Hey everyone. I’m on the combination pill and still new to it. After taking 21 pills, I take a 7 day break without placebo pills. During this break I get a withdrawal bleed… I’m aware that this isn’t a true period, but is it a sign that I’m not pregnant (like a normal period)? Or does it mean nothing and just the response to hormones? I’ve done a lot of research but don’t seem to be getting a clear answer. Thanks for your help!

it isn’t a sign you’re not pregnant. its just a response to the hormones yes- withdrawing from them. the only way to know that you’re not pregnant is perfect use of the pill. is there a reason you’re worried you could be pregnant?

it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not, but i feel like a viable pregnancy is unlikely to hold through normal full on bleeding (not based on research just guesswork!!). some pills’ pamphlets have instructions for missed bleeds, like mine says that after missing two bleeds in a row it’s wise to take a pregnancy test just to be safe. the professionals who write the pamphlets know more than anybody on here, so i think that indicates at least a loose relationship (at least for some pills)

@onthepillxo There’s no reason I’m worried about pregnancy. I’ve never missed a pill 😁😁. I just still get super anxious and don’t want to take pregnancy tests every time I’m nervous. It would be nice if the withdrawal bleed was reassuring... Any tips on how to handle the anxiety?

@KPB123 I was very, very anxious when I first started. I used condoms alongside my pill for the first few months while I got used to it, and eventually stopped using condoms when I felt ready. Doing lots of research on how birth control works, and how it’s studied, made me feel more confident. But I also live somewhere where abortion is very accessible, so that’s a comfort for me as well since I know that if my birth control were to fail I would have options.