Really really long period?

I can usually set my watch by my period - 5 days, no more no less. Last month I took a month off my birth control, and then decided to go back this month. First of all at the end of last month my period was late by a couple days, which caused a bit of panic. Then when I finally got it, it lasted for about 7 days, but when it was over, it wasn't really over. I was spotting regularly for about another week up until yesterday, when it got heavy again and seems like another period.

I went back on the pill on the date I would have normally started my period at te end of last month, as per the packaging instructions, even though I my period was late. I have been taking it regularly since.

Has anybody got any ideas what might be going on?

If you're on the pill, a 5 days period is normal. How was your period before you first started the pill?

I used to have very long periods before starting the pill (7-8 days or 10 - til it was really over). But since pill is always 5 days (6 at the most). I've never been off the pill since, but I suppose if I stopped, I might get those really long periods back (yikes!!!). Not sure though... I've been on the pill for yesr now.

From what I can recall my periods before the pill were always regular and always lasted 5 days....

Original Post by htracey:

From what I can recall my periods before the pill were always regular and always lasted 5 days....

In that case it probably was just your body adjusting to not being on the pill. If you had stayed longer off the pill it would eventually get back on track.

I'm on the pill and have just had a 3-week-long period, thanks to taking it in a non-standard fashion: rather than taking it for three weeks and having 1 week off, I took it for 2 months with 1 week off. This was under my doctor's supervision as a way of reducing menstrual pain, and she warned me this might happen and that it was harmless.

All the same, I'd recommend having a chat about it with your doctor, since this is a change in your body's behaviour; then s/he can check you over and make sure you're ok to keep taking it.