What causes irregular period flows when on birth control pills?
Patient: I am on birth control and am sexually active without using a condom. For the lady 3 months I have been getting my period a week early. The first month my period lasted 11 days, the second month my period was really light and lasted 2 days and this month I just started my period a week and a half early. What is wrong? Doctor: Hallow Dear,In fact birth control pills are supposed to and used to regularize the menstrual cycle and control the menstrual bleeding. There are mainly three types of birth control pills: Oestrogen dominant, Progesterone dominant and balanced. It is not clear which pills you are taking. From your history it appears that you are an Oestrogen dominant woman. These women usually have heavier type of bleeding. If such women start consuming Oestrogen dominant pills, their menses would be still heavier. They should take Progesterone dominant pills. Hence, I would advise you to consult your Gynaecologist and get  prescription of appropriate contraceptive pills for your phenotype, after thorough clinical examination. Every packet of contraceptive pills have fixed number of pills - either 21 or 28; either way, only 21 pills of them are hormonal pills. After finishing these hormonal pills, within 4-7 days the menses appear. If your periods are starting earlier, may be your original periods were rather longer. If in spite of the contraceptive pills, your periods are becoming irregular, you will have to get investigated for your hormonal profile - particularly Thyroid function. Please report to your Gynaecologist for assessment and management. I hope this helps you. Dr. Nishikant Shrotri