing to worry about at all, just inconvenient for the poor thing! Looks like a stash of tampons and pads, or a cup, is needed for this particular wilderness adventure.

Hopefully the longer she uses the Ring the more her body will do as it's told!

[thisandthat.livejournal.com]

Some people on hormonal birth control continue (or in this case, start) to ovulate, but there are other ways that birth control pills work to prevent pregnancy- changing cervical mucus (preventing sperm from meeting egg), changing the lining of the uterus to make less hospitable for implantation. If you read the fine print on hormonal birth control packages it goes into more detail about how there are multiple ways it works, but you can't be sure how it will work for you.

[airenwoodmoon.livejournal.com]

The fourth week of the ring does contain slightly less hormones than the other three weeks (because it's coming close to running out of them). Thus for me, week 4 was bleed week no matter what I did (and I was on it for a year).

Usually when stacking it seems that the first few months you try it are the months where you're more likely to get breakthrough bleeding. After that the body should regulate itself and get used to it. But it might never like that.

The only suggestion I got from my NP about the problems with stacking was to go with changing to a new ring every 3 weeks. But that means over a period of 4 months you use one extra ring than you normally would if you were changing at 4 weeks. Which sounds like it's not an option.

I'd say to have her try and stick with stacking and hope that her body will get used to it after a couple of times. (And not be anything like mine and start ignoring the ring outright. The ring and I didn't get along. XD )

[lilium-vitiate.livejournal.com]

PCOS aside, stacking the ring (especially the first month) can cause spotting. The first time I did it, I spotted for the whole stacked month! It's just your body not being used to the hormones and 'fighting against them.'

[ex_amurderofcrows752]

I use NuvaRing and note that I have very heavy periods while on it -- was a pain in the ass considering that the tail end of my period coincided with my wedding and the start of my honeymoon!! So it may just be a hormonal reaction to the NuvaRing.