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Q: I'm in the middle of my third week of using the pill as a contraceptive. I got the prescription through a free Family Planning clinic in my area. I'm 17 years old.

I knew about the side effects that the pill can have on your body, and I know that among them are nausea and spotting, and not feeling 'in the mood'. I hadn't any of these side effects for the first few weeks, but the past couple days I've noticed some spotting. The 'nausea' I'd felt was more like period cramps than nausea. The spotting also wasn't fresh blood, it was darker and sometimes thick. These things have started to concern me because I'm not sure what's normal. I have always had very irregular and painul periods, and this was part of my reason for choosing the pill. There were theree different days that I forgot to take the pill and waited until the next day to take two at the same time as I was directed. Are my symptoms normal?

I also didn't know if I should wait until the next day and double up on pills if I remember a few hours after the time I should take it. Should I have just taken it a few hours off, or would this have completely messed me up?

I'll be calling the clinic to ask them what's going on too, but in the meantime I hope you'll know something that can help me.

-Thanks

you're going to have to talk to the doctors, I'm afraid. I'm no medical expert. I do know that if you miss pills (and three is a lot to miss, even if they were on different days) that can throw things off and contribute to spotting. I also know that side effects of birth control are very different for everyone. I can't tell you a whole lot more than that.

Rating: 5

Hey, thanks for trying, anyways :)

bio

I've been in the advice column over five years now so I think I've pretty much heard it all... the love, the hate, the random insanity. I don't take it too seriously, so I'm not always giving the best advice, but my column is fun to read!

I am a 23 year old electrical engineer, a feminist, a Christian. I don't know everything but I can sure pretend to.

Disclaimer: Now that I'm on advicenators I'm getting even more questions every day. It's fast and easy for me to answer them, yes, so at least I'm answering something now, but if your question contains the words "there's this guy that I like..." chances are I won't get around to it. I'm only answering interesting questions that I haven't answered before. Register at the site and ask everyone for advice if you must have an answer, because if people read my column and boring love advice was all they found, they'd never come back.