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Last Updated:
Feb 22nd, 2008 - 15:08:09
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Question
I had a regular period Jan 15th. I started taking Loestrin 24 fe birth control pills on January 22nd. Before then I had not been using any birth control. I started having light pink/brown spotting on Feb. 5th. I thought it was side affects from the bc because I was not due for my period for another week. The spotting continued and turned red and was a a little heavier on Feb 8th. I stopped taking the pill either Sat. the 9th or Sun. the 10th because I did not like how terrible they made me feel.
The question I have is did my period start Feb. 5th when I first saw signs or did it start the 8th when I first saw red? I really need to know so my husband and I will know when not to have sex. We have one child and want to try for another one but not until June.
Chasity
Answer
Dear Chasity,
If you want to understand your natural cycle you must first stop using the BCP completely. Using the BCP eliminates the natural cyclic function of your menstrual cycle. The brown spotting prior to the beginning of your menstruation was most likely caused by the use of the pill in the that cycle. You used good common sense stopping the chemical that made you feel so terrible.
It sounds like you think you might be able to predict your next ovulation based on counting ahead from the episode of bleeding you have had. Predicting future fertility based on the first day of your menstrual cycle is not reliable, and even less so in your circumstance, this first cycle coming off the pill.
To learn authentically to know your body's fertile and infertile days, learning a natural method would be of great benefit to you and your husband particularly since you would like to conceive again. The 4 months between now and June is a good length of time for your cycles to return to normal and for you to keep a daily record of events which will identify the days of fertility and infertility of each day. Natural methods are easy to learn and to interpret.
Look on our web site for a teacher in your area or check www.omsoul.com if you live out of California
Judy Wilmurt is an experienced certified Natural Family Planning Practitioner and
also a member of the American Academy of Natural Family Planning.
© Copyright 2005 by CANFP
The information on this page and web site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment by a physician.
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