I’m using new birth control and I’m bleeding. When should I talk to my doctor?

You mentioned that you just started birth control pills and you’ve been bleeding for a while, so you’re wondering what’s normal and what’s not. Breakthrough bleeding is the most common reported side effect associated with oral contraceptives and a lot of women experience it in the beginning as the uterine lining thins out. So you may have a little bit of unexpected bleeding or spotting and, after that, the most common cause of unscheduled bleeding is missed pills. Ultimately though, if you have any questions or concerns about your bleeding patterns, especially if you’re having heavy bleeding, you need to call your doctor and talk with them about what you’re seeing and experiencing and, after asking more specific questions, they can give you more tailored information and advice about it. If you have more questions in the future for me, feel free to ask them on our Facebook page at facebook.com/IntermountainMoms and recommend us to your friends and family too.