How Can I Get Periods While Taking Birth Control Pills With Norethindrone?

Hi and welcome to health care magic. I understand your query. You have been taking birth control pills and also taking norethidrone to avoid periods. There are two types of pills, one contain estrogen and progesterone [COC], the other pills contain only progesterone [POP]. It seems that you are taking the combined pills [estrogen and progesterone]. Norethidrone also is similar to progesterone in the pills. The COC are designed in such a fashion that they are meant to replace your endogenous hormones. They do not allow female hormones to be secreted in the regular pattern and hence prevent ovulation. so the uterine lining develops under the infulence of estrogen hormone in the COC, it regresses under the influence of progesterone and is shed off when neither estrogen or progesterone are available to help the lining to grow. After shedding off during menstruation new lining grows and cycle begins again. If norethidrone is used during the pill free period, the uterine lining will grow under estrogen, regress under progesterone and further regress as progesterone is still being used. This goes on for some time but after a while, the topmost layer of the endometrium grow so much that it cannot remain alive and is shed. This is called breakthrough bleeding in medical terms and is common after continuous use of hormones. Now about the remedy: please understand that you are taking too much progesterone. This is not advisable as these are hormones and affect many body systems. So it is better not to use them except as per the guidelines. As for now, please stop all drugs. Let the menstrual blood flow and shed. begin a new pack of pills from day 3 of your cycle [use condoms in the intervening period as irregular use of hormones does not guarantee a protection from pregnancy]. Take the pills only as directed. Do not use norethidrone. You will most likely have menses regularly and it is a good sign. Unfortunately there is no reversible contraceptive method that will make you free from menses. POP and implants cause complete amenorrhea in some women but it is not a guarantee. Please also discuss these with your health care provider and if needed choose another method. Sorry if the answer is too long but I thought it was better to explain things in details. Hope this satisfies your query. Thanks for using HCM. Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have. Dr Madhuri Bagde Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist