Delayed Period & Possible Ovulation: Understanding Your Cycle

Question
QUESTION: I WAS ON ORTHO TRISPRINTEC FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS. I STOPPED TAKING THE PILL BECAUSE IT MADE ME FEEL HORRIBLE. I TOOK THEM FROM MAY 5TH TO MAY 8. COULD THEY HAVE CHANGED MY PERIOD THIS DRAMATICALLY?I HAVE NO PERIOD THUS FAR. WHAT I DID HAVE ON THE 25 OF JUNE WAS SPOTTING. SOMETHING LIKE A PERIOD THAT ONLY LASTED PROBABLY 10 MINUTES. COULD I HAVE OVULATED LATER THAN I WAS SUPPOSED TO AND HAVE GOTTEN PREGNANT, OR IS THIS MY PERIOD SOMEHOW AND FINALLY COMING BACK TO NORMAL.

ANSWER: Dear Kish,

Yes, this could have altered your hormone levels enough to disrupt your cycle in this way. Obviously your body was one which is extremely sensitive to the hormones in the BCP you were prescribed since it made you feel so terrible. So, the disruption is actually not surprising.

Eventually your cycles should get back on track once your body gets them regulated again. If you were not having protected sex during the entire time - including the time you were taking those pills, you were susceptible to pregnancy. If you think this may be a possibility, you should test for pregnancy. Make sure you use 1st morning urine to get a concentrated sample for the most accurate results.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: HI BRENDA...JUST ONE MORE QUESTION.....YOU SAID THAT I COULD'VE GOTTEN PREGNANT SOMETIME AFTERWARDS.....IF I DID HAVE WHAT "APPEARED" TO BE IMPLANTATION BLEEDING ON THE 25 OF JUNE.....WOULD I BE EXPERIENCING SLIGHT MORNING SICKNESS OR BREAST SORENESS, AS SUCH IS THE CASE?

Answer
Dear Kish,

There is no hard and fast rule for pregnancy symptoms. Some women experience symptoms such as nausea and breast swelling/tenderness within the first few weeks. Some will not note anything for 2-3 months. Others will never have and nausea, headaches, backache... This is why it is so difficult to "diagnose" pregnancy based on symptoms alone.

Implantation bleeding typically occurs 6-12 days after conception and can be red, pink, or brown in color.

Again, if you know that you were unprotected for sexual activity at any point during those weeks, and especially if you are experiencing nausea and breast tenderness now, my suggestion would be to test for pregnancy with concentrated 1st morning urine.

Hope that helps. Be well!

Brenda