Is it usual to experience excessive menstrual bleeding after stopping the contraceptive pill?
(Female, 43) A: One of the benefits of the oral contraceptive pill is that your hormonal levels are kept regular. Consequently, your periods were ‘controlled’ by the pill’s hormones. The pill actually suppressed your ‘normal’ periods and created a regular ‘withdrawal bleed’ whenever you took the sugar pills (the inactive ones). Once you stopped taking the pill, your periods returned to what would have been ‘normal’ for you. Unfortunately, they are heavy periods, which can be a major inconvenience as well as a source of significant blood loss. I would suggest seeing your GP about your period problem. There are some tests that need to be done to check for possible causes and then the appropriate treatment can be arranged. The Better Health Channel fact sheet Menstruation – menorrhagia has more information about heavy bleeding and treatment possibilities. Last reviewed: 05/01/2007 Disclaimer These answers provide general information endorsed by our experts at time of publication. They are
