So Frustrated with Spotting

[DgyJff]

I have had heavy spotting in between periods for a year and a half now and I'm really at my breaking point. I have been on birth control for about 6 years and since this spotting started I've been on three different brands. I switched brands once just because I wanted to get my pills at my college pharmacy rather than the one at home. To my knowledge they were the same triphasal type, just different brands. I never went to the doctor about the issue I guess because I just hopped each month that it would stop on its own. I finally went to the doctor in September about the issue and she switched me to a monophasal brand. I'm on my second month with it and the spotting is even heavier, pretty much like a full second period at the moment. I have to give it three months before I can go back to the doc but it just really doesn't seem like it's going away. It's really getting on my nerves! I haven't been intimate with my boyfriend in going on three weeks now. I'm wondering if I might need to go off the pill altogether which is the last thing I want, but I cannot figure out the cause. I can't think of anything that changed in my life back when it started. I guess I'm just ranting...

[cch_2004]

Spotting can occur for other reasons than just the pill, including stress so freaking about it isn't going to help the situation. I would try to relax and let the new pill work and then if the spotting continues let your doctor know.

[mollymegan]

Yeah, there are many reasons this could be happening. Do you take your pill at the same time everyday? Do you ever miss them?

I would go back to the doctor sooner (if you can), explain how big the problem is because they always seem to use simple methods first.

[hoodedclawjen]

i do think you need to give it time, especailly if the doc has checked you over and nothing else seems to be a contributing factor. have you had an exam, any hormone tests done, etc?

wrt the intimacy thing, you can still do it- just put down a bathsheet/towel, get your bf to wear a condom, and tell him not to look down there if its gonna ick him out. many guys won't really be put off the idea of getting some by a little ick factor.

if for some reason condoms are out, you could also look into getting a diaphram, instead cups, or a special type of sponge and whacking that up there.

[DgyJff]

I know stress and other factors can cause it but i certainly haven't been continuously stressed out for a year and a half. I am very good about taking the pill at the same time every day although I do forget by a few hours occasionally. I've thought maybe it's my diet but I can't think of what it could be specifically. I was vegetarian when it started and now I'm vegan.

I'll see my boyfriend this weekend and hopefully the spotting will stop by then but if not I guess I'll consider the idea. I haven't told him yet because it's embarrassing, I've just been playing it like I'm not in the mood.

[hoodedclawjen]

ahh, i don't recommend you fib like that, its confusing for the poor boy and probably gives him mixed signals (and avoids you actually getting the chance of having some of your needs met, if not all).

it is super hard to open up about stuff, i understand that.

if you do want to talk to him maybe you could be vague and tactfully subtle if you think he'll be icked out (say that you have a ladies issue going on at the moment, that would make things less than ideal, and let him either ask for more info, or work it out for himself, or just go 'erm... okay').

but i'm about as subtle as a brick, so decided to just be direct with my bloke and say "i wanna tell you about something personal and medical, but i don't want to gross you out, how do you feel about talk of womens monthly things, and how squeamish are you?" and found my bf was way more unphased than i thought he would be- he actually lolled quite a lot and said girls are nuts and that we think way too much.

sometimes they suprise you. sometimes.

[jenni-anti-fur]

hey there

huggz....sorry you are going through this and hope you are feeling better soon