Post-Pill Side Effects & Breakthrough Bleeding After Discontinuation

Question
Hi! I was on Aviane (generic for Alesse) for two months but didn't start the third pack because I had bad side effects on this brand and other hormonal birth controls and now I'm going to use condoms/spermicide instead. My concern is that I had unprotected sex two days before the START of placebo week. We used withdrawal and I shouldn't have been ovulating but the day after sex (one day before first placebo pill) I had breakthrough bleeding that lasted 5 days into the placebo week. Nothing heavy, flow on two days, spotting on others. Now it's been about two weeks since that incident and ever since I've been having some weird twinges in my pelvis and period like cramps. My breasts are swollen too! But these are symptoms I also experienced ON the pill. I took a first response hpt 18 days after sex and it was negative I will test again in 3 days... should I even be worried? Are the symptoms I'm having now off the pill (that scare me cause theyre pregnancy symptoms) just my hormones?

Answer
Hi Sarah,

Thanks for your question. I'm not a medical doctor so I advise you to check with your physician about this and other health questions. I'm with you about the hormonal birth control methods. I'm sure you know that condoms/spermicide will not be 100% safe from pregnancy. I can't tell you if your symptoms are from the hormones or pregnancy. All I can tell you is to keep taking pregnancy tests and/or see if you have any other symptoms. You can find a free pregnancy testing center by going online at http://www.optionline.org or calling 1-800-395-HELP.
If you find one in your area, you can also ask them any questions you might have. It's all free and volunteer-staffed in most cases. Please email me at DCHERYL51@yahoo.com if you have any further questions or just want to talk. I'll be curious to find out what happens.

Sincerely,
Diane Cheryl