Alright, so I have a question about miscarriage. My boyfriend and I, I having been on birth control (Microgestin) for the last seven months, decided to start having sex about two months ago. I take my birth control as directed, and we used condoms every time. I went on a trip about a month ago with a group of friends from college, and started my period a little early. Not to worry, I figured it was from one of the other girls on hers just started me a little early. It lasted a week. Two weeks later, I got another week long period. This last week, nothing. Now AGAIN I found it. The second period, was extremely bad, I passed a lot of clots, cramping, back pain, etc. I also had some weird white-ish colored something come out. I thought not a lot of it. It came and went. Now I’m on it again so I started to do research because that’s three times in five weeks. The reason I thought it might have been a miscarriage, and now I’m just on my normal period, is because of my mother’s history. My mom has had a lot of miscarriages, and I am very much like her, so it could be genetic is my worry. I asked some of my girl friends, and they had no idea. I looked up signs of miscarriage, including chemical miscarriage, and am thinking that might have happened. To have had my period, had sex, a miscarriage, and then another normal period. I’m really concerned, so I would appreciate any feedback that you can give me. Thank you!
ejsign1216, the first thing anyone here is going to tell you is: Go see your doctor.
Why? Because a bunch of well intentioned strangers cannot give you anything resembling an accurate answer. We can offer possibilities. We can speculate. We can offer comfort and support. But we can’t tell you what happened.
Here’s the possibilities:
- you were never pregnant. Instead, you experienced an unusual hormonal upset, had a handful of out-of-cycle menstruations, and passed something that could have been a clot, a fibroid, a mucus plug, or any number of harmless things. A doctor can examine you and put your mind at ease.
- you were never pregnant. You have a medical condition that could become or is already serious. A doctor can examine you, diagnose you, and start treatment as early as possible.
- you were pregnant. You had an early miscarriage, which happens to one in three pregnancies and usually indicated a chromosomal abnormality. A doctor can exam you, make sure there are no lasting effects, and advise you on birth control methods so you don’t have another unplanned pregnancy.
- you were pregnant. You are still pregnant. Pregnant women can have periods. They can pass matter. Their bodies can behave in ways shouldn’t be possible for a pregnant woman, but there you go. You know what a doctor can do? A doctor can examine you, determine if you are pregnant, how well the pregnancy has advanced, and what your options are.
It’s scary, I know. If you’re in college, money is almost always an issue. Go to your local Planned Parenthood. Tell your boyfriend you need his help. But please, go see a doctor.
What phouka said. And please…that whole thing about women’s cycles aligning had to do with women who lived in close quarters for an extended period of time…like, years, IIRC. And if it were true, my sister, mother and I would have had our periods align, and I can’t remember ever noticing that it did. Just being around another woman who starts her period while you are on vacation cannot trigger your period to start early.
Welcome to the SDMB, ejsign1216. We ask that you not start more than one thread on the same topic, so I’ve closed the other one. I also moved this one to our IMHO forum, which is where threads seeking medical advice go, to remind you that seeking advice from anonymous posters on a message board is not substitute for talking to a medical professional.
twickster, MPSIMS moderator
Excellent answer, phouka. We should bronze that one somewhere; we could use it a few times a year!
Regardless of whether women’s cycles align (IME, yes, but studies say no) it wouldn’t be effective in a woman on the pill, anyhow - her cycle is controlled by the hormones in her pills, not those made in her body.
You’re right, I am in college. And my doctor is almost five hours away. I will try to go to the doctor somehow. Should I go ASAP or can I wait until my classes are over for the day?
Just to add that early miscarriage really is very common and phouka is quite correct that chromosomal abnormalities are a leading cause of early miscarriage. But if a woman miscarries due to a chromosome abnormality that that does not mean that she is any more likely to have a baby with a chromosomal problem later on. The vast majority of chromosomal problems are one time random occurrences.
Does your university have a health center? They will direct you to a free or inexpensive clinic. Sooner is better than later, but if you aren’t bleeding, having pain or cramps, nausea, dizziness or light headedness, after class is probably ok. But do GO!
Picunurse : I am bleeding and cramping. I’m just at a community college actually, not university. I recently asked a friend who’s lived here her whole life if she knows a place.
In most states, even a community college has to have a nurse on staff, so it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Otherwise, go call an urgent care clinic and see if they’ll see you. Call. First. They may very well tell you to go to an Emergency Room instead.
In fact, if you have insurance and the copay isn’t crippling, you can just go to the ER instead. They’ll make sure you are stable and give you a referral to an OB/Gyn. You really should establish a relationship with one closer to school anyhow. No time like the present!
If you’re not in pain, don’t feel dizzy or lightheaded or weak and the flow isn’t filling more than a pad every 4 hours, then you’re probably okay to wait until class is over, but it’s really your call. We can’t assess you on the internet!
There is probably a Planned Parenthood in your area. Go find it.