Withdrawal bleeding: Your complete guide to understanding it

Some forms of hormonal birth control require you to take regular breaks during the course of the medication. During this break, the person's hormone levels drop which leads to bleeding. This is withdrawal bleeding and is typically shorter and lighter than your regular period.

Withdrawal bleeding usually begins two to three days after you stop taking hormones. However, if one takes the medication as prescribed, the bleeding should only last a few days. Use good quality sanitary pads and tampons such as the range offered by Always to manage this bleeding.

The difference between withdrawal bleeding and a period is that withdrawal period is typically lighter and slightly different than your regular period. While some experience very light bleeding, others don't bleed at all during the break week when you don’t take any hormonal birth control.