YOUNG-WOMEN Messages for August, 2002: Re: abnormal discharge/delaying menses

Re: abnormal discharge/delaying menses

From: William McIntosh, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 20 Aug 2002 18:30:11 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: alison: "abnormal discharge/delaying menses"

At Tue, 20 Aug 2002, alison wrote: >
>I've been on the birth control pill (ortho-tricyclin) for 5 months. The
>first month everything was fine... the second month, I had a sticky,
>white-ish discharge when aroused, only during the last week of active
>pills. It was like that until two months ago, when I had that same
>discharge whenever aroused. Last month, I had a heavier (still
>clear/white) discharge even when not doing anything sexual. I am 99.9%
>sure it's related to the pill, because I had sex for 3 months before
>
>My anniverserry is coming up on Sept. 14th. We're getting a hotel
>room. I wanted to change my prescription to a different pill to see if
>that would remedy the discharge (my doctor said that was an option)
>before the 14th... However, she is on vacation this week and can't be
>reached until after I start my next cycle. I was told I can't switch
>pills mid-pack... Could this plan keep me protected from pregnancy?
>
>Week of 18th - placebo pill/period
>Week of 25th - start new pack, get in touch with my doctor, get a
>different prescription
>Week of 1st - go off ortho-tricyclin, get another period (I read it is
>possible to force a menses in this way; this is the step I'm unsure of.
>Can I have a period after only one week of pills?)
>Week of 7th - start new prescription, since it's the new (forced) cycle.
>
>I know it's complicated, so any help at all is REALLY appreciated. :)
>Thanks in advance.

I think this is more than you need to do. As long as you are switching from one combination OCP to another, there is no real medical reason not to start a new pill in mid cycle, it is just wasteful, since you throw away the later part of one pill pack, and the early part of the other. Why not just open the next pack of TriCyclen when you would normally take the placebo pills of the current pack. Take the first week (so, you have now taken 4 weeks of active pills, rather than the usual 3), then stop and have your period, having called your doc in the meantime for a new script. Start the new pill the week of the first, and you should be mid-cycle by the time of your aniversary.

-- William D. McIntosh, MD, FACOG

This is for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for consultation and examination by a licensed medical professional.

Next message: Charlene: "Alesse and spotting"
Previous message: Bernard Cristalli MD: "Re: Only doc opinion, please....."
In reply to: alison: "abnormal discharge/delaying menses"

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