Fear Non-Stop Bleeding if I Stop the Pill
Question
I am 21 years old. I was on the Depo for five straight years and on birth control pills for the past two years, so I have been on a method of birth control (shot then pills) for seven straight years now. I want to get off birth control so I can have a baby in the near future. I am scared that if I stop taking the pills I will have non-stop bleeding. This past summer I ran out of pills and went two weeks without pills. It was the worst time ever because I had heavy bleeding for three weeks.
I would like to know if there is anything that I could do to get off the pill but not have weeks of bleeding? Please help.
Christ
Answer
Last Updated: November 21, 2021
Dear Christy,
Coming off hormonal contraception can be disconcerting. You might have heavy bleeding, no bleeding or irregular bleeding.
There are several things you can do to ease the transition. First you should learn a method of natural family planning. This will help you to achieve pregnancy, will give information on hormone levels and, later, if you have a serious reason to avoid pregnancy, can very reliably help you with that goal. If you do bleed a great deal after stopping the birth control pill, your health care provider might consider putting you on Prometrium (natural progesterone) for 14 days. When that is stopped, expect another period which will be a more complete shedding of the lining of the uterus.
In health,
George Delgado, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. Culture of Life Family Health Care
Coming off hormonal contraception can be disconcerting. You might have heavy bleeding, no bleeding or irregular bleeding.
There are several things you can do to ease the transition. First you should learn a method of natural family planning. This will help you to achieve pregnancy, will give information on hormone levels and, later, if you have a serious reason to avoid pregnancy, can very reliably help you with that goal. If you do bleed a great deal after stopping the birth control pill, your health care provider might consider putting you on Prometrium (natural progesterone) for 14 days. When that is stopped, expect another period which will be a more complete shedding of the lining of the uterus.
In health,
George Delgado, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. Culture of Life Family Health Care
Answered By:
George Delgado, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
George Delgado, MD, President and Founder of Steno Institute and Medical Director of Culture of Life Family Services (COLFS), San Diego, is a Professional Member / Supporter of CANFP. Board certified in both family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine, Dr. Delgado received his medical degree from the University of California, Davis, and completed his residency at Santa Monica Hospital/UCLA. Dr. Delgado is a Natural Family Planning Medical Consultant, trained in NaProTechnology. He and wife have four children and seven grandchildren.
