Common "Withdrawal Bleeding" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Withdrawal Bleeding

Withdrawal bleeding is the monthly bleeding women on regular birth control pills experience during the pill-free period (or placebo week). Withdrawal bleed is not exactly the same as a menstrual bleed. It is caused by a slight change in hormonal levels and is much lighter than periods and also lasts fewer days.

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I took an I-pill a week before my period date and had little bleeding after my expected period date. Am I pregnant?

Query: Hi doctor, I took an I-pill a week before my period date. I had very little bleeding one day after my expected period date. Does bleeding rule out pregnancy even though it was just a few drops, or can I be pregnant still?  Read Full »


Dr. Balakrishnan R

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. I-pill or Unwanted-72 (Levonorgestrel) is a high dose of progesterone hormone, the same hormone which is produced in your body in the second half of the period after ovulation. This pill will suddenly increase the thickness of the inner lining o...  Read Full »

I took an I-pill. When will withdrawal bleeding happen?

Query: Hello doctor,I had unprotected sex on the first day of my period. There was no penetration, but the penis was rubbed against the vagina, and I was scared about pregnancy from precum. So I took an I-pill within 12 hours on the second day of my period. Today is the fourth day, and I am still bleeding....  Read Full »


Dr. Radhakrishnan Nair Bhaskaran

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I thoroughly read your query and understand your concern. Absolutely there was no need of taking an I-pill (Levonorgestrel) as it happened during your periods. Now your bleeding may be due to I-pill. Do not wait for withdrawal bleed as you took a tablet during your per...  Read Full »

I had an I-pill after unprotected sex. Even after 11 days, there is no withdrawal bleeding. Why?

Query: Hi doctor,I had an I-pill within an hour of unprotected sex. Still, there is no withdrawal bleeding even after 11 days. It was my 12th day after my period. My next period will be due on the 11th of next month. Since I did not get any withdrawal bleeding, is there any chance I am pregnant?Thank you.  Read Full »


Dr. Balakrishnan R

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I-pill is a high dose of Progesterone hormone, the same hormone produced in your body in the second half of the period after ovulation. This pill will suddenly increase the thickness of the inner lining of the uterus, making it unfavorable for a possible pregnancy to im...  Read Full »

How long will it take I-pill to work and cause withdrawal bleeding?

Query: Hello doctor, I had intercourse with a man who used a condom and he also made sure not to ejaculate inside my vagina despite wearing a condom to avoid the risk of pregnancy as much as possible. However, to be extra safe, I wanted to take an I-pill. Unfortunately, I could not take it right away and t...  Read Full »


Dr. Sameer Kumar

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. You are safe and you really need not worry as the condom used was new and there was no rupture at all. Also, you have taken an I-pill within 72 hours. It is actually effective until five days post intercourse. The withdrawal bleed is expected in next 3 to 5 days and ...  Read Full »

Can I-pill cause irregular periods?

Query: Hi doctor, I had unprotected sex with my partner without penetration but I rubbed my penis on her vagina. She had her last periods before 10 days and usually have irregular periods. She had withdrawal bleeding after a week and today it is 38 days after the last period. Two days back she had abdomin...  Read Full »


Dr. Sagar Ramesh Makode

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. She is unlikely to be pregnant, however, get one urine pregnancy test done to be on the safer side. Also, I guess you did not ejaculate inside her. You mentioned about the withdrawal bleeding, so I guess she would have taken I-pill which is highly effective in preven...  Read Full »

Is I-pill still effective when taken 48 hours after the act?

Query: Hello doctor, My husband and I had protected sex on the 15th of the month. I have taken an I-pill on the 17th. There is no withdrawal bleeding yet. I was worried about a pregnancy as there was some pre-ejaculate involved. So, I took a pregnancy test and it came back negative. Now, when can I expect ...  Read Full »


Dr. Neha Rathod

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. As you have taken an emergency contraceptive pill within 72 hours of intercourse, there is no chance of pregnancy. The delay could be because of hormonal changes due to the pill you have taken. Wait for another week or so, and repeat the test with an early morning ur...  Read Full »

Will washing private parts with sperm spilled hand cause pregnancy?

Query: Hello doctor, I am a 21-year-old female. My partner and I were intimate and he came on my hands. We were sitting side by side and there was no genital contact. There was also no fingering or intercourse. I then proceeded to wash my hands with running water and some bodywash gel. I then washed down ...  Read Full »


Dr. Sameer Kumar

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. There is no risk of pregnancy as intercourse was not resorted to. Also before touching your genitals, you washed with soap which would have killed the sperms right away. There was no requirement of taking an Ipill, but now that you have taken it, it is just double pr...  Read Full »

Why is my period irregular after taking I-pill?

Query: Hi doctor, My regular period comes 24th of every month. I had taken I-pill on the 15 of last month and after that my period came on 24th. Again, I took I-pill on 28th and got period on 5th of this month. Now, again, I am bleeding in a gap of 10 days. Please advise whether it is normal or something s...  Read Full »


Dr. Sameer Kumar

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. After taking the second I-pill, the withdrawal bleed started on 5th, which again marked the onset of a fresh cycle. So, the next bleeding could have been due to an early ovulation and possibly an ovulation bleed. Also, sometimes intermenstrual bleeding is common to ...  Read Full »

Why is there no withdrawal bleeding after taking I-pill the second time?

Query: Hi doctor, I am a 20-year-old female, height 5.4 feet, and weight 143 lbs. I had two I-pills in one month. After the first I-pill, I got withdrawal bleeding after five days. It lasted for four days and the flow was normal. After 14 days of this incident, I again had protected sexual intercourse and ...  Read Full »


Dr. Neha Rathod

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. As you have taken an emergency pill within 72 hours of intercourse there is no chance of pregnancy. This could be because of hormonal changes due to the pill you have taken. So relax and do not worry. But please do not use the pill so frequently, as it is a hormonal pil...  Read Full »

How to confirm whether I had withdrawal bleeding or normal period ?

Query: Hello doctor, I had protected sex last month. Just to be sure, I took an i-pill within six hours on the same day itself. My cycle is 28 days. I have read online that after taking an i-pill, a woman gets withdrawal bleeding within 7-10 days. But I did not get any withdrawal bleeding (even after 15 da...  Read Full »


Dr. Sravanthi Nuthalapati

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through your thorough description and will help you out for sure. As per your description, as it was protected intercourse and took an emergency contraceptive pill, the chances of pregnancy are very low (but not zero, as every contraception method has som...  Read Full »

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