Why Do You Have Irregular Periods on Birth Control?: Unraveling the Connection
Irregular periods are one of the major concerns some women face in their reproductive stages.
Although there can be numerous underlying reasons behind this abnormal cycle, the hormonal birth control method is among them.
Generally, women opt for birth control methods to avoid pregnancies and some health issues, such as PCOS.
However, the majority of hormonal birth control methods can disrupt your natural body functions and can cause irregular periods.
This article will help you understand how irregular periods on birth control occur and whether birth control is helpful in regulating proper menstrual cycles.
So let’s learn more about them!
Can birth control cause irregular periods
The answer is yes.
Hormonal birth controls, such as pills and Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), can make your periods lighter and heavier and even skip your periods.
Birth control methods prevent pregnancy by interfering with the body’s natural hormonal function.
They can stop ovulation (egg formation) and prevent pregnancy.
According to NCBI, usually delayed periods due to contraceptive methods do not pose any threat to women’s health.
Some birth controls, such as IUDs, can also prevent pregnancy by thinning the endometrial lining of the uterus so that the egg does not get attached to it.
Moreover, a thin endometrium lining will not shed often or at all, which can result in lighter periods or missed periods.
Spotting or bleeding can also take place when you start a new method of birth control.
Also, some people continuously administer their birth control pills and skip the placebo pills provided at the end of the pack.
It can lead to changes in their menstrual cycle and even missed periods.
Placebo pills (inactive pills) are intended to cause bleeding and are often called “withdrawal bleeding.”
How birth control methods affect my periods
Different birth control methods, such as IUDs, pills, patches, and rings, can affect your menstrual bleeding by decreasing the menstrual bleeding.
They can also change your menstrual cycle’s duration (shorter or longer) and pattern (heavier or lighter).
Irregular periods and spotting between periods are some of the common side effects of hormonal birth control methods.
Therefore, it becomes crucial to understand in what ways a birth control method can impact your overall menstrual cycle and how.
Here are some of the birth control methods that influence your monthly cycle:
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
An IUD does not cause irregular periods. However, it can cause heavy and painful bleeding.
Furthermore, an IUD can increase the duration of bleeding during periods and spotting between periods.
There are two types of IUDs:
- Copper IUDs: Spotting between periods is heavy, painful, and longer for the first three to six months and gets normal after some time
- Hormonal IUDs: Women with this type of IUD have lighter or even no periods. Spotting between periods is common for the first few months and improves after some time
Birth control pills
Hormonal birth control pills are available in different packages, such as 28 and yearly packs.
Birth control pills are designated to suppress ovulation, with active pills and placebo pills to allow menstrual bleeding.
However, irrespective of the type of regimen you are administering, you can notice irregular bleeding in the first few months of your birth control pills.
These changes in your menstrual cycle are more common if:
- You are taking mini pills: Mini pills are also called Prosterin-only pills. These pills do not have enough Estrogen to heal the endometrium and regulate bleeding
- Administering monophasic combined pills: Monophasic pills can cause spotting or bleeding between periods
- Missed a pill: The chances of breakthrough bleeding increase when you omit or miss a birth control pill
- Stopped taking pills: Irregular periods after discontinuing birth control pills can occur because your body needs time to cope with the hormonal changes
Does birth control help with irregular periods
Yes, birth control methods can help you regulate your menstrual cycles.
Here are some ways to regulate irregular periods with birth control methods:
- Combination pills: These pills contain both the main hormones, Estrogen and Progesterone. They are effective in relieving irregular periods along with menstrual pains
- Mini pills: Women wanting to regulate their heavy menstrual bleeding can use mini pills
- Vaginal rings: These are effective in helping with the irregular menstrual cycle by stopping ovulation and thinning the uterine lining
- IUDs: Both types of IUDs are helpful in regulating the menstrual cycle in women
Conclusion
Birth control pills can disrupt your body’s natural functioning and cause irregular periods.
Hormonal birth controls such as pills and IUDs can make your periods lighter or heavier.
They can also change the duration of your monthly cycles to prevent pregnancy.
Apart from these, birth control methods can also play a crucial role in regulating your periods.
Combination pills, mini pills, vaginal rings, and IUDs can be helpful in irregular periods.
Birth control methods can affect your menstrual cycle and lead to either regulating or disturbing the menstrual cycle.
It is crucial to consult your doctor if the irregularity remains for a long time to avoid any health complications.
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