vitamin c causes breakthrough bleeding while on birth control pills

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Women's HealthCare Group

Patient Information - Gynecology/Women's Health

How to Take Birth Control Pills

The Basics of taking birth control pills

1. If you have just had a baby, your doctor may give you special
  instructions concerning your pill.

2. To begin your first pack of pills, swallow the first pill in your
  package on the Sunday after the 1st day of your menstrual period,
  even if you are still bleeding. (Specific schedule) Some pills are
  started on the first day of your period. Your doctor or nurse will
  tell you when to start your pills. Remember: You may not be
  protected by your first package of pills until you have finished
  the package. You must use a back-up method of birth control, like
  foam and condoms, through the first package. After that, if you
  are taking pills correctly, you should be protected from pregnancy
  by the pill itself.

3. Swallow one pill every day at about the same time of day until
  every pill in the package is gone. Don't ever change the order in
  which you are taking your pills, and don't stop taking pills
  without calling the clinic first. Your period will usually start
  after you have begun the last 7 different colored pills in your
  package.

4. When you finish your package of pills, put a new refill into your
  compact (or open your next pack) and start taking the first pill
  in that package the next day.

5. Sometimes, even if you have taken your pills correctly, you may
  have some bleeding or spotting the first three months you are
  taking birth control pills. Don't let this scare you. If you have
  any questions, call the clinic, however, continue to take your
  pills on schedule. This extra bleeding is called "breakthrough
  bleeding". You can also get breakthrough bleeding if you skip a
  pill (see below for what to do if you miss a pill).

6. Antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness of birth control
  pills. If you take antibiotics for any reason, use a back-up
  method such as foam and condoms along with your birth control
  pills. If you are just taking antibiotics for a short period of
  time, use a back-up method while you are taking the antibiotics
  and for 7 days after you completed your course of antibiotics.

7. Any time you are seen by a clinician for any reason, be sure to
  mention that you are using birth control pills.

Schedule to start your first package of pills

Period begins on a:

Begin your first pill on:

Sunday

That Sunday

Monday

Next Sunday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Missed Pills

1. If you miss one pill, take it as soon as you remember it. Then
  take the other pill at your regular time.

2. If you miss two pills in a row, take two pills per day for the
  next two days then go back to one pill per day. Even if you missed
  just one pill, we suggest that you also use another method, like
  foam and condoms, each time you have sex for at least the next two
  weeks. The risk of becoming pregnant is greater when you have
  missed two pills in a row.

3. If you miss 3 or more pills in a row, call the clinic as soon as
  possible for instructions.

4. If you are ill and have several days of severe diarrhea or
  vomiting, use a back-up method, like foam and condoms, until your
  next period.

5. Never take more than 2 pills in one day.

Missed Periods

You may sometimes miss a period or have a very light period while on
birth control pills.

If you miss one period and have not missed any pills, and do not
 have any other signs of pregnancy (breast tenderness, nausea,
 urinary frequency), continue to take your pills. If you have
 missed some pills, and then skip a period, call the clinic.

If you miss two periods in a row, call the clinic.

Remember

No method of birth control is 100% effective (except abstinence)!

Birth control pills do not protect against sexually transmitted
diseases.

Possible side effects of the pill

Call the clinic immediately if you have:

1. Severe headache, dizziness

2. Blurred vision

3. Unusual chest or leg pain

4. Shortness of breath

5. Severe stomach pain

6. Numbness on one side of your body

Possible changes you may feel

Call the clinic is these worry you:

1. Feeling sick to your stomach

2. Weight gain

3. Missed periods

4. Bleeding between periods

Nutrition and the pill

Every should practice sound eating habits throughout life. Women on
the pill have additional nutritional needs. This is because the pill
may change the way the body uses some nutrients in the food that is
eaten. All women taking the pill should continue to eat a
well-balanced diet with special attention on foods rich in vitamin C,
vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid and riboflavin.

Foods high in vitamin C:

All citrus fruits and juices; strawberries; cantanloupe; tomatoes;
green and red peppers; raw cabbage; broccoli; kale; turnip, mustard,
and collard greens; Irish and sweet potatoes; and spinach.

Foods high in vitamin B6:

Meats (especially liver), whole grain cereals, dried peas and beans,
milk and peanuts.

Foods high in vitamin B12:

Organ meats, oysters, clams, lean meats, eggs, and animal protein
foods.

Foods high in folic acid:

Green leafy vegetables, dired peas and beans, liver, wheat germ,
yeast, asparagus, and nuts.

Foods high in riboflavin:

Milk, cheese, ice cream, meat (especially liver and poultry), eggs,
fish, dark green leafy vegetables, enriched bread, and cereals.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The information
provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a
replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: September 04, 2002

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This site published 8/2002 by Kathleen Vincent for the Women's
HealthCare Group in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Copyright © 2002 The University of Texas Medical Branch. Please review
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