Why I am bleeding after taking Ferrous sulfate pills?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 29-year-old female and have been on dilation and curettage procedure because I experienced heavy bleeding last month. My doctor suggested to take Althea and Ferrous sulfate pills four times a day for four days, three times for three days, and twice for two days. Unfortunately, I am on my last pill and started to bleed again.

Please help me.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Tablet Althea (Cyproterone acetate and Ethinyl estradiol) is a contraceptive pill. It is also used for acne and polycystic ovarian disease, which has side effects of breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, headache, and stomach pain.

Please provides details of your last menstrual period date, how many days, weeks, or cycles of amenorrhea, cycle regularity, previous obstetrics and gynecological history, and medical, drug, and surgical history.

Generally, Althea pills are given one tablet daily for 21 days and then stopped to have periods for approximately seven days. Then the next cycle of the drug will be started. This is the standard dose of Althea for contraceptive use. If you have taken it four times a day, as you mentioned, it is clearly an overdose.

It is better to avoid this tablet as per the mentioned dose in your history post-evacuation.

Your BMI (body mass index) is too high, and it may be a side effect of the drug. Bleeding may also be a side effect of the drug.

I suggest taking your ferrous sulfate tablets, as previously mentioned.

Try to have one transvaginal scan and a complete blood count to be on the safer side. Also, do serum beta hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) twice with an interval of 48 hours to see if levels are reducing rapidly, as should be in case of evacuation.

Try to consult a specialist for contraceptives.

I hope this information is helpful.