Antidepressants and strange periods.

[Jish]

I may be barking up the wrong tree here, since many of you may still be bfing and not having periods, but I thought I'd give it a try.

Here is my story. Got pregnant with #1. Bfed him until he weaned when I was three months pg with #2 , ds1 was 22 months at the time. Went on to bf ds2 until he was 2 and I had to wean him in September due to my hosptialization. Suffice it to say, I'd either been pregnant or breastfeeding for five years before I weaned #2 last fall. I had periods while I bfed and they were pretty normal and lasted about 5-6 days in total duration.

Well now, I have these lighter than normal, 2 day periods. Are these due to the antidepressants? Anyone else find that they have short periods on AD's? Personally, I'm not complaining, just wondering if it is the meds, or if it was due to the weaning since both happened at the same time. I'm assuming it is the meds, but I wasn't sure if I was overlooking something I should be calling my obgyn about.

Any helpers out there?

[journeymom]

1) How old are you? :D

2) What kind of medication are you taking?

[Jish]

I'm 33 and on Lexapro. My periods were about 7 days and 35 day cycles in my early 20's. Then I went on the pill. While I was breastfeeding I had a few periods and they were usually about 5 days and between 28 and 34 day cycles -- normal for me. This is the first time I have been on an AD, but it's also the first time I haven't been breastfeeding or pregnant in more than five years. Lexapro has only been around in the US since September (about when I started taking it.) So there isn't a lot of anecdotal information out there. I have heard that menstural changes can be a side effect, but they don't say what the changes are.

I'm just wondering if this is a thing with my AD, or if it is common with all SSRI's. I'm liking the shorter, lighter cycles. After the first two days I have to wear a pantyliner for a few days cause I have a small amount of bloody discharge, but I only go through one or two liners a day for two or three days.

[mama2girls]

Beth, I was on ad's when af came back after A was born (what a cryptic sentance!). My periods were not like they used to be--but I attributed it to post-pg and bfing. I did go right back to 40 day cycles, but the flow was less amount and shorter duration. I'll be interested to see what my body does this time. M is 7 months and still no af!!