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HBC Pills, Withdrawal Bleed, and Pregnancy General Curiosity

By Anonymous October 24, 2017 - 2:31pm
 
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Out of curiosity, I was wondering if the withdrawal bleed 100% means that you aren't pregnant. My pill pack insert makes me believe so (and I'm not worried about myself, I take my pills at the same time every day and haven't missed one), but I am hearing things from other people saying that it's still possible to be pregnant and have this monthly bleed. I was wondering if that information is accurate, because, if I'm not mistaken, won't the pregnancy hormones stop someone from bleeding eventually? The people on the main page I get this info from are a mixed group of women all on some form of birth control, and some are GYNs. However, my GYN said that as long as I get the withdrawal bleed, I'm not pregnant, and unless I miss two or more in a row, it's highly unlikely. Why are there opposing/contradictory thoughts on this and which is right?

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HERWriter Guide

Hello Anon

Thanks for writing!

There are opposite views on this for many reasons - many of these "facts" are anecdotal and are from women self-reporting. So they may deem implantation bleeding as a period (not realizing they are pregnant when they are not), getting dates mixed up or not understanding how to take birth control pills properly but not knowing it - or just not knowing how reproduction works.

The bottom line is that women can bleed in pregnancy but they don't get menstrual periods. A menstrual period happens when a pregnancy does not occur that month and the lining of the uterus, that would otherwise house a baby, breaks down in the form of blood and tissue. A baby could not survive this so a woman is not pregnant when it happens.

Remember that everyone knows someone whose neighbor's cousin's friend's aunt [insert implausible situation here] had such-and-such experience, depending on the topic at hand.

Best,
Susan

October 24, 2017 - 2:52pm
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