You wait and wait – but nothing happens. No bleeding during the pill break! Keep calm! We'll explain what the reason might be and whether it's possible to get pregnant despite taking the pill.
Summary
Although the pill has lost popularity in recent years, it is still considered the safest contraceptive .
Taking the pill causes the lining of the uterus to build up, similar to the natural menstrual cycle.
The bleeding that occurs during the pill break is also called withdrawal bleeding and does not correspond to the menstrual bleeding of a natural cycle.
Table of contents
1. The pill
OK, OK, the pill has lost a lot of popularity in recent years. For some women, it leads to nasty side effects and the time after stopping the medication is a struggle for many.
Nevertheless - and even if progress in this area leaves much to be desired: it is considered one of the safest contraceptives and the start of menstruation can be planned quite precisely to the day.
But what's the point of all this planning security if the bleeding doesn't come? 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 artificially produced sex hormones. There are different types of birth control pills. Some contain just one hormone, others a combination of several. The common pill (micropill) is an estrogen-progestin combination preparation .
The hormones estrogen and progesterone are a real power couple. They suppress the maturation of the egg and ovulation and prevent male sperm cells from reaching the uterus. Et voilà – no fertilization!
The only requirement is that the pill must be taken correctly.
This means taking the pill for 21 days and having a break for seven days.
Sounds pretty understandable, because it is supposed to imitate a female cycle of 28 days. 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 lining is shed.
The bleeding that occurs during the pill break is therefore also called withdrawal bleeding and does not correspond to the menstrual bleeding of a natural cycle. In fact, it is quite useless and only has a cosmetic effect. Crazy!
But regardless of whether you are on a natural cycle or taking a break from the pill, if bleeding does not start when it should, the alarm bells start ringing.
Did you know : Whether you're bleeding because of a pill break or your period - period underwear helps. Find out more here .
3. No bleeding? That's why!
Normally, withdrawal bleeding starts three to four days after you have taken the last pill. If this is not the case, it does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. There are several reasons why you may not have any bleeding during the pill break.
1. You have changed the pill:
If you have just switched to a different pill, this could be the reason for the lack of bleeding. Your body and hormone levels need to adjust to the new medication. It is not uncommon for this to cause confusion in the body and for you to not get a period at first.
2. You have a low-dose pill:
Some pills have such a low dosage that your period doesn't come at all during the pill break. What?! That can be a great advantage. But if you feel uncomfortable with it and want a withdrawal bleed, you can switch to a pill with a higher dosage.
3. First pill break after long cycle:
If you want to skip your monthly period, you can take the pill in the long-term cycle. You can cheat a lot with the pill. You can skip the pill break and continue taking it straight away with the next pill pack. A break is usually taken after three cycles. Often there is no bleeding then. Likewise, your period can stop when you switch from the long-term cycle to regular use.
4. Your uterine lining is only developing slightly:
No bleeding during the pill break may also be due to the poor development of the uterine lining. This is not unusual and is not dangerous.
5. You are pregnant:
Last but not least! The absence of a period during the pill break can actually be a sign of pregnancy.
How can I get pregnant despite taking the pill? Yes, it is possible. Unfortunately, mistakes are often made when taking the pill. I mean, who hasn't experienced this? It's easy to forget to swallow the pill. Then the whole thing becomes a bitter pill...
But diarrhea, vomiting and taking certain medications can also impair contraceptive protection. Therefore, always read the package insert to see if there are any interactions with the pill and, if in doubt, use additional contraception.
No matter which of the reasons applies to you, if you don't have any bleeding during the pill break, you should definitely have it checked out by a doctor.
Heavy bleeding? No problem for our most absorbent panties.
Our Extra Strong in different colors and styles.
