Patient's question:
I last had my period on October 6th. I took a post-coital contraceptive pill in early November and another one in mid-November. I haven't had my period yet. What should I do?Follow-up question: On November 24th, I took an early pregnancy test and it was negative. Why hasn't my period come yet? Could it be delayed due to a drug reaction, or is there still a possibility of pregnancy?
Doctor's answer:
It should be caused by birth control pills. Emergency contraception pills, due to their effects of inhibiting and delaying ovulation and suppressing the endometrium, can delay the next menstrual period. It may also cause a temporary increase in hormone levels in the blood due to temporary medication, leading to a withdrawal bleed after the levels drop, which manifests as an early menstrual period. The side effects of birth control pills include nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, headaches, vaginal bleeding, breast tenderness, slight weight gain, nervousness, low mood, missed periods, and the tendency for the skin to develop brown spots and acne. These effects usually take 2-3 months to return to normal.