Spotting On Birth Control

Spotting is common during the first six months of taking birth control pills, as the body tries to adjust to the new levels of hormones. The other reasons for spotting on birth control are missing a pill, vomiting immediately after taking a pill, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections.

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I have been on birth control vaginal ring for five years, but recently noticed spotting post-intercourse. What could be the reason?

Query: Hello doctor, I have been on birth control vaginal ring for the past five years. I had no problems with it until this morning. I was intimate with my partner (penetration with fingers) and had an orgasm. We then noticed that I had a bleed. It was light spotting and looked like a little period. It ha...  Read Full »


Dr. Uzma Arqam

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your complaint is about post-intercourse spotting with birth control vaginal ring and then period-like pain, so you are asking about the possibility of injury. Birth control vaginal ring is a polymeric drug delivery device designed to produce two hormones, etonogest...  Read Full »

I had spotting two weeks after my period as I took an emergency pill after unprotected sex. Why?

Query: Hello doctor, My period went on for four days and on the 8th day of my cycle, I and my boyfriend had unprotected sex for the first time. I have never had unprotected sex ever in my life. He did not cum inside my vagina nor did he even cum when he pulled out. The next day I still took an emergency...  Read Full »


Dr. Anjal Vaghasia

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is possible that the bleeding you are experiencing is a side effect of taking the emergency contraceptive pill. An emergency contraceptive pill is a high dose of hormones that can disrupt your menstrual cycle and cause irregular bleeding. This is a common si...  Read Full »

I have been on birth control pills for over two years and bleeding for the past 12 days. Why?

Query: Hello doctor, I have been bleeding for 12 days. I have pcos and taking birth control pills for almost two years and It started with brownish bleeding on day 13 of my active pill. Why is this happening? I am worried. Please help.  Read Full »


Dr. Richa Agarwal

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thanks for trusting us with your health care. I have gone through your history and understand your concerns. As per your description, these symptoms could be due to hormonal imbalances caused by pills. Once you stop the medication, usually the period resumes within ...  Read Full »

After insertion of Mirena IUD, I have spotting every day. Is it normal?

Query: Hi doctor,I had a Mirena IUD inserted before 18 months. I used to spot for a day or so in every few months. But, for the last two weeks, I have been spotting every day. Is this normal?  Read Full »


Dr. Balakrishnan R

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is one of the complications of LNG-IUD (Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device) or Mirena. The Levonorgestrel being released by the IUD makes the inner lining of the uterus or the endometrium so thin that it will just give way. Let me give you a few facts. By 50 ...  Read Full »

Can copper-T be the reason for my heavy and prolonged periods?

Query: Hi doctor, My baby is now 1 year old. I got copper T inserted after 3 months of my delivery. I still have prolonged and heavy periods followed by spotting lasting for up to 10-15 days. There is no other issue that I face. Is it because of copper T insertion or can there be some other reason too? W...  Read Full »


Dr. Purushottam Sah

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read and understood your problem. How was the bleeding before pregnancy and for 3 months after delivery? Was your delivery a normal or C-section? Whether the copper-T is properly placed or not or to see some other cause for heavy bleeding you need to take a tr...  Read Full »

I had unprotected sex and took two emergency contraceptive pills, but I have been experiencing brown spotting since then. What does it indicate?

Query: Hello doctor, I have a light brown discharge. I just started birth control pills the first week of this month after being off them for two months and having unprotected sex. I took an emergency contraceptive after that. I realized I had missed two days of birth control pills. I took the two missed p...  Read Full »


Dr. Muhammad Zohaib Siddiq

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your query. I understand your concern. The little brown discharge you are experiencing could be related to several factors, including starting birth control pills, taking emergency contraception, missing pills, and having unprotected sex. It is not unc...  Read Full »

Should I be worried if I had spotting for the last two period cycles when I am on birth control pills?

Query: Hello doctor, I have been on and off birth control for the past few months. Due to this, my periods have become irregular, and my bleeding is very light. I have been experiencing spotting for the last two cycles, along with period cramps and lower back pain. I am also sexually active. Is it a sign o...  Read Full »


Dr. Pandian. P

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I went through your query and understood your concern. It may be due to hormonal imbalance, anemia, thyroid problem, or pelvic inflammatory disease. So, I suggest you do the following tests. 1) Thyroid profile. 2) Hemoglobin levels and peripheral smear study. 3) ...  Read Full »

I use a birth control patch and have been having on-and-off brown discharge or spotting. Why so?

Query: Hello doctor, I use the birth control patch but recently have been having an issue of on-and-off brown discharge or spotting. I am experiencing this now, but my menstrual cycle is later in this month. Kindly help.  Read Full »


Dr. Richa Agarwal

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your query. I understand your concern. As per your description, these symptoms could be due to hormonal imbalances caused by patches. Once you stop using the patch, the usual period resumes within a month, but sometimes it may take time to resume menses d...  Read Full »

I took abortion pills and the bleeding is intermittent but not heavy. Is it normal?

Query: Hello doctor, I took abortion pills, and after seven days, when the bleeding has stopped but has started again after six days, it started again. Bleeding is normal and not heavy. Is it normal? Please advise.  Read Full »


Dr. Uzma Arqam

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Induced abortion by medications is actually hormone-induced miscarriage, and it has side effects of hormones. Everyone's body responds to hormones, and it depends on how the individual body responds to them. Abortion-induced tablets can give side effects of spotting, un...  Read Full »

I had unusual spotting with NuvaRing. Please advise.

Query: Hi doctor, Last month, I had an unusual spotting during the time I was using Nuvaring. That never happened before. So, I decided to take the ring off, but during that time, it was menstruation. I never had a normal flux, just spotting all the time. At first, kind of brown and after, redder and then...  Read Full »


Dr. Uzma Arqam

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Nuvaring is Etonogestrel and Ethinylestradiol containing contraceptive. Hormones have its own side effects and appear a bit differently in every individual female. Combined contraceptives have short-term effects like abnormal bleeding, spotting, mood variations, brea...  Read Full »

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