Is it normal to spot when taking birth control

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Mol Cell Endocrinol. Cho MK. Use of combined oral contraceptives in perimenopausal women. Chonnam Med J. Cleveland Clinic. Birth control: the pill. Reviewed November 4, Norethindrone is superior to combined oral contraceptive pills in short-term delay of menses and onset of breakthrough bleeding: a randomized trial.

BMC Womens Health. French V. What you should know about breakthrough bleeding with birth control. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published January Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated August 13, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Persistent or heavy vaginal bleeding should always be investigated by a healthcare provider. How effective is the birth control pill? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Related Articles. After we confirm the bleeding is related to birth control, there are usually a number of options. For example, we can switch from an ultra-low-dose birth control pill to a low-dose pill.

We also can change the number of placebo or pill-free days. Or we can explore other methods of birth control. With IUDs, implants, or the birth control shot, taking ibuprofen can be helpful, or we can add short-term treatment with estrogen pills.

Copyright by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. Read copyright and permissions information. This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women's health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care.

It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Perfect use means that you take the pill every day at the same time. With typical use, which allows for some error, the pill is about 91 percent effective. For the best results, you should aim to take your birth control pills at the same time every day. You should also keep up with annual well woman visits for screenings.

Even if you do experience side effects after starting the pill, these symptoms are usually temporary. Spotting is one such symptom. Irregular bleeding or spotting is common in the first three to four months after you start taking the pill.

This should subside once your body adjusts to the medication. Continue taking your pill as prescribed and contact your doctor. In many cases, the cause of the spotting is unknown and harmless.

The estrogen in combination pills helps to stabilize the lining of the uterus. This can prevent irregular bleeding and spotting. Women who take progestin-only pills may experience more frequent spotting.

Irregular bleeding with cramps can also be a sign of pregnancy or miscarriage and may require medical attention. Women who take progestin-only pills are at higher risk of spotting.

You may have an increased risk of spotting while on the pill if you smoke cigarettes. Let your doctor know of any smoking habits before you get a prescription so you can chat about the potential complications. Women who take continuous birth control pills may also be at a higher risk of spotting. These pills include Seasonale, Seasonique, and Quartette. Occasionally, your doctor may advise you to take a short break from the continuous cycle of hormones to allow your body to have a short period.

This may help resolve any irregular bleeding. The pill is also associated with an increased risk of blood clotting. Blood clotting can lead to:. Most cases of spotting while on the pill are temporary and will resolve over time. Be sure to let your doctor know if you experience any of the following:. If you have unprotected sex after missing two or more pills or have sex with a partner who may have an STI, speak with your doctor.

Once you rule out any underlying causes for your irregular bleeding, your doctor may prescribe a different type of pill or form of birth control. Ask about pills that contain estrogen, since this hormone helps keep the lining of the uterus in place.