My wife has spotting.There are no signs of pregnancy.Can this be the side effect of ipill?

Question

Hello doctor,

Me and my wife had sex on 12th January and she took ipill on 13th January.

She had her periods on 21st January.

We again had sex on 25th January and 10th February with protection (condoms).

On the 10th evening some spotting started and it stopped on 17th February.

The spotting was dark brownish color when it started and ended with bright red color.

There are no signs of pregnancy till now.

Can this be the side effect of ipill or is there a chance of pregnancy?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The bleeding due to menses on 21st January after ipill confirmatively rules out pregnancy which could have occurred due to sex on 13th January.

The repeat sexual intercourse held on 25th January (she was in her safe period and hence pregnancy is unlikely) and then 10th February (this time she was in her fertile period) might result in pregnancy. But you have had protected sexual intercourse.

Chances of pregnancy are minimal and the spotting is unlikely to be an implantation bleed.

The spotting is more likely to be a breakthrough bleeding which is possibly due to the side effects of ipill which is known to cause irregularity in menses for the next 2 cycles.

However, the best way to confirm or negate pregnancy would be to opt for a serum beta hCG test.

This test if positive shall confirm pregnancy and if the levels are less than 1, then pregnancy is ruled out completely. This shall allay your anxiety.

Revert back to an obstetrician and gynaecologist online for further follow up --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/obstetrician-and-gynaecologist

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I had mentioned in the previous answer, to get a serum beta hCG test done and not a urine pregnancy kit test (UPT).

UPT would come negative until 7 days post missed period.

Hence, get a lab based serum beta hCG test done to rule out pregnancy confirmatively.

If the test is negative, then the early onset of spotting and bleed can be due to progesterone withdrawal, early during this cycle which can be due to ipill side effect.

But it is generally seen that ipill causes delayed menses and now as she has been spotting red blood since a week , implantation has to be ruled out first.

Hence, get the blood test done before we reach any conclusion, not a urine pregnancy test.

Revert back with the reports to an obstetrician and gynaecologist online for further help --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/obstetrician-and-gynaecologist