How to control heavy bleeding that occurs on missing a birth control pill?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a teenager and I started bleeding very heavily. It has never happened before and I do not know what to do. I could not even get out of the shower as it started to drip down my leg. I just missed my birth control pill last week and every time I forget my pill I do get periods that last about a month but it has never been this heavy. What do I do?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for your query.

As you are a teenager you are still in the phase of reproductive development and can have ovulatory and anovulatory cycles with the heavy irregular flow. Combined hormonal contraceptives could give heavy, irregular bleeding with mood variations, breast engorgement, etc. Start iron supplements immediately and have a diet rich in iron like apples and carrots. You can have tablets Ponstan and Tranexamic acid 500 mg once in eight hours for three to five days from the second day of periods to reduce heavy bleeding and pain. Have transvaginal scans and blood tests (thyroid function tests and complete blood count) and discuss them here or with a gynecologist. If bleeding is too heavy and you have symptoms of dizziness and fainting you better rush to tertiary care gynecological emergency and have your workup done and full checkup immediately as in case of severe anemia you might need a blood transfusion and intravenous infusion of tranexamic acid 1 gm to reduce bleeding and scan findings also need to be checked.

Kindly consult a specialist, talk to them, and take medications with their consent.

I hope this has helped you.

Thank you.