I have blood clots between menstrual periods ( I have stopped using contraceptive pills almost a year ago and do not want to take any after four years of taking it).Will I need any treatment to be able to get pregnant?

( 7 Apr 2009)

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It is unfortunately not possible to tell you here whether you will be able to get pregnant. That question requires a proper consultation with a doctor, and may need some tests to be performed too. The fact that you have a menstrual problem does not necessarily mean that you will have trouble conceiving, but if you want to be sure, the only way for you to do this will be to consult your gynecologist.

In any case, there are a number of possible causes for your problem, and a proper diagnosis will need a doctor to look into the problem. There are several factors at work here, and it is not possible to look into every factor in a forum like this. Your doctor will be able to ask you a lot of questions in order to probe every possible aspect of the problem, and, as mentioned earlier, will also be able to perform a few tests that will either confirm his or her diagnosis or point in other directions.

It is probably a good thing that you have stopped taking the contraceptive pills. As you know, the pills contain hormones – you have not mentioned exactly what pill you were on, but it would either be progestogen alone, or a combination of estrogen and progestogen. Menstrual problems can often be traced to abnormal hormone levels in the body, and it is therefore advisable to ensure that the pill is not contributing to this. In any case, many doctors recommend taking a break for a month or two, after several months of being on the pill. Continuously taking contraceptive pills for four years is probably not a good idea.

However, that said, contraceptive pills offer a number of health benefits. They reduce the risk of several cancers, such as ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and colorectal cancer, as well as preventing many other health problems. It is not clear from your question whether your menstrual problem started while you were on the pill, or after you stopped using it. If the problem began after you stopped taking the pill, then this may be the cause, and going on the pill again may regularize your periods once again. However, you need to get this confirmed by a doctor – do not start taking the pill and then ignore this problem. Even if the pill solves the problem, there must be some underlying cause that requires you to take the pill to have a normal period.

answered by G M on 7 Apr 2009, 1:35:27