You wait and wait - but nothing happens. No bleeding during the pill break! Keep Calm! We explain to you why it can be and whether it is possible to get pregnant despite birth control.
Summary
Although the pill has lost popularity in recent years, it is still considered the safest form of contraception .
When you take the pill, the lining of the uterus builds up, similar to the natural menstrual cycle.
The bleeding that starts during the pill break is also known as withdrawal bleeding and does not correspond to the menstrual bleeding of a natural cycle.
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Table of contents
Contents
1. The pill
Ok, ok the pill has lost quite a bit of popularity in recent years. For some women, it causes nasty side effects , and the period after stopping the supplement is a struggle for many.
Nevertheless - and even if the progress in this area leaves something to be desired: It is considered one of the safest contraceptives and the start of the menstrual period can be planned fairly precisely for the day.
But what is the point of all this planning security if the bleeding then stops? In order to get to the bottom of this mystery, it helps to know what exactly happens during the pill break.
2. Pill break, why?
Here are the basics again:
The pill works by containing man-made sex hormones. There are different forms of birth control pills. Some contain only one hormone, others a combination of several. The common pill (micropill) is an estrogen-gestagen combination preparation .
The hormones estrogen and progestin are a real power couple. This is because they suppress the maturation of the egg and ovulation and prevent male sperm cells from ascending into the uterus. Et voilà – no fertilization!
The only requirement: the pill must be taken correctly.
That means taking the pill for 21 days and taking a break for seven days.
Sounds pretty understandable, because it's meant to mimic a 28-day cycle for women. When you take the pill, the lining of the uterus builds up, similar to the natural menstrual cycle. If you stop taking the pill, the hormone supply also drops and the mucous membrane is shed.
The bleeding that starts during the pill break is therefore also known as withdrawal bleeding and does not correspond to the menstrual bleeding of a natural cycle. In fact, it's pretty much useless and only has a cosmetic effect. Crazy!
But regardless of whether it's a natural cycle or a break from taking the pill, if the bleeding doesn't start when it's supposed to, the alarm bells start ringing.
Did you know : It doesn't matter whether it's bleeding from not taking the pill or a menstrual period - period underwear helps. Learn more here .
3. No bleeding? That's it!
Withdrawal bleeding usually starts three to four days after you last took the pill. If this is not the case, this does not have to be a sign of pregnancy. There are several reasons why you may not have a bleed on the pill break.
1. You switched pills:
If you've just switched to another pill, that could be the reason you're not bleeding. Your body and hormone balance must first adjust to the new preparation. It's not uncommon for this to cause confusion in the body and you don't get a period at first.
2. You're on a low-dose pill:
Some pills are dosed so low that the period during the pill break does not occur at all. What?! That can also be a great advantage. But if you feel uncomfortable with it and want a withdrawal bleed, you can switch to a higher-dose pill.
3. First pill break after long cycle:
If you want to stop your monthly menstrual period, you can take the pill in a long-term cycle. So you can cheat quite a bit with the pill. To do this, you skip the pill break and continue taking the next pill blister. A break is usually used after three cycles. Often there is no bleeding. In the same way, the period can be missed when switching from a long-term cycle to regular intake.
4. Your uterine lining only builds up a little:
No bleeding during the pill break, can also be related to the low structure of the uterine lining. This is not unusual, nor is it dangerous.
5. You are pregnant:
Last but not least! Missing your period while on the pill can actually be a sign of pregnancy.
How pregnant now despite the pill, is that possible? That's fine. Unfortunately, when taking the pill, application errors often occur. I mean, who doesn't know that. It's easy to forget to swallow the pill. Then the whole thing becomes more of a bitter pill.
But diarrhea, vomiting and taking certain medications can also impair contraceptive protection. Therefore, always read the package leaflet to see whether there are any interactions with the pill and, if in doubt, use additional contraception.
No matter which of the reasons might apply to you. If you don't have any bleeding during the pill break, you should definitely have it checked out by a doctor first.
