Why You Missed Your Period On Birth Control Pills
Missing your period can be worrisome when on birth control.
You may be wondering if youre pregnant or if theres something wrong with the birth control method youre using.
In this article, well explore the various reasons why you might miss your period while taking birth control pills, ways to track your period, and when you should consider visiting a doctor.
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- Home pregnancy test is positive
- You want a pregnancy test done in the office
- Sexual intercourse within the last 3 months
- Recent breast swelling, weight gain or nausea
- Has missed 2 or more periods and prior periods were regular
- Recent weight loss
Recent Stress Causing Late Period
When To Visit A Healthcare Provider
Talk to your gynecologist or another healthcare provider right away if you notice any side effects that get worse or persist after stopping birth control. They can recommend a different form of birth control, help you switch to a different pill, and/or assess you for any underlying health problems.
It’s especially important to talk to your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Lack of menstrual period for six months or more8
- Persistent or severe vaginal bleeding7
- Psychological symptoms, such as depression, mood swings, or anxiety9
- Severe or chronic migraine3
- Extremely painful periods7
- Sudden, unwanted weight changes13
You should also talk to a healthcare provider if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.8
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Are You Looking To Have Periods Less Frequently
If you are looking to limit the number of periods you have during the year, you can get birth control pill prescriptions online. Doing this will save you some time.
The first step in completing the process of getting an online prescription is to consult with a local Alpharetta gynecology clinic, like Roswell OB/GYN or physicians office. During the consultation with an Alpharetta gynecology physician at Roswell OB/GYN, you will want to evaluate your current health and preferences for birth control methods. Once this is complete, you will then be able to get a prescription for a birth control pill brand that works best for you. Women can get birth control pills without having a copay with their health insurance policy.
Some services let you get a birth control pill subscription for only $15 per month. Once you have received your prescription, you will get the pills delivered right to your home for free, so you dont have to visit a pharmacy.
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If you havent missed any of your pills but your period still stood you up, pregnancy isnt likely.
It may be the hormones in the pill. If you miss a second or third period, its worth it to take a pregnancy test or check with your doctor to make sure everythings all right down there. Especially if youre sexually active.
Once you know whats blocking your lunar flow, there are options to get your cycle back on track:
- Eat well and be healthy about weight management.
- Exercise regularly and amp up training at a manageable pace for your body.
- Relieve stress with yoga, walking, journaling, meditation, or breathing exercises.
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Does Missing A Withdrawal Bleed On A Pill
If youve been taking your pills according to the instructions, the pills will be 99.7 percent effective, even if you didnt experience any withdrawal bleeding. The efficacy of the pill depends on you taking the pill at approximately the same time every day.
However, its important to remember that no birth control method is 100-percent effective. If youve missed a withdrawal bleed on birth control and want to be sure, you can always take a pregnancy test.
If youve missed three non-placebo pills or more, your chances of ovulating will increase. If you dont experience any bleeding for a few days after missing the pills, take a pregnancy test. Its also a good idea to take a pregnancy test if you miss two periods in a row while on birth control.
Types Of Absent Menstruation
The two types of amenorrhea are referred to as primary and secondary.
Primary amenorrhea is when a teenage girl has reached or passed the age of 16 and still hasnt had her first period. Most girls begin menstruating between ages 9 and 18, but 12 is the average age.
Secondary amenorrhea is when a woman has stopped menstruating for at least three months. This is the more common form of amenorrhea.
In most cases, both types can be treated effectively.
Primary and secondary amenorrhea can occur for numerous reasons. Some causes are natural, while others are medical conditions that need to be treated.
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What Are Placebo Pills
Birth control pills contain hormones that reduce your risk of pregnancy by stopping ovulation and thickening your cervical mucus to make it more difficult for sperm to get through. The hormones also thin the lining of the uterus, making it nearly impossible for a fertilized egg to implant. When taking birth control pills, its crucial to make sure you are taking them at the same time every day to maintain their effectiveness. Missing a pill could increase your risk of getting pregnant.
Placebo pills dont contain hormones but are meant as placeholders to help you maintain your routine of taking a pill every day at the same time. If you stay in the habit of taking your pill, you are less likely to forget when youre taking the active pills as birth control. Some placebo pills contain vitamins or minerals, such as folic acid or iron, to help lessen your period flow and premenstrual symptoms.
The placebo week is when you should normally get your period, though your period may not line up perfectly with the placebo pills. For instance, your period may start on the 3rd or 4th placebo pill day and may last through the first couple days of the new pill pack. You should start your new pill pack the day after taking your last placebo pill, even if your period is still going.
When Will My Period Show Up
Most birth control pills run a tight ship oer the crimson tide. Hormones are regulated on a 4-week cycle, and you can expect your monthly friend to visit every 28 days.
On some birth control methods, you might get your period more frequently, less frequently, or not at all.
There are two types of birth control pills. One combines estrogen and progesterone, and the second is a progestin-only mini pill.
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Treatment For Absent Menstruation
Treatment for amenorrhea varies depending on the underlying cause. Hormonal imbalances can be treated with supplemental or synthetic hormones, which can help normalize hormone levels.
Your doctor may also want to remove ovarian cysts, scar tissue, or uterine lesions that are causing you to miss your menstrual periods.
Your doctor may also recommend making simple lifestyle changes if your weight or exercise routine is contributing to your condition. Ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist or dietitian, if necessary.
These specialists can teach you how to manage your weight and physical activity in a healthy way.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor so they can determine the cause of your amenorrhea. Make sure you stick with your treatment plan and attend all follow-up appointments.
Always contact your doctor if your condition doesnt improve with medical treatments or lifestyle modifications.
What To Expect If You Go Back On The Pill
You may not experience major side effects if you stop taking the pill for a short time, such as a few days. However, there is always a risk of pregnancy if you skip or miss a pillâeven if it’s just one dose. If you’ve missed a single dose, take the missed pill as soon as you can and then continue taking the rest of the pills in your pack each day as prescribed. 14
However, if you’ve missed more than two doses of hormonal birth control, you have a higher chance of getting pregnant. Here’s what you can do to prevent pregnancy in the meantime:14, 15
- Keep taking one pill per day.
- Use condoms or another barrier birth control method as a backup for at least a week.
- Consider taking Plan B or another form of emergency contraception .
If you start taking the pill again after several months or years, your body could need time to adjust to the hormonal changes. You might experience many of the same side effects that you did when you first started birth control, such as irregular bleeding, menstrual cycle changes, bloating, mood swings, and breast tenderness.2 For many people, these symptoms start to go away within a few months.3
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Your Risk Of Getting Pregnant
In short, you should use a backup method of contraception while you are getting back on track.
Combination pills: When you take your birth control pill every day, a steady supply of hormones or progestin keeps you from getting pregnant. This flow of hormones isnât disrupted if you forget to take one combination pill and can get back on track within 24 hours, meaning you shouldnât be at risk of getting pregnant. But you should still use a backup method of contraception, such as condoms, until youâve taken your combination pill for 7 days in a row.
Mini pill : Missing a day does raise your risk of getting pregnant. So again, use another method of contraception.
Your chances of getting pregnant are higher if you forget to take pills during the first week of a new pack or right before your period. And you are always at risk of getting pregnant if you donât take pills for at least 7 days straight.
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What To Do If You Take The Combination Pill
Your pack may have seven pills at the end of it that are a different color from the others. These are hormone-free pills that help you stick to the habit of taking a pill every day. The days you take those are when you have your period. You donât need to do anything if you miss these pills, and your risk of getting pregnant wonât go up.
Hereâs what to do if you miss pills with hormones in them.
If youâre late to take a pill or forgot one dayâs pill, take it as soon as you can. Then take the rest of your pills like normal. You may end up taking two pills in one day to stay on schedule. You should use another type of birth control for the next 7 days if you missed a pill during the first week of a new pack.
If you forgot to take two or more pills in a row, take the pill you most recently missed immediately. You should get rid of the other pills you forgot to take. Then you take the rest of your pills like normal. Again, you might take two pills in one day. You need to use another form of birth control until youâve taken your pill every day for 7 days.
If you still have questions about when to take your pill, ask your doctor.
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I Missed My Period But I Am Not On The Pill What Does This Mean
If your cycles are mostly regular and you are not sexually active in any way that could potentially get you pregnant the pulling out method included! then it is probably related to stress, life style changes, dietary changes etc .
Keep a calendar of your menstruation pattern. If you miss 2 or 3 periods, call to make an appointment. We can check some basic lab studies to rule out thyroid or pituitary gland problems and we can also stimulate a period with hormones.
Many times nature takes it course and your cycles will return as your body rhythm returns. If there is no risk of pregnancy it is safe to wait and see if your cycles return in 2-3 months. If, on the other hand, you are sexually active in any way that could potentially get you pregnant, you should take a pregnancy test.
The most common reason for a missed period is pregnancy. Over-the-counter pregnancy tests are very accurate and can detect pregnancy right at the time of the missed period or about 14 days after possible conception. You may also call to schedule a pregnancy test with the Womens Health Clinic.
How To Get Your Period Back After Stopping The Pill
If your period doesnt come back after three months, its important to let your doctor know. They can run a few tests to see if you have any underlying medical conditions that birth control may have been masking. Chronic stress, thyroid disorders, profound and chronic Vitamin D deficiency, PCOS, rapid weight loss, length of time of pill use, menstrual history prior to starting the pill and female athlete triad are just a few things that need to be considered when secondary amenorrhea occurs after stopping oral contraceptive use, McClellan says. If an underlying health issue is discovered, your doctor can walk you through steps for treating it, which could be as minor as taking a supplement or working on a higher daily caloric intake.
If everything comes back negative, though, McClellan recommends taking an integrative approach to getting your period back. While everyone is different, trying a combination of lifestyle adjustments can do the trick: This involves strong gut health, adequate sleep, acupuncture, some form of mindfulness, andparticularly importantregular and high-quality social interactions.
According to McClellan, these interventions in combination reduce the inflammatory and metabolic burdens that our minds and bodies experience from the demands of our daily lives. The result is balanced communication throughout our entire brain and body, including the pathways that can lead to ovulation and regular periods.
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There Are Many Reasons That Periods Can Be Irregular Or Absent Some Require Treatment And Some Do Not
It is not uncommon to occasionally miss a period, or for periods to become irregular from time to time. Under some circumstances, periods can even stop altogether. Sometimes these irregularities are due to normal changes, and are not cause for concern. Other times, they are a sign that something is going on, and a call to your doctor is warranted.
Explore Irregular or Absent Periods:
How Will I Know If I Am Pregnant
If you have a regular menstrual cycle one of the first signs that you are pregnant is a missed period, however you might notice that your period is very light compared to normal. If you have missed a period you can purchase a pregnancy test to complete in the privacy of your own home, visit your GP or your local sexual health clinic.
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Am I Pregnant If I Havent Had A Period During The Week Of Placebo
Women should not worry if they are not getting their period during the placebo week if they are using a birth control pill. This is quite normal if women take the pill every day.
According to medical experts, having a period for a shorter amount of time than usual is normal if youve been on birth control pills for a few months. Between 10% and 20% of women experience light or no period after having the sixth pack of birth control pills. It is also true that 10% of women who use the birth control pill never have any bleeding.
Women who have missed their period and are experiencing common pregnancy symptoms that include nausea and soreness of the breasts should get a pregnancy test immediately. Contrary to popular misconception, women in their 40s still need birth control to avoid pregnancy.
What To Do Next
In most circumstances, missing a period while on birth control is normal and nothing to worry about. If you’ve recently been under a lot of stress, exercising a lot, or have made significant dietary changes, you may want to make a lifestyle change to get your cycle back to normal.
However, in some cases, missing a period on birth control can be due to pregnancy or be an indication of an underlying health problem. If your periods continue to lapse on birth control, or if you’re having additional symptoms, such as fatigue or hair loss, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider about your concerns.
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Why Did I Miss A Period
Missing a period is not uncommon, and most of the time, it is not a cause for concern. Some of the reasons you might miss a period include:
Normal lifecycle changes
There are a number of changes that happen in the female lifecycle that can result in a skipped period. All of these are normal reasons to miss a period and are not cause for concern.
For example:
Pregnancy
The most common reason for a missed period is pregnancy. If this is a possibility, take a home pregnancy test to see if this is the cause of your missed period. If you skip a period and then have one the next month at the expected time, its possible that a non-viable pregnancy occurred, and the period is actually an early miscarriage.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can suppress your period, depending on how frequently you are nursing. You may get a period while breastfeeding, and then not have another one for several months or more, particularly if your baby is nursing exclusively. You can ovulate before you get your period, so its important to use birth control during this time, if you dont want to get pregnant.
Menopause
A skipped period may be a sign that you are entering menopause and your periods are beginning to become less regular, especially if you are experiencing other symptoms of menopause . If you are 45 or older, there is a good chance this is the cause of a missed period.
Stress
Weight loss
Birth control
Hormonal changes
Medications and drugs