Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

Bleeing with injectable contraceptives

Resolved Question:

I am 22 years old and I have been spotting now for about a month and a half, I switched birth control about 6 months ago from pill form to injection form because the pills were causing me to have a terrible temper. The first three months of the injection were fine, I didn't get my period and I didn't have any problems and I just got my second shot a couple of months ago so I am not sure if that has anything to do with it. 
The spotting is daily, and a brown colour that varies to dark dark brown to a lighter brown red shade. I also have had terrible cramps, and ovary pain for the past two months as well as lower back soreness and bloating. I am worried about this, as there is a history of cervical cancer in my family as well as uterus/ovary problems, my mother, grandma and great grandma had hysterectomies so I am quite scared that this may happen to me at such a young age. Please help to give me some insight and things I should ask my doctor to do when I see them?

Category: Internal Medicine Specialist

Ask Your Own Question

Category: Internal Medicine Specialist
 30 Doctors Online

Thank you for asking the query.
This particular spotting you have described in your consult is a known side effect of depot preparations ( injectable contraceptives). I hope you know that the depot injections are female hormones which will be slowly released over the days. While this depot preparations can prevent unwanted pregnancies certain minor unwanted side effects can also occur. And the most common one among them is irregular bleeding. These hormones can interfere with your natural hormones by creating a negative feedback system. And if there is inadequate hormone support to the uterus it can shed the endometrium which can be manifested as bleeding/spotting.


Cramps, sourness and bloating can also occur with depot preparations. But I understand that your specific concern is whether this is some 'more significantly' serious health issue. Well, it does not look like one for me. But its always better to be sure. So I recommend you to visit an OBGY and consider the following :

1. An ultrasound scan of the pelvis is a safe and easy way to look for anything abnormal. Discuss with your Doctor whether a USG can be done.

2. A Pap smear test

3. Early pap smear screening . This needs an risk assessment by your Doctor.

One rare possibility is that during the second injection an adequate dose was not delivered to you. You can discuss this with your Doctor. 


There is no specific treatment needed for the bleeding as of now. The best approach would be to give some time so that it settles by itself. 


Please feel free to ask followup questions via this email itself. Thank you.


Dr. Steve Merris
Category: Internal Medicine Specialist
Experience: 
Medical School - New York University
Internship in Internal Medicine - Beth Israel Medical Center
Residency in Internal Medicine - Beth Israel Medical Center
Fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine - Columbia University Medical Center
Dr. Steve Merris and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news