Hello doctor, I am going to be really specific so that you can best help me. Six months back, I went to the doctor, and I was prescribed Ciprofloxacin HCl (Hydrochloride) for a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). I took the antibiotic for 7 days. I am taking an oral contraceptive, and I am sexually active. During the week I was taking the antibiotic, I had unprotected sex once. The following week, I started my period as usual. I started a new pack of my birth control pills on after my periods. I forgot to take the pill on the eight-day, so I took two on the next day. I have not missed a pill or taken it late since then. There has been an increase in vaginal discharge for about 3 days. At first, there was no color to it, but yesterday, I noticed that there was a pink tint to it, and it is still present today. Everything that I have looked at online says it could be a sign of early pregnancy. What is your opinion?
Hello. In my opinion, if you have had your period this month on time, and you have been on oral contraceptive (birth control) pills, then you are not pregnant at all. Sometimes, spotting continues longer with discharge in the initial days of the cycle because, during the previous proliferative phase, there can be left over endometrium, which is shed after that when you have your period. By "proliferative" I am referring to growth. During the second part of your menstrual cycle, hormones which your body produce naturally cause growth to occur in the lining of the uterus also called the endometrium. Oral contraceptive pills usually cause a reduction in bleeding and some cases, may cause spotting. So, please do not worry; it is not pregnancy. This spotting should stop. Continue the pills you are taking, as prescribed. One missed pill is not the cause, as you correctly took two the next day.