Learn how certain medications affect your period
It’s completely normal for you to have some slight variations in your period from month to month. This could include small changes in the number of days between your cycles, how long you actually bleed and how much. But, you should know that certain medications affect your period. If you have recently started taking a new medication and notice a significant change, it’s wise to talk to your healthcare provider.
Women, especially those who are seeking to get pregnant, should be aware of changes and irregularity in their menstrual cycle. There are lots of things that can affect your period, like stress, a health condition, or ovulation issues. One cause that often surprises women is that certain medications affect your period, both prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Some medications can delay your period, prevent you from having a period altogether, make your period heavier, or cause spotting between your periods.
Which medications affect your period?
If you are trying to get pregnant, it’s ideal for your period to be regular since this indicates that you are ovulating. Therefore, understanding how medications you might be on can affect your cycle is important. Here is a list of medications that can affect your period in different ways:
- Hormonal birth control – Types of hormonal forms of birth control include combination and progestin-only oral contraception pills, birth control patches, NuvaRing, IUDs, and Depo Provera contraception injections. All of these forms of birth control mimic the naturally occurring hormones produced by a woman’s body. However, side effects can be changes in your menstrual cycle, such as breakthrough bleeding, delayed periods, missed periods or lighter periods.
- Copper IUDs – A common side-effect of this non-hormonal birth control method is heavy menstrual bleeding, particularly during the first year after placement.
- Antidepressants – Women who take antidepressants are more likely to have delayed or missed periods or heavy periods. If you are on an antidepressant and notice changes in your period, consult with your doctor, especially if you are trying to get pregnant.
- Antipsychotics – These types of medications are known to cause hyperprolactinemia, or abnormally high levels of prolactin, which in turn lead to missed or delayed periods. The hormone prolactin is produced in the pituitary gland and supports menstrual cycle regulation.
- Blood thinners – Blood thinners, including aspirin, are anticoagulants and, by nature, make your blood less likely to clot. Women who take blood thinners are very likely to experience heavy menstrual bleeding and longer periods.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) can decrease the amount of menstrual bleeding by reducing prostaglandins, chemicals responsible for uterine contractions, potentially making periods lighter and less painful.
- Steroids – Steroid medications such as prednisolone can affect periods and make them irregular, prolonged and sometimes heavier. This is usually after long-term use of steroids.
- Chemotherapy – Drugs used during cancer treatment can affect your period temporarily or permanently. Because many chemotherapy drugs can damage the ovaries, many oncologists now recommend for women who still want to build a family to freeze their eggs prior to chemotherapy.
When should you be concerned when medications affect your period?
Starting a new medication can often make you feel different or bring about side effects. Most side effects for medications can be found on the accompanying material provided from your pharmacy or doctor. However, if you notice significant changes in your period, it’s best to bring it up with your healthcare provider. And, if you are trying to get pregnant, be sure to let you doctor know about all the medications that you take.
