I have VERY irregular/non-existent periods becuase of PCOS. I have to be on either BCP or Provera for my period to start, if not, I will not get it.

Hi,
There may be a few explanations why you would experience bleeding, followed by more bleeding two weeks later. It is difficult to distinguish which one was a menstrual period, and which one was not. These are just possible reasons, as every woman's body is different.

Possible reason #1: When you stopped using your BCP, your body reacted with "withdrawal bleeding". This withdrawal bleeding is your body "withdrawing" from the synthetic hormones (nothing harmful at all). The next time you experienced bleeding could have been a menstrual period, as you may have ovulated after the withdrawal bleeding, and typically a woman will experience a menstrual period about 2 weeks after ovulation (I am unclear if you are able to ovulate or not, or if you have in the past?).

Possible reason #2: The first time you experienced bleeding, you may have had more of a menstrual period if you ovulated previously. The second time you experienced bleeding, this could have been "breakthrough bleeding", which is what women experience when they have bleeding or spotting in-between their periods. Breakthrough bleeding can be common for women using oral contraception.

It is difficult to know exactly what the cause of each of your bleeding occurrences were triggered by, and once you are able to use your prescription on an ongoing basis...this may help you understand if you are experiencing more regular menstrual periods (on a somewhat regular and predictable cycle) and/or if you are experiencing breakthrough bleeding every few weeks.

I hope this helps!

Hi CrysD,
Thank you for your question. POCS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a condition which your body has a hard time ovulating as your body creates cysts instead of the egg being created then breaking to produce a menstrual cycle. This will cause irregular or non-existent periods.

Since you were being treated for the condition with birth control (which is common), your body is forced to create a menstrual cycle. I am assuming this may be why you had a period. Sometimes, even why you take yourself off birth control pills, your body maintains that cycle but will eventually return to its abnormal ways. Did you take yourself off for a reason? Have you talked to your physician?

Thank you for any updates.
Missie