How does hormonal birth control affect your period?

Hormonal birth control works by preventing the release of an egg every month and by thickening the cervical mucus of the uterus. This method of contraception is effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies 91-99% of the time, when used as prescribed (Cirino, 2018).

Different forms of hormonal birth control can affect how you experience your cycle. Depending on the type of birth control, you may experience spotting, and/or longer, or shorter periods.

The pill, the patch and the ring

While being on birth control that has a 7-day duration where you take no hormones, you don’t actually have a ‘normal’ period, rather you will have ‘withdrawal bleeding’ (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2022). Withdrawal bleeding is caused by a withdrawal in hormones, causing the release of blood from the uterus. This is similar to how the body naturally signals the start of a period, by a drop in hormones. Additionally, while you're on hormonal birth control, your uterus lining isn’t thickening in the same way for the arrival of a fertilized egg, so your flow will often be lighter (Cirino, 2018).

Often people on these forms of birth control will experience irregular spotting or bleeding during the first few months of usage. The spotting should go away with continued use (Birth control and your period, n.d.).

Injected and implanted birth control

It is common among users of injected or implanted birth control to experience irregular periods and unpredictable bleeding in the first few months of using. After 6-12 months of usage, users can get much lighter periods, or lose it completely (What are the side effects of the birth control implant?, n.d.).

For injected birth control, it has been found that after a year, 50-75% of women reduced or eliminated their period (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2022).

For implanted birth control, it has been recorded to sometimes cause heavier or longer periods but, after extended use, half of women experience no periods (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2022).

IUDs

IUDs or intrauterine devices is a form of birth control that is inserted directly into the uterus. There are two types of IUDs you can get: Copper IUDs or the progestin-only IUD. In the first 3-6 months after insertion, it is common for the copper IUD to cause spotting, and patients can experience heavier, longer and more painful periods (Whal, 2020).

The progestin-only IUD can cause spotting and irregular periods in the first 3-6 months. After about 6 months, the patient will commonly experience lighter periods or none whatsoever.

Ending notes

If you are considering going on a form of hormonal birth control, talk to a healthcare professional!

References

Birth control and your period. (n.d.) Retrieved from

https://www.yourperiod.ca/normal-periods/birth-control-and-your-period/

Cirino, E. (2018). What is withdrawal bleeding? Retrieved from

https://www.healthline.com/health/withdrawal-bleeding

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022). Delaying your period with hormonal birth control. Retrieved from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/birth-control/in-depth/womens-health/art-20044044

#:~:text=DMPA%20injection%20(Depo%2DProvera)&text=It%20is%20a%20form%20of,is%20

to%20stop%20your%20periods.

Whal, K. (2020). How every method of hormonal contraception affects your period. Retrieved from

https://helloclue.com/articles/sex/how-every-method-of-hormonal-contraception-affects-y

our-period

What are the side effects of the birth control impact? (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-implant-nexplanon/nexplanon-side-effects#:~:text=Sometimes%20the%20implant%20causes%20long,%2C%20this%20is%20totally%20safe).