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What Does A Delay In Periods After Switching To Diane Indicate?
Question: Hello,
I have switched from contraceptive pills Belara to Diane: I took the full pack of Belara, then did a usual 7-day break and after that started new pills - Diane. I had sex the first week of taking new pills. I took all the pack of 21 pills correctly but now it is the 3rd day when I take no pills and I still have no period (when I took Belara pills, my period usually was on a second pill-free day).
What could be a reason for this? Should I be worried?
Thank you for your reply.
I have switched from contraceptive pills Belara to Diane: I took the full pack of Belara, then did a usual 7-day break and after that started new pills - Diane. I had sex the first week of taking new pills. I took all the pack of 21 pills correctly but now it is the 3rd day when I take no pills and I still have no period (when I took Belara pills, my period usually was on a second pill-free day).
What could be a reason for this? Should I be worried?
Thank you for your reply.
Brief Answer:
This is not abnormal and a common report with birth control pills
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the question.
This is not an uncommon report with birth control pills. As you continue to take them, the period week can get lighter over time to the point where the withdrawal bleed is delayed or even absent in some cases. This is very well the case in your situation. Obviously your concern is pregnancy but this is very unlikely given that you have taken the pill correctly. A pregnancy test will turn positive about two weeks after conception, so take a test now and again in a week.
With regard to the pills, they are both equally effective. They contain the same estrogen and slightly different progesterone components. It might be that your body has responded differently to the different progesterone in the Diane birth control pills. Given that it is still the pill free week, I would wait and expect that you will still get your period before the start of the next month of pills.
Does this help?
Dr. Tim
This is not abnormal and a common report with birth control pills
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the question.
This is not an uncommon report with birth control pills. As you continue to take them, the period week can get lighter over time to the point where the withdrawal bleed is delayed or even absent in some cases. This is very well the case in your situation. Obviously your concern is pregnancy but this is very unlikely given that you have taken the pill correctly. A pregnancy test will turn positive about two weeks after conception, so take a test now and again in a week.
With regard to the pills, they are both equally effective. They contain the same estrogen and slightly different progesterone components. It might be that your body has responded differently to the different progesterone in the Diane birth control pills. Given that it is still the pill free week, I would wait and expect that you will still get your period before the start of the next month of pills.
Does this help?
Dr. Tim
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you for the explanation.
Just to understand a bit more: did I switch to other pills correctly or I did something not right? Perhaps I shouldn't have done a 7-day break before switching or should have used extra protection when on new pills? What is your opinion?
Also, I feel some tension in my stomach, could that be an indication of upcoming period or something else?
Thank you.
Just to understand a bit more: did I switch to other pills correctly or I did something not right? Perhaps I shouldn't have done a 7-day break before switching or should have used extra protection when on new pills? What is your opinion?
Also, I feel some tension in my stomach, could that be an indication of upcoming period or something else?
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
I think that you did everything correctly
Detailed Answer:
Your questions are very appropriate. Birth control pills all contain the same estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) combined with different types of progesterone. The two pills that you mentioned have different progesterones. The pogesterones differ slightly in terms of potential side effects that patients experience. In many cases, though, patients would not be able to tell the difference.
The effect on the cycle is the same from one pill to the next. If you finished one pill pack, took the week off, and then started a new / different pill pack, then there should be no concern regarding the continued birth control effect. Just because you changed pills you are not more likely to get pregnant during that first month - in other words, you did everything right.
Yes, the discomfort in your stomach is very likely related to your cycle and I expect that you will get it at some point. Please still follow my prior recommendations regarding checking pregnancy tests.
Dr. Tim
I think that you did everything correctly
Detailed Answer:
Your questions are very appropriate. Birth control pills all contain the same estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) combined with different types of progesterone. The two pills that you mentioned have different progesterones. The pogesterones differ slightly in terms of potential side effects that patients experience. In many cases, though, patients would not be able to tell the difference.
The effect on the cycle is the same from one pill to the next. If you finished one pill pack, took the week off, and then started a new / different pill pack, then there should be no concern regarding the continued birth control effect. Just because you changed pills you are not more likely to get pregnant during that first month - in other words, you did everything right.
Yes, the discomfort in your stomach is very likely related to your cycle and I expect that you will get it at some point. Please still follow my prior recommendations regarding checking pregnancy tests.
Dr. Tim
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX
Many thanks for your detailed explanations, they really help me understand the things better.
Why I was asking about whether I did everything correctly is because I read somewhere that it is not recommended to do a 7 day break before starting new brand pills and that a body might need time to adapt to new pills, that is why extra protection could be needed for some time. Would you say this information is misleading, or is it applicable in other cases?
Lastly, two short questions:
It looks my period just started, so do I still need to take a pregnancy test?
And is it safe to have sex on pill-free days without extra protection while having a period (if it is very light)?
Again, thank you for very professional answers!
Many thanks for your detailed explanations, they really help me understand the things better.
Why I was asking about whether I did everything correctly is because I read somewhere that it is not recommended to do a 7 day break before starting new brand pills and that a body might need time to adapt to new pills, that is why extra protection could be needed for some time. Would you say this information is misleading, or is it applicable in other cases?
Lastly, two short questions:
It looks my period just started, so do I still need to take a pregnancy test?
And is it safe to have sex on pill-free days without extra protection while having a period (if it is very light)?
Again, thank you for very professional answers!
Brief Answer:
Your information regarding changing pills is not accurate
Detailed Answer:
While there is not form of birth control that is 100% effective, I can think of no reason why a similar birth control pill (to which you changed) would be more ineffective during the first month or so as long as you took it exactly like you would have if you had stayed with the same pill.
If you had stayed with the same pill, you would have taken the same 7 day break.
Yes, I would still take the pregnancy test because of the change in bleeding pattern. This is never wrong to do.
And yes, it is safe to have intercourse during the pill-free days but given that your bleeding pattern was different this time, perhaps backup protection now and through the first pill pack is not such a bad idea - if for nothing else then your peace of mind.
Dr. Tim
Your information regarding changing pills is not accurate
Detailed Answer:
While there is not form of birth control that is 100% effective, I can think of no reason why a similar birth control pill (to which you changed) would be more ineffective during the first month or so as long as you took it exactly like you would have if you had stayed with the same pill.
If you had stayed with the same pill, you would have taken the same 7 day break.
Yes, I would still take the pregnancy test because of the change in bleeding pattern. This is never wrong to do.
And yes, it is safe to have intercourse during the pill-free days but given that your bleeding pattern was different this time, perhaps backup protection now and through the first pill pack is not such a bad idea - if for nothing else then your peace of mind.
Dr. Tim
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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