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Womens Health > Birth Control Forum > Birth control: continue or stop?
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Q: Birth control: continue or stop?
asked by: DoctorQuestion on February 20th, 2007
I'm currently on Ortho Tricyclen Lo, and have just ended the second week of the pill pack. However, during the 2nd week, I have missed four pills in a row. I didn't experience any type of withdrawal bleeding like I normally do...like after the 3 days of taking the inactive pills. Is this okay to not have withdrawal bleeding since I did have withdrawal bleeding after I stopped my last pack? I also did miss one or two pills in week one of this pack as well. Should I be fine to continue the pills or should I take a pregnancy test due to the lack of withdrawal bleeding?


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Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD
replied on March 15th, 2007
Birth Control Answer A2428
After a woman misses many active birth control pills, hormonal contraception alone is not adequate enough to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, you could get pregnant. Nonetheless, it's not likely that you become pregnant in the second week of the cycle. This current lack of vaginal bleeding is probably not due to pregnancy but normal vaginal bleeding usually doesn't occur, either, if your stop taking birth control pills during the second week of the menstrual cycle. Vaginal bleeding can be provoked if you stop taking your pills during the third week of the cycle, however. You can continue taking pills but you should use a condom to prevent pregnancy. If you don’t get your period when you finish the pack you can take a pregnancy test.


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