The ‘morning after’ pill may affect the length of your menstrual cycle, causing your period to come earlier or later than you were expecting it to. If you take emergency contraceptive pills in the first three weeks of your cycle, your period is likely to come early. Your period may also last longer than normal.

When you stop taking the pill, it can take some time for your body to start producing these hormones again. Menstrual periods typically resume within three months after you stop taking the pill. But if you took the pill to regulate your menstrual cycles, it may take several months before your period comes back.

Breakthrough bleeding is a common side effect of birth control pills. It’s especially common in the first three months of using hormonal birth control. It may also happen after you switch to a different type of contraceptive or to a pill with a different estrogen dose.

This is not abnormal. Breakthrough bleeding (anything from light brown discharge up to bleeding like your regular period) is the most common side effect for women beginning birth control. Just continue using your birth control as normal and give your body time to adjust to the birth control you are using.

Birth control pill When an individual starts taking birth control pills, they may experience some spotting before their period for the first few months. This spotting is known as breakthrough bleeding, and it is a sign that a person’s body is adjusting to the hormones.

Vaginal bleeding between periods is not usually a cause for concern. If the blood flow is light, it is called ‘spotting. ‘ Bleeding between periods can have a range of causes, including hormonal changes, injury, or an underlying health condition.

If you skip a dose or more of your birth control pill, your body may detect and respond to the fluctuating hormone levels. This can cause breakthrough bleeding due to premature shedding of some of your uterine lining before your period is due to occur.