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Does Irregular Taking Of Oral Contraceptives Cause Period With Long Duration?

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Posted on Mon, 30 Mar 2015
Question: If I start taking an oral contraceptive and stop it just after three days after due to getting migraine headaches will this cause my period to last longer,
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
should not have an effect

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Since the contraceptive was used for only 3 days , its effect on your menstrual cycle would be negligible or non existent.

The half live of a drug is the time it takes for the amount of medication in the body to decrease by half. It takes 3 to 4 half lives for a medication to be mostly eliminated though because the amount is continuously decreasing, its effectiveness is on a continuous downward trend even if some is still present.

The half live of different contraceptives can vary from one to the next but for many it is maximally 20 to 36 hours.

This means maximally, it may take 6 days for most of the medication to be gone and it would have loss its effect prior to this 6 days.

Because it will lose its effect a few days after you discontinue the last tablet, it should not have a significant effect on your menstrual cycle.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (32 minutes later)
I have an ovarian cyst,I had my period on thursday the 5th of march,it has continued all week become lighter by the 8th of march,now on the 12th of March i now have another period just the same as previous should i be concerned
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (32 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
abnormal bleeding can sometimes occur

Detailed Answer:
HI

Only if this repeats for other cycles. It is not abnormal for the menstrual cycle to be abnormal once or twice during the reproductive years. A short time between cycles is called polymenorrhea.

Menstruation is affected by illness,stress,menopause, activity , medications, hormonal conditions (eg thyroid disease), infections, endometriosis.

If you continue to have these short cycles in the up coming months, then you can be assessed but for a once off occasion with no additional symptoms, it is not likely to be a problem.

If there are other symptoms such as discharge, pain, then you should be assessed for an underlying cause.

Please feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (7 hours later)
I'm having trouble inserting a tampon had no issues last week.please refer to first question I asked earlier today,and now it feels uncomfortable.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
oral contraceptive would not effect

Detailed Answer:
HI

To make sure clear, referring to effect of 3 day use of oral contraceptive on the length of the period.

In terms of the tampon, the contraceptive would have no effect on this. It would not have any significant influence on the space in which the tampon would fit.

If it is painful then it would be best not to use it and use sanitary pads instead. Pain or discomfort may be related trauma to the area, infection or other source of inflammation eg if surface irritated.
You can use the pads and monitor to see if the discomfort continues or if there are any associated symptoms

If anything else unclear, feel free to ask
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Does Irregular Taking Of Oral Contraceptives Cause Period With Long Duration?

Brief Answer: should not have an effect Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Since the contraceptive was used for only 3 days , its effect on your menstrual cycle would be negligible or non existent. The half live of a drug is the time it takes for the amount of medication in the body to decrease by half. It takes 3 to 4 half lives for a medication to be mostly eliminated though because the amount is continuously decreasing, its effectiveness is on a continuous downward trend even if some is still present. The half live of different contraceptives can vary from one to the next but for many it is maximally 20 to 36 hours. This means maximally, it may take 6 days for most of the medication to be gone and it would have loss its effect prior to this 6 days. Because it will lose its effect a few days after you discontinue the last tablet, it should not have a significant effect on your menstrual cycle. I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions