Brown Period?

[ellison.livejournal.com]

Hi! I hope someone out there can help me with this one. I have been on the same brand of birth control pill (estrostep fe), for about seven years now (I'm 25). I have incredibly consistent periods while on the pill. I always get them on the Tuesday night of my placebo week, so I always just put in my menstrual cup (which I've been using for about two years) and I start sometime while I'm sleeping. It's always over on Saturday morning. And the blood is always bright to dark red, but definitely, clearly red. That's how it's been for a good three years, at least.

So this cycle, I was surprised and unnerved to see a sliiiight bit of pink, some brown, and that's it. It's been super light, too. Otherwise, felt like a normal period - kind of crampy, very sleepy on Tuesday. But it's concerning me a little - it hasn't been this light in years, if ever, and has never been all brown with NO red! Has this ever happened to any of you??

Some history of what might be going on is that I recently took a long trip. Right before the trip, I had finals, so I just started a new pack to skip my period, and when my period came the next cycle, it was perfectly normal and a little tiny bit of brown was present, but otherwise, very red as usual. So at the end of the 5 week trip, I was due to get my period right when I got home, which I didn't want, so I figured there'd be no harm in skipping that period as well by starting a new packet, so that's what I did, expecting this cycle to be normal, perhaps slightly heavier. But that's not how it's turning out. And of course, I'm also slightly extra worried, because I screwed up on taking my pill regularly this month (forgot a few times and had to take it the next morning, and yes, had lots of sex this month).

Basically, should I be concerned?

I KNOW if I get my period, that I can't possibly be pregnant. The thing that's confusing me is, if it's light, and all brown, does it count as a period? Sorry if that's a horribly stupid question. It's just I don't know what "spotting" looks like with the cup, so not sure if this counts as just spotting, or just light, or what. But there was not nearly as much as volume as there usually is. Any thoughts/responses will be greatly appreciated.

Comments

[stratyllis.livejournal.com]

Sometimes when I am hanging out more often with female friends, my period tries to start with theirs and I start spotting and by the time I get to my placebo pills it's all brown. Brown just means older blood.

[ellison.livejournal.com]

Oh okay. I've just never experienced it before, so it seemed really weird!

[frkyjenn.livejournal.com]

"I KNOW if I get my period, that I can't possibly be pregnant." This is incorrect, you can get what is period like (spotting and even some regular period flow) when pregnant. I did for the first two months of two of my pregnancies.

Your period could be lighter because of the way you took your pills (skipping periods for two cycles), pregnancy, stress or a number of other reasons.

I would wait it out myself.. but if you feel more comfortable take a pregnancy test.

[ellison.livejournal.com]

you can get what is period like (spotting and even some regular period flow) when pregnant.

Okay, cool. Thanks for explaining that!

And thanks for responding!! I am incredibly impatient and bad at waiting it out, so I'll probably get a test, especially considering as it now seems as though flow has stopped, which, is extra weird. Hmm.

[belinconnu.livejournal.com]

I did the exact same thing this summer (minus the sex, blasted US military stationing my fiancee in Japan for TWO YEARS.... tangent over, sorry) and the first time I tried to skip my period, I got a fairly regular one, only it lasted two weeks... then after stopping for maybe a week and a half started doing what yours is/was for another week and a half. Earlier this week mine decided to morph into a more normal period, so yours may as yet.... but personally I'm heading to the doc if this stupid thing sticks around another week. Sorry for the extra long comment o' doom.

[ellison.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I've left extra long comments o' doom that were that long and way longer so no need for apologies! :)

Wow, good luck with your own situation - I hope your body regulates itself sooner rather than later. My body seems to still be very light flow but has already morphed into more red territory this evening, so I am far less concerned about pregnancy now. I realized how insanely spoiled I am to have such a clockwork system that the slightest difference gave me cause for worry! In a way, that's a good thing. It's nice to have someplace to talk about this stuff, though!

Also, wow, two years away from your fiancee (how much of the 2 years is left?)! That sounds really hard! I wish you the best with that! I was away from my husband for 5 weeks, hence the sex when I got back this past month. It's not a lot of comfort when you're missing someone, but Welcome Home Sex is at least kind of fun to look forward to (and way fun to experience!). :)