When does menstrual bleeding resume after taking ECP?

Question

Hello doctor,

My girlfriend took Unwanted 72 on the same day of sexual intercourse. She had thick and fleshy bleeding for three days, starting from 15 days earlier than her usual period date of the month. It has been 33 days since that bleeding, but her period has still not started yet.

When will she get her period?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern.

Let me explain to you that this Unwanted emergency contraceptive may cause irregular menstrual bleeding.

There is a possibility that the bleeding she had was period bleeding. However, I would suggest you do a urine pregnancy test. If it is not positive, then we will give oral contraceptive pills that will treat irregular menstrual bleeding.

According to the FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) classification of abnormal uterine bleeding:

Frequency:

Absent: Amenorrhea.
Frequent: When the cycle length is less than 24 days.
Normal: When the cycle length is between 24 and 38 days.
Infrequent: When the cycle length is more than 38 days.

Duration:

Normal duration: Bleeding that continues up to eight days.
Prolonged duration: Bleeding lasting more than eight days.

Regularity:

Regular: variation between the shortest and longest cycle is less than nine days.
Irregular: variation between the shortest and longest cycle is more than ten days.

Flow:

Normal.
Light.
Heavy.

So, according to this FIGO classification, her cycle is irregular.

I advise her to do the following investigations:

Urine pregnancy test.
Thyroid function test.
Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone.

If the pregnancy test is negative, I advise you to take a tablet of Dydrogesterone 10 milligrams, one tablet in the morning and one tablet at night for 21 days.

I hope that this answers your query.

Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.

Thank you.