Referral To A Consultant
If your GP thinks a medical condition might have caused your periods to stop, they may refer you to a consultant who specialises in the condition.
Depending on what your GP suspects is causing the problem, you may be referred to:
- a gynaecologist a specialist in treating conditions that affect the female reproductive system
- an endocrinologist a specialist in treating hormonal conditions
You may have a full gynaecological examination and various tests, including:
- blood tests to see whether you have abnormal levels of certain hormones
- an ultrasound scan, CT scan or MRI scan to identify any problems with your reproductive system or the pituitary gland in your brain
What To Expect At A Doctors Appointment
When you see your doctor about amenorrhea, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you a series of questions. Be prepared to talk about your normal menstrual cycle, your lifestyle, and any other symptoms youre experiencing.
Your doctor will also order a pregnancy test if you havent had a period in three months. If that condition is ruled out, you may need more tests to determine the underlying cause of your missed periods. These diagnostic tests may include:
- Blood tests, which will allow your doctor to check hormone levels in your body. Prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone are all related to menstruation. Determining these levels can help your doctor determine or rule out the cause of your absent periods.
- Ultrasound is an imaging test that uses high frequency sound waves to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body. It enables your doctor to view various organs, such as the ovaries and uterus, and check for abnormal growths.
- CT scan is another type of imaging test that uses computers and rotating X-ray machines to create cross-sectional images of the body. These images allow your doctor to look for masses and tumors in your glands and organs.
Why Am I Not Getting My Period On The Placebo Week
The synthetic hormones in the pill prevent pregnancy by thinning out the lining of the uterus, stopping ovulation and preventing fertilization. The lining of the uterus is what sheds during menstruation. Birth control is pretty powerful, so sometimes it can thin out your endometrium so much that theres nothing to shed during your period. This is why its common for many women to not get their period on birth control, even during their placebo pill week.
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Where Does Menstrual Blood Go If You Dont Have A Period
The hormones in the pill, patch and ring methods of birth control are similar to your bodys natural hormones. They stop ovulation from happening and prevent the uterus from building up a thick lining. When you take a week off from these methods , this mimics the natural withdrawal of those hormones that occurs during a menstrual cycle. This is considered a withdrawal bleed.
Continuous use of certain types of birth control can allow people to skip their periods all together. In these cases, because there is no hormone-free week, there is no withdrawal bleed. Many people ask, Where does all the blood go if it doesnt come out? the answer is: there is no blood building up in the first place. In these situations, using the contraception continuously without a break prevents the uterine lining from developing.
Certain hormonal contraceptives, such as the Mirena IUD, Nexplanon and Depo Provera, contain the hormone progestin, which can cause irregular bleeding during the first few months. However, this bleeding usually stops over time and some people using these methods may not have any bleeding at all for several years.
How Birth Control Affects Your Cycle
Even if you’ve been taking birth control pills for years, it’s unlikely that you’ll have trouble conceiving once you stop taking them. But it might take a few months for your menstrual cycle to return to normal. The timing depends largely on the reason you went on hormonal birth control, along with any other underlying health issues that were masked by the pills or developed while using them, says Tsao-Lin E. Moy, a fertility specialist who uses natural and integrative forms of medicine.
In a healthy person, the menstrual cycle regulates pretty quicklyoften within three to six cycles of stopping birth control. .
On the other hand, if you had an underlying medical condition that was causing irregular cycleslike PCOS, hypothyroidism, or endometriosisyou might notice those conditions rearing their ugly heads again as soon as you stop taking birth control.
“Using a hormonal method of birth control to regulate irregular periods doesn’t solve an underlying hormonal imbalance,” says Camaryn Chrisman Robbins, M.D., an OB-GYN with Washington University Women & Infants Center. “But it can lead to improved quality of life by regulating cycles and promoting endometrial health. When someone stops using hormonal medication, it is likely those original symptoms will resume.”
Sum this up to say that if you’re missing your period after getting off birth control, there is a reason behind ityou just have to find it.
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What Should I Know When Coming Off The Pill
Heres what to keep in mind as your body adjusts when you stop taking the pill.
- You could get pregnant!
- Your period might be longer and heavier.
- You probably wont lose weight.
- You might feel a little frisky.
How long did it take you to get pregnant after stopping the pill?
Some women may become pregnant within a month after stopping birth control, while others may be trying to get pregnant for a long time. At this point, your fertilityand ability to get pregnantdepends on several things that have nothing to do with your birth control.
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Can The Depo Shot Stop Your Period
The Depo Provera shot only contains progestin and no estrogen. Thus, its not uncommon for women on this shot to experience irregular periods or spotting, especially in the first two to three months.
However, according to AAFP, up to 50 percent of women experience amenorrhea, after the first year of use. In case youre unfamiliar with the term, amenorrhea is the absence of your period. Furthermore, this number can jump to 80% with increasing duration of use.
So, can the Depo shot stop your period? Much like the IUD, it depends. As mentioned in Planned Parenthoods article, many women who get the shot stop getting their period after approximately a year of use. However, theres no guarantee as everyone has a different experience with it.
With this in mind, remember that Depo Provera might not be suitable for everyone. So, be sure to have a chat with your doctor to see if this is the right method for you.
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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.
What Are No Period Birth Control Pills
Combination birth control pills are often the most common way to stop periods.
Thats because the schedule you use to take them can result in fewer periods or no periods at all.
For example, you may continually take a pill containing estrogen and progestin every day until you decide not to.
Or you might take so-called active pills for a few months straight before having a break. During your break, you might take inactive pills that contain no hormones for a week.
Other forms of birth control can have no period effects but theres often less of a guarantee.
Also Check: Average Age A Girl Starts Her Period
Want To Have Less Frequent Periods
Use Simple Health to get a birth control prescription online, without the hassle of an office visit. Complete our doctor-designed online consultation, and based on your health history and birth control preferences, a doctor will prescribe a brand that will best work for you. Birth control pills start at just $7 a month. Best of all? Once youve received your prescription, well deliver your pills right to your door for free, so you never have to make a pharmacy run again.
We make getting birth control easy, affordable and way less of a hassle than it’s ever been.
Does Birth Control Stop Periods
Technically speaking, yes. The period that you get when youre on birth control isnt the same as a regular period. Without hormonal birth control, the lining of your uterus gets thicker to prepare for possible pregnancy and then sheds during your period if youre not pregnant. Your body doesnt ovulate or go through this regular menstrual cycle when youre taking oral contraceptives. Instead, what you experience as a period on birth control is called withdrawal bleeding.
This bleeding occurs as a response to your body not receiving the same hormones during the rest week at the end of your 21-day pack. That means that if you continue taking the pill and skip the rest week, you can skip your periods too. Make sure to talk to your health care provider about whether this is a good option for you.
Also Check: Best Birth Control For Heavy Periods
When To Call Your Healthcare Provider
Missing a period every once in a while is usually not cause for concern. That said, you should see a healthcare provider if you miss more than one period, or your missed period is accompanied by new or unusual symptoms.
Seek medical attention right away if you also experience any of the following:
- New or worsening headaches
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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.
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Should I Worry About Pregnancy If I Didn’t Get A Period On The Placebo Week
If youre on birth control and not getting your period during your placebo week, theres no need to worry, especially if you know youve been taking your pill every day. Its normal for your period to be lighter and shorter than usual, especially if youve been on birth control for a while. About 10-20% of people experience very light or no period after their sixth pill pack, while 10% of people do not experience any withdrawal bleed. Take a pregnancy test if youve missed your period and are experiencing symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness or breast soreness.
If youre on the progestin-only minipill, know that only 50% of minipill users experience regular menstruation, so expect the unexpected when it comes to your period.
Reasons For Having No Period After Stopping Birth Control
Did you miss your period after stopping birth control? Remember that it can take several months for your cycle to regulate once you stop hormonal contraception, and this is completely normal. That said, if menstruation is absent for longer than expected, there might be another issue at play. Here are the most common things that might be causing an irregular cycle.
Read Also: What Does Bleeding Between Periods Mean
Will Taking Two Birth Control Pills In One Day Stop Your Period
Taking more than the prescribed number of pills in one day is not going to stop your period right away. Depending on how many you take, it may cause you to feel sick, but its not going to magically make your period disappear.
In fact, Dr. Dweck says there are instances in which taking two pills in one day is recommended to catch up for a missed pill. But whether or not it will eventually stop your period depends on your individual circumstances. Some people will have irregular bleeding after taking two pills, while others will remain on schedule, Dr. Dweck explains.
How Can Pandia Help
In many cases, spotting is not something you need to worry about.
However, if this bleeding is accompanied by pain, occurs frequently, or is particularlyheavy, you should consult a doctor to rule out more serious health conditions. If your spotting is caused by your birth control, you can ask your doctor to prescribe a different type in order to find what worksbest for your body.
If you are looking to swap to a different kind of birth control or want to get your birth control delivered right to your mailbox, Pandia Health can help. We take pride in prescribing birth control based on several factors, including age, ethnicity, BMI, and general health including your previous experience with birth control and spotting.
All these factors can influence your bodys reaction to birth control, which your doctor will consider when reviewing the best options for you. With just one $25 payment a year, you can get access to our expert doctors for 364 days. Get in touch to change your birth control today!
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Possible Causes Of Missed Period On Birth Control
1. Hormone
Birth control pills contain hormones which can suppress the periods. Some pills cause the periods to pause for a certain period of time such as Lybrel and Seasonale. You can change your pills by consulting a doctor to get back to regular menstruation.
Significant hormonal misfiring in women under 40 year old may indicate premature menopause. Its symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats besides missing periods.
2. Lifestyle
When female athletes undergo training or include long term of exercise in their lifestyle, it can affect the menstrual cycle. Emotional stress can also lead to changes in the period cycle and amenorrhea.
2. Illness
There are some illnesses which can cause missed period on birth control, including thyroid disorders, false pregnancy, tumors, depression, eating disorder, ovarian cysts, cystic fibrosis and kidney disease. To rule out the illness, a checkup should be done if two periods are missed.
3. Medications
Some medications interfere with the menstrual cycle, such as steroids taken orally, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and chemotherapy etc. These medicines can cause amenorrhea and you should consult doctor to get a confirmation.
5. Pregnancy
It is rare to get pregnant while being on birth control pills. However, it can happen to a small percentage of women who has missed taking a pill or hasnt followed the instructions on the package.
But Wont My Body Get Backed Up
Noâyou wonât get backed up. One thing to keep in mind is that when youâre on the pill you actually donât have a normal âperiodâ. In fact, the combined hormonal birth control pill doesnât allow your endometrium to grow as thick as it normally would, which is why your periods on the pill are much lighter than natural periods . If you skip a cycle, the continuous exposure of synthetic hormones will maintain your endometrium at the same suppressed level .
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Heres How To Get Your Period Back After Going Off Birth Control
Stocksy
Oral birth control prescriptions are handed out to teenagagers and young adults for a variety of reasons, from hormonal acne and painful periods to preventing pregnancy. Years pass and these same individuals start thinking about having kids, or maybe just want to know how their bodies will feel without the constant influx of synthetic hormones. They stop taking the pill and are surprised to find that their period doesnt come back right away, sometimes for months.
This isnt everyones story, of course. Some bounce right back and begin ovulating again immediately, or within a few months. But as more and more individuals who have been on the pill for upwards of 10 years start to come off of it, theyre caught off guard by what is technically called secondary amenorrhea, or not getting a period for three months or more after having had one previously.
Because secondary amenorrhea is such a common problem, theres quite a bit of advice floating around social media on getting your period back, particularly among wellness influencers. Supplements seem to work for some, while others end up seeking the help of doctors to trigger a period for them.
If this is something youre struggling with, a conversation with your doctor is always a good first step. Below, find some other actionable things you can do.