AboutDeborah Expertise I can answer questions about pregnancy symptoms, contraception, abortion, adoption,and
teen parenthood. Specifically, I can give up to date, accurate medical information, latest
studies as well as statistics pertaining to health issues surrounding pregnancy, and factors
to be considered before deciding to become a teen parent.
Experience I have answered over 3000 questions in this area on other health sites, most in the area of teen pregnancy.
Education/Credentials I have a bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Biology, and am halfway through a Master's Degree, also in Biology. I have access to and read many of the top medical journals, from which I also get the best, most thorough and accurate to answers to pressing medical and health related questions.
Past/Present Clients ehealth over 3000 posts
pro-choice talk over 6000 posts
Question My girlfriend is on birth control and we mainly use condoms as well. Right after she finished her last period, we had sex and the condom broke; however, she took plan b. Now, she started light bleeding last night and continued very very light this morning and now tonight the bleeding has stopped. Her period is supposed to start in 2-3 days and we are both nervous why she only had one day of short bleeding. Her face did break out a little bit before the bleeding and she said she had a little bit of cramps. Also, when we have not used condoms I always pull out. Any help is definatly appreciated. Can she be pregnant? or is it possible for her period to come full force and this little but of bleeding just be normal? One more thing, she is on birth control and she didnt get to the white pills and started the new pack the day her bleeding started, can this mess it up? Thanks so much.
Answer Dear Tony,
Plan B is probably what caused the light bleeding. I do not think she is pregnant. You both have done just about all that is humanly possible to prevent a pregnancy. Plan B can cause a period to come early or late, and it can shorten or lengthen it as well. Since she is also on birth control pills to begin with, it is almost impossible to determine what caused any of these symptoms.
Women who are on the birth control pill do not ovulate, and don't actually have periods. What they have each month is bleeding caused by the withdrawal of the hormones, which is what happens when she takes the 5 different colored pills each month. The reason companies that make the pills have put these 5 non-active pills in each pack is so that women feel more normal by having a "period" each month, and also to let the women know that they are not pregnant. If a woman did get pregnant while on the pill, she wouldn't get that bleeding while on the 5 non-active pills.
Plan B is the exact same hormone already contained in her pills, just in a higher dose.
I don't usually go into this much detail with people, but you seem highly intelligent and very informed about these matters, which is admirable.
So, in summation, I highly doubt she is pregnant. To make sure, in about two weeks have her take a pregnancy test, which you can buy at any drugstore. These are usually very accurate.
