The bleeding experienced while taking hormonal birth control, often referred to as a "period," is not a true menstrual period in the same way as a period experienced without hormonal birth control. According to Fewer Periods, the bleeding on the pill is actually a "Pill period," caused by the withdrawal of hormones in the inactive pills.
Here's a breakdown:
| Feature | True Menstrual Period | "Pill Period" |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Natural hormone fluctuations in the menstrual cycle. | Withdrawal of hormones from birth control pills. |
| Hormones | Driven by the body's own production of estrogen and progesterone. | Triggered by a drop in synthetic hormones from the pill. |
| Medical Term | Menstruation | Withdrawal bleeding |
Therefore, while the bleeding may seem like a period, it's technically withdrawal bleeding that occurs in response to the absence of hormones from the birth control pill.
