Expert: Norman Solberg - 11/15/2009

Question
I'm 34 and getting married next weekend (Nov. 21) and have just finished 14 pills in my first birth control package.  I started the Sunday after I got my last period.  It's my first month on the pill (a generic Nordette with the same hormone levels as Seasonale - ethinyl estradiol 0.03mg, levonorgestrel 0.15mg).   I was put on the pill by the doctor because my period was due to come on my wedding day and I really did not want it for my wedding or my 9 day honeymoon following the wedding.  Likely due to stress over the last 6 months my period had sometimes starting coming every 3 weeks instead of every 4.  Some months it had been coming about a week early. I was to take 2 packs of pills back to back.  Years ago I was on Triphasil without issues at all.  It has been discontinued and my doctor put me on this monophasic pill as it would likely be better for period prevention (although I had taken back to back Triphasil packs and avoided my period in the past).

If I was not on the pill, my period would be due approximately Nov. 18 (3 weeks and couple days after my last one).  I thought the pill would prevent this but the last 3 days I have been experiencing extreme cramps (enough to require Advil) and my breasts have been getting very sore.  This is what always happens to me a week before I get my period.  Yesterday I had spotting or breakthrough bleeding and it is continuing today (this also usually happens a few days before I get my period when I am not on the pill). These cramps, sore breasts and spotting are what would normally be happening to me right now (since my period would be due soon) if I was not on the pill.  I am wondering if they are signs that the pill is not going to prevent my period from coming.  I have my alarm set and take my pill at 7:45 a.m. every day and have missed no pills.

I have also been taking Cold Fx (contains ginseng), Vitamin C, Magnesium, Fish Oil and a daily vitamin to try to prevent getting sick for the wedding and don't know if any of these would alter the way the pill works?  Pregnancy is not a concern, only preventing my period on my wedding day (although I would use a birth control method until I finish taking the pill to avoid any defects getting pregnant on the pill might cause if it is not effective because of the over the counter medications I am taking).

I was wondering if I should stop the pill now, hope for a withdrawal bleed (and not a regular period that would continue into my wedding/honeymoon) in the next week and restart on my wedding day or even a day or 2 before.    My dress is large enough that it will be difficult to even use the washroom, let alone having to deal with a period and I really want to prevent it that day. Thank you for your help.


Answer
Hi Lisa,
Yes, I would stop the pill today, wait 4 days without the pill, then restart a new pack.  Once you've been on the pill for a while, it's usually easy to control when your period will come, but sometimes that doesn't work as well the first month you take it.  It sounds like your period just wants to come now, so I'd let it.  As long as you restart the pill 2 days before the wedding, you most likely won't be having any bleeding during the wedding.  Since you're stopping the pill in the middle of a pack, you're probably not protected until you've been on the new pack for 1 week.  Best wishes.