Vaginal Bleeding

When to Call for Vaginal Bleeding

Care Advice

First Menstrual Period

What You Should Know About First Menstrual Periods:

• If over 8 and has signs of puberty, this most likely is her first period. This is normal.
• Don't be surprised if she skips a period or 2 after the first one.
• During the first year after periods begin, there are often no menstrual cramps.

Use Pads or Tampons:

• It's safe to use either pads or tampons, but change them often.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Bleeding becomes worse
• Bleeding with first period lasts over 6 days

Mild Vaginal Bleeding After Puberty

What You Should Know About Vaginal Bleeding:

• A teen should talk to her doctor if she is bleeding more than normal. This means using 2 or more tampons or pads than she normally uses per day. Periods that last 3 or more days longer than normal should also be discussed.
• Birth control can also cause spotting or abnormal bleeding. See the next section on Irregular Bleeding on Birth Control.

Iron and Anemia:

• Heavy periods can cause anemia (low red blood count). This is caused from not enough iron. It is one of the most common causes of anemia in women.
• Women with heavy periods should eat foods rich in iron. They can also take a daily vitamin pill with iron.

Mild Spotting Causes - Normal:

• There are some common causes of mild vaginal bleeding (spotting) outside of normal periods.
• Spotting can happen after a doctor's exam.
• It can also happen the first time you have sex.
• Some women spot when they ovulate (mid-cycle on about day 14). This spotting can be normal.
• Bleeding from these causes should not last longer than 2 days.

Pregnancy Test, When in Doubt:

• If there is a chance that you are pregnant, use a urine pregnancy test.
• You can buy a pregnancy test at any drugstore.
• It works best if you test your first urine in the morning.
• Follow all package directions.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Pregnancy test is positive
• Your teen has trouble with the at-home pregnancy test
• Bleeding becomes worse
• Spotting (mild irregular bleeding) lasts more than 2 days or happens again
• You think your teen needs to be seen
• Your teen gets worse

Irregular Bleeding on Birth Control Medicine

What You Should Know About Irregular Bleeding on Birth Control:

• Mild breakthrough bleeding or spotting is common with types of hormonal birth control.
• This is especially true the first few months after you start birth control.
• It usually will get better as your body adjusts to the hormones.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Spotting Between Periods and Taking Birth Control Pills:

• This is common.
• You may have breakthrough bleeding or spotting with most of these pills.
• It is likely to happen during the first three pill pack cycles.
• Missing a pill may also cause breakthrough bleeding or spotting. See the next section on Taking Birth Control and Missing Doses.

Irregular Bleeding and Using Birth Control Implant or Shot:

• This is common for the first several months.
• Irregular bleeding may be heavier or lighter than normal.
• It may also be more or less frequent bleeding than your normal period.
• Bleeding and spotting usually decrease over time.

Irregular Bleeding and Using the Birth Control Patch:

• This is common.
• You may have breakthrough bleeding or spotting with these patches.
• This is likely to happen during the first 3 cycles (months).

Irregular Bleeding and Using the Vaginal Ring (NuvaRing):

• This is not common.
• Most women don't have breakthrough bleeding or spotting with NuvaRing.
• But, it can happen during the first 1-2 months of use (first 2 cycles).

Keep a Record of Bleeding:

• Keep a record of the days you have any bleeding or spotting.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Irregular bleeding happens more than 2 cycles (2 months)
• Bleeding becomes worse
• You think your teen needs to be seen
• Your teen gets worse

Taking Birth Control Pills and Missed Doses

What You Should Know About Missed or Late Doses of Birth Control Pills:

• Almost everyone misses a dose of their birth control pill at times.
• Try to remember to take them the same time every day. Many take them with a meal. Some women use an alarm to remind themselves.
• Missing a pill is also a common cause of breakthrough bleeding or spotting. This is normal.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Missed Placebo Pills:

• Follow these directions if you missed 1 or more placebo pills (reminder pills).
• Throw away the missed pill or pills.
• Keep taking the rest of the pills on the usual day.
• You are not at higher risk for pregnancy.
• You do not need to use a back-up form of birth control.
• Example: Missed pill(s) during days 22-28 of a 28-day of combination pill pack.

Late Taking 1 Active Pill (Less than 24 Hours Since a Pill Should Have been Taken):

• Follow these directions if you are late taking an active hormone pill (not placebo pills).
• Take the late pill as soon as possible.
• Take the next pill at the normal time. This means you may need to take 2 pills at one time. This may also mean taking 2 pills on the same day.
• Taking 2 pills may make you feel a little nauseated, but this is normal. It should pass in a day.
• There is little or no risk of getting pregnant with 1 late pill. Exception: progestin-only pills. See care advice below on Progestin-Only Pills.
• You do not need to use a back-up method of birth control.

Missed 1 Active Pill (24-48 Hours Since a Pill Should Have been Taken):

• Follow these directions if you missed 1 active hormone pill (not placebo pills).
• Take the missed pill as soon as possible. Take the next pill at the normal time. This means you may need to take 2 pills at one time. This may also mean taking 2 pills on the same day.
• Taking 2 pills may make you feel a little nauseated, but this is normal. It should pass in a day.
• There is little or no risk of getting pregnant with 1 missed pill. Exception: progestin-only pills. See care advice below on Progestin-Only Pills.
• You do not need to use a back-up method of birth control.

Missed 2 Active Pills (2 or more):

• Follow these directions if you missed 2 or more active hormone pills (not placebo pills).
• Take one of the missed pills (most recently missed) as soon as possible.
• Throw away other missed pills. Take the next pill at the normal time. This means you may need to take 2 pills at one time. This may also mean taking 2 pills on the same day.
• Taking 2 pills may make you feel a little nauseated, but this is normal. It should pass in a day.
• Call your doctor for further instructions during office hours.
• Use a back-up birth control method until you speak with your doctor. You can also avoid having sex until you talk with your doctor. Ask your doctor how long you need to use back-up birth control.
• Consider emergency contraception if you've had unprotected sex in the past 5 days.

Progestin-Only Pills - Missing Doses or Taking Dosages Late:

• These pills need to be taken at the same time daily to work the best. This is very important. Reason: pregnancy is possible if you take your dosage more than 3 hours past the normal time.
• Follow these directions if you miss a pill or take a pill more than 3 hours late.
• Take the missed or late pill as soon as possible. Keep taking the rest of your pills at your normal time every day. This means you may need to take 2 at one time. This may also mean taking 2 pills on the same day.
• Use a backup method (such as condom and foam) after taking the late pill. You will need to do this for 48 hours.
• If you had sex before you realized you missed pills, consider emergency contraception.

Lost 1 Pill:

• Take the next pill in the pack today.
• As a result, you will finish the birth control pill pack one day sooner.
• Start your next pill pack one day earlier. Reason: most pregnancies on the pill (with regular use) happen with late starts of the pill pack. Even just 1 or 2 days late as you may ovulate early.

Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) - When to Consider:

• Emergency contraception pills (ECPs) can be used by any teen who is worried she might become pregnant. No prescription is needed.
• ECPs should be taken as soon as possible within 5 days after unprotected sex.
• The sooner ECPs are taken, the better they work.

Pregnancy Test, When in Doubt:

• If there is a chance that you are pregnant, use a urine pregnancy test.
• You can buy a pregnancy test at any drugstore.
• It works best if you test your first urine in the morning.
• Follow all package directions.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Pregnancy test is positive
• Your teen has more than mild bleeding or spotting
• You think your teen needs to be seen
• Your teen becomes worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.