[LostMoth]

I've done a little reseach on my Birth control pill, Seasonique, which I've had for about 8 to 9 months now if not a year, and just this last Thursday (Jan. 10) will be a week tomorrow when I started spotting. Just small portions of blood in my discharge and when I wipe. Nothing to heavy or anything. But I'm curious if this is normal to be spotting after having Seasonique for so long. I know it says that one of the side effects is spotting, but does that mean just at the first few months of taking it or through out the Entire time of taking the pill? If it is normal, how long will it last and is it safe to have sex while spotting? I'd really like to know. I've posted on another forum on the 15th and haven't gotten an answer yet. Did talk to my Doctor, but he just told me to finish out my pack and then my next three months to see if it still continues. The spotting is already annoying me, I don't think I could stand it after finishing my pack. :confused:

[justcurious55]

Its my understanding that spotting at any time with that one is normal. That's why I won't try it. I hate spotting too. But it is safe to have sex while spotting. Not really any different than if you do while you're on your period. I had problems with spotting for awhile too and my doctor said that I had to switch pills to make it stop. She was right. You may just need a different pill.

[LostMoth]

First off, thank you for replying! I just actually got home from a trip and had planned on calling OB-GYN and getting an appointment with them instead of my family doctor. But thank you for your information, I am for sure going to try and switch off Seasonique. :)

[jillianleab]

I'm on Seasonale, which is similar to Seasonique. My first year I experienced more spotting, like you are talking about, but it has since subsided almost completely (I've been on it for over two years now). One thing I've noticed for me with any pill, but especially with Seasonale, is if I don't take my pill RIGHT ON TIME every day, I will spot. The more consecutive days I take it a little late (by an hour or so), the longer I will spot. Could you maybe be experiencing something similar?

[LostMoth]

I'm on Seasonale, which is similar to Seasonique. My first year I experienced more spotting, like you are talking about, but it has since subsided almost completely (I've been on it for over two years now). One thing I've noticed for me with any pill, but especially with Seasonale, is if I don't take my pill RIGHT ON TIME every day, I will spot. The more consecutive days I take it a little late (by an hour or so), the longer I will spot. Could you maybe be experiencing something similar?

Hrm, yeah, it does sound a little like that actually. It makes me feel a bit better to know this. Do you remember how long your spotting went on? After a while the spotting got slightly heavier, but not too much. I only went through two big tampons a day. One during the day and at night. Just seemed a bit heavy for spotting. But as of now, things are starting to become lighter again.. I just hope it stops soon. If not, I may consider switching to a different pill. I thank you though for your comment! :) Helps out a lot!

[jillianleab]

The first few months I was on it I would spot heavier, but the longer I was on it, the lighter it got. Sometimes it would last a day, sometimes a few days. Sometimes, if it would happen near when I was supposed to get my period, it would last for nearly a week. After the first year of taking it, this has MOSTLY gone away. If I spot now, it will usually be very light, and it's only after I've taken a few pills in a row late. Hang on and complete a year if you can and see if it gets better. From what I've read, Seasonique is supposed to be better about breakthrough bleeding, so it might just take you a full year to get used to it. But of course if you're really unhappy with it, there's no reason to stay on it!

[LostMoth]

When I first got on Seasonique I didn't spot in the first few months at all, I think there was only maybe One other time that I did spot and it was only a couple days and very light. But what I'm experiencing now is that it's last since the 10th of this Month and varies from a light pink sometimes to a deep red. It doesn't 'flow' like a normal period, nothing gets into my panties, just when I wipe. I think I'll stick it out for the next week that's left on my pack, then if it continues after my period and onto the start of my next pack, I'll see if I can switch. Thanks so much for all your comments. I really appreciate it! :)

[LostMoth]

Well this is week 3 of the 'spotting' I just finished talking to a nurse from my Doctor's office about my problem And they still insist that I continue with my pack of Seasonique, have my scheduled period and continue on with a new start of a 3 month pack. Though, My spotting has started to diminish a little. For the past 3-4 days, I've had little to no blood at all when I wipe. But around 3:30 in the morning, when I get up to go to the bathroom, when I wipe, there is a deep red blood that comes out. Normally is gone with one wipe.. And then I don't have any bleeding for the rest of the day until 3:30 in the morning again. Normally I put in a -small- tampon for the rest of the night, but when I wake up again, there is nothing but brown discharge on the tampon. I told my Doctor all this, even when I had my Pap. In Nov. He had mentioned my Cervix looked irritated, BUT... my results came back NEG... I'm just a bit confused. Is it really Just spotting? Or is it something to worry about? If so, why isn't my doctor giving me anything for it rather then telling to wait it out? UGH. I'd LOVE To have some answers x.x! Thank you Kindly! :)
Lost Moth.

[justcurious55]

Its probably nothing to worry about, more of an annoyance than anything most likely. If it were something to worr about I think you're doctor would probably be more concerned.

[LostMoth]

Hrm. I guess what I'm a little annoyed about, aside from the bleeding, is that I'm not getting an answer as to -why- this is happening. They did say that if it does continue though, they may change my pill... So that will be interesting to find out. So it could possibly just be my pill or something different all together?

[jillianleab]

My guess is since you've been on the pill for less than a year they are encouraging you to finish this round and start the next to see if it is going to take a bit longer for you to get used to the medication. It could be that your body needs that one week break and then a fresh start to get back on track. Breakthrough bleeding and spotting, from everything I've read is VERY common with this sort of pill for the first year, and if you finish the next 12-week pack you'll have hit that mark. If you continue to have the problem after a year of taking the pill, they'll be more apt to change it.

I wish I could tell you if this indicates any other medical problem, but I just don't know. Is there another doctor you can see to get a second opinion?

[LostMoth]

Yes, I believe there is another doctor I can see. I'm thinking about calling them up after my next scheduled period if it continues on my next pack. But thank you again for all your comments. Everyone's comments have been VERY helpful to me. I'll stick with Seasonique for another 12 week pack and see what things do. Thank you! :D

[ChrisSa]

I'm having the same symptons you are... dark discharge throughout the day and it seems to start up right after I take my pill. I'm going on 3 weeks of spotting and I'm so frustrated and tired of feeling bloating and nasty.

[leeann512]

Can I just stop taking it will that make the spotting stop? I am not taking it for Birth control but to lighten my periods. I'm over it, ill take a heavier period once a month over spotting daily for sometimes 2 months at a time.