How Long After Stopping Birth Control Will You Get Your Period
Okay, so youre on birth control that has stopped your period, but now youre ready to leave that contraceptive method behind. While the exact timeline of when your period will return depends on a variety of factors, the Mayo Clinic says menstrual periods generally resume within three months after stopping birth control pills. This is also true of other types of birth control, with the exception of the shot, which can take much longersometimes between 6 and 18 months, according to the Center for Young Womens Health.
Regardless of the type, your body and menstrual cycle will need time to adjust. This could mean you get a typical period within a month, or you could experience spotting or irregular periods for a few months, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But remember, this is often temporary, and your cycle may return to its pre-birth control days in just a matter of time. For others, it may not.
Whats The Short Answer
Its common not to get a period after stopping the pill, explains Gil Weiss, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Illinois.
The phenomenon is called post-pill amenorrhea, Dr. Weiss continues. The pill suppresses your bodys normal production of hormones that are involved in your menstrual cycle.
He says it can take several months for your body to return to its normal production, and therefore several months for your period to return.
But, in some cases, there is another reason for late or missed periods.
It can be something as simple as lifestyle factors like stress or exercise. Or it could be an underlying condition like hypothyroidism.
Discover other factors that could be causing your post-pill period problem, and how to get your cycle back on track.
Stress can affect the delicate hormonal balance that controls your menstrual cycle.
Stress induces the hormone cortisol, says Kecia Gaither, MD, who specializes in OB-GYN and maternal fetal medicine.
This, she says, can interfere with the hormonal regulation of menses via the circuit between the brain, ovaries, and uterus.
Other symptoms of stress to look out for include muscle tension, headaches, and sleeplessness.
You may also experience signs of stomach discomfort such as bloating, or mood problems like sadness and irritability.
While small amounts of stress are unlikely to cause changes, long-term or significant stress levels can stop periods.
You May Bleed A Few Days
If you stop taking a combination hormonal birth control pillwhich has both estrogen and progesteronesome tissue sheds off, which can cause a light bleed, Alyssa Dweck, MD, an ob-gyn and author of The Complete A to Z for Your V, tells Health. This is also why you get a fake period on the Pill during the week you take the placebo pills, she explains. A withdrawal bleed, by definition, is progesterone being withdrawn and the bleeding that occurs, says Dr. Dweck. A withdrawal bleed is not technically, by definition, a period because it is not a result of ovulation. After your withdrawal bleed, you still have to wait for your real period to come.
Think that because youve been on birth control for 10 years its going to take forever to get your period back? That might not be the case: Generally, the side effects of the Pill and the impact on suppressing the hormone pathways are rapidly reversible, Samantha Kempner, MD, an ob-gyn and an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, tells Health. Even with long-term use of the combination birth control pill, most women can expect to resume normal periods quickly.
Still no period after three months? See your docthey may want to check for issues like a thyroid condition or hormonal imbalances that could be keeping your period MIA.
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Difficulty Identifying Accidental Pregnancy
Using birth control to skip or stop periods makes no difference to fertility. You will be protected from pregnancy in the same way as you would be if you had a period on birth control. It is safe and will still protect you from pregnancy.
However, skipping periods may make it difficult to notice if you do happen to become pregnant. If you notice symptoms such as breast tenderness or nausea, take a home pregnancy or consult your healthcare provider.
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Starting The Combined Pill
You can normally start taking the pill at any point in your menstrual cycle. There is special guidance if you have just had a baby, abortion or miscarriage. The guidance may also be different if you have a short menstrual cycle. Get advice from a doctor or nurse if you need it. You may need to use additional contraception during your 1st days on the pill this depends on when in your menstrual cycle you start taking it.
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How To Stop Periods Permanently
The period or menstruation cycle is normal and harmless. Your period is a natural way to cleanse your reproductive system. When occurring irregularly, it can be a sign of an underlying condition. Stopping your period permanently is a serious decision that needs lots of consideration. This is not to say that you cannot stop your period permanently.
If your reasons for stopping your period are not a medical emergency, then you might want to reconsider such a decision, especially for a young girl. You might opt for semi-permanent methods such as using contraceptives and other natural methods.
If you are, however certain that you would wish to stop your period permanently, then you can try the following:
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The Pill The Ring And The Patch:
During the first few months: Usually youll have a light period once a month while taking the placebo pills . Its also common and normal to have bleeding between periods during the first few months of using these methods.
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After the first three months: Usually youll have a light, predictable period once a month during the placebo pills or off time.
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Pro Tip: For people who use the pill, ring, or patch continuously, you probably wont have a period at all, or just very light bleeding every so often. This is also totally safe.
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Your Sex Drive Could Spike Or Drop
Dr. Agnant previously told Health that some of her patients actually reported lower libidos when they started taking birth control pills. This is most likely due to changes in hormonal production,” she said, adding that these women usually experience an increase in libido when they stop taking birth control.
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Can I Shorten My Cycle On The Pill
Oral birth control pills and birth control injections can be used to regulate your cycle. Hormonal birth control can also decrease cramping and shorten the number of days you menstruate each month. If youre just starting hormonal birth control, it may take several months before your periods become shorter.
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Can You Start Birth Control Before Your Period
by Michelle | Jan 9, 2019 | General Information
Birth control medication usually comes with information on the packaging advising you to start taking it the day your period begins. But many women are still asking if can you start birth control before your period.
The answer to that is yes, you can start taking birth control medication before your period starts. Now some of you will say if thats true, then why do the pharmaceutical manufacturers suggest starting the medication on the same day your menstrual period begins?
The reasons for that are quite straightforward. First, yourperiod starting is a very reliable indication that youre not pregnant. Yourestarting to take birth control medication with nothing that might suggest itwasnt effective. Next, if you start taking your first pill in sync with yourperiod starting it keeps your cycle on a similar schedule.
But again, to answer the question of can you start birthcontrol before your period specifically yes, you can. But theres more toknowing when to take your first birth control pill. In particular, itsimportant to know that you shouldnt delay taking your first pill anythinglonger than a few days after your cycle starts and definitely before your reachthe mid part of you cycle.
Well discuss that in greater detail below.
Should I Take Pills To Regulate My Period
I’m 15 and I have irregular periods. I have been told by people similar to me that they are given pills to help regulate their periods. I am unsure on whether I should go on them and I’m scared of the side effects. Do these pills work and what are some of the side effects? Are there any other ways to help regulate a period? – Nikeyah*
It’s normal to have irregular periods for the first few years of menstruating. Several things can cause irregular periods, including changing hormone levels. Doctors sometimes prescribe birth control pills to regulate periods because they can help control hormone levels.
Birth control pills can have some side effects, like nausea, possible weight gain, headaches, mood changes, breast tenderness, and blood clots. But most young women who take it have no side effects or very few. Girls who take the Pill should not smoke because smoking can increase the risk of some side effects, like blood clots.
Birth control pills can be an effective way to regulate periods. But the only way to find out what’s causing your irregular periods is to visit your doctor.
Note: The Pill does not protect you from STDs. So, if you do have sex, be sure to use a condom every time. This will help prevent STDs and give you extra protection against pregnancy.
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
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How To Keep Track Of Your Menstrual Cycle
You can use a menstrual tracker like Flo to keep track of your cycle. Period tracking apps let you log your symptoms and determine when you should expect your period. This can also take some weight off your mind, since you wont have to remember when your period is due to arrive. The app will do it for you!
Overall, as long as youre taking it correctly, birth control is highly effective at preventing pregnancy and those missed periods can happen now and again.
If youre not sure, take a pregnancy test to ease your mind. Adding some relaxing activities to your life and staying healthy can help get your cycle back to normal.
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Combination Birth Control Pills
If a combination birth control pill is started for the first time on the Sunday after your period begins, your period should occur about 25 days later. Ask your healthcare provider which day is the best to start your specific pill pack. If your period begins on a Sunday, you can start the pill pack on that Sunday.
- In general, about 3 days after finishing all of the 21 active tablets in a 28 pill pack, most women will start their period.
- If you use a 28-pill pack, youâll get your period during the week you take the reminder pills.
- If you use a 21-day pill pack, youâll still get your period the week you do not take any pills. Remember that the 21-day pack has no reminder pills. Use a reminder to help you stay on track.
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How Could Birth Control Affect My Period
- Details
Birth control can be very helpful for women who are sexually active and who do not want to become pregnant. However, certain forms of birth control can affect a womans body in different ways. This includes potential effects to the menstrual cycle. Since some of these effects can be positive in nature, certain forms of birth control may be prescribed to women experiencing issues with their period. Still, many women select their preferred method of birth control without even considering the impact it can have on their periods. Thats why our board-certified gynecologists have provided some details on how the most common types of hormonal birth control can affect a womans menstruation.
Birth Control Pills
The most common form of birth control, birth control pills are made up of the hormones progestin and estrogen. Although taking The Pill can have different effects depending on each person taking it, it is somewhat common for women on birth control pills to experience shorter or lighter periods. This can mean a cycle that normally lasts 5 7 days being cut down to 3 4 days. Birth control pills can also be used to help women who experience irregular bleeding, endometriosis pain, and more.
IUDs
How Taking The Pill Affects Your Period And Changes Your Menstrual Cycle
The development of birth control pills, often known as the pill, was unquestionably one of the most remarkable and liberating innovations in the history of medicine. Back then, women didnt have the power to separate sex from pregnancy and childbearing.
But with the creation of the pill, a vast number of women were given the incredible freedom to exercise greater control over their own bodies and make rational choices about their reproductive health and lives. Birth control pills are very effective when it comes to preventing unintended pregnancy. When you are sexually active but do not want to get pregnant, the pill is certainly one of the best weapons you can have.
The pill prevents pregnancy primarily by preventing the process of ovulation. Most birth control pills contain potent levels of synthetic hormones that mimic the two sex hormones, estrogen, and progesterone.
These synthetic hormones trick the body into believing that it is pregnant, thus preventing the release of the egg from the ovary. Surprisingly, pills do more than just prevent unplanned pregnancies. A new survey indicates that a huge proportion of women take birth control pills for reasons other than avoiding the nightmare of unintended pregnancy.
The most common reason is to relieve menstrual issues. Birth control pills powerfully influence the menstrual process in a lot of ways.
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More Questions And Answers About Birth Control Pills
What is continuous use with combination birth control pills?
With continuous birth control pill use, you take an active pill every day and never have a period. You might have breakthrough bleeding, especially at first. You may want fewer periods or none at all, especially if you have problem periods. But you may wonder how youâll know if you get pregnant by accident.
If you think you could be, take a pregnancy test. They work even if you’re taking the pill. If the test is positive, stop taking your pills and call your doctor.
Do I have to get permission from my parents to go on the pill if Iâm younger than 18?
It depends where you live. In some states, you can get a prescription without permission. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the laws in your area. A sexual education counselor might be able to give you some ideas about how to bring up the subject with your parents. Even if you decide against that, they can talk to you privately if youâre confused, unsure, or just curious about sexual activity.
How old do I have to be to take the pill?
Thereâs no minimum age once you start to get your period, but some doctors suggest waiting until around 16 to give your body a chance to properly establish its cycle. Itâs a good idea to talk to your doctor, parents, or a counselor to make sure youâre physically and mentally ready, both for the pill and for sex.
Will it make my cycle more regular?
Will the pill make me gain weight?
Will the pill make my breasts larger?
Taking Only The Active Combination Pills
If youre using a combination pill pack, you just need to take only the active pills with no breaks in between. You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist so they can show you which pills are active and which are the placebo pills. Youll want to throw out the placebos.
If you take the active pills continuously, you wont get a period until you stop them.
If you stop taking active pills, you may experience a withdrawal bleed, which is similar to your period. Dabney recommends that you allow this to happen once every three to four months.
Dabney says some birth control pills have a higher risk of abnormal bleeding than others. You should check with your doctor if you want to start skipping your period. They may recommend that you change the type of pill you take.
Youll also want to check with your insurance provider to make sure theyll cover more pills in less time, since youll be going through pill packs faster.
You should not be off of the birth control longer than 7 days, or you will lose contraception efficacy.
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How Soon Do Birth Control Pills Work
When taken as directed, birth control pills are usually effective the first month you begin taking them. To be safe, some doctors recommend the use of another form of birth control, such as condoms and foam, during the first month. After the first month, you can just rely on the pill for birth control.