Cyle After BC Question...

I was the same after being on the pill for only 2 years. I went off, hoping to get pregnant right away and I didn't get my first cycle until a year later and then it was only once. I then went another 6 months before another cycle and then 3 months before the next. I was also wondering if I had really messed myself up by being on the pill. I ended up pregnant almost 2 years to the day I went off of the pill. In that time I had a total of 4 cycles. I have never been regular again. My doctor just said that there was nothing wrong and that I just had to give my body time to to get rid of all the hormones and regulate itself. Be patient, it will come back.

good luck,

S. ( mom of 4)

what they are going to probably give you is just a big dose of hormone to jump start your body. I bet your body has gotten so used to those hormones that it is having trouble doing it on it's own. I had one of those jump starts once because I was having periods that lasted for two weeks and were very light but it was annoying because I never could tell when it was really done and then two weeks later it'd start up again. They gave me this one pill and it gave me a "big" period that basically cleaned me all out and started me from scratch. If you are worried about the possibility of pregnancy they can do a test in the office beforehand to make sure.

Your cycle after coming off BCP can be really wonky. Some women even have to start provera to jump start their period. Your body can take up to 6 months to regulate itself again.
My advice is for you to start charting so you know when you ovulate and how long your luteal phase is (your luteal phase, or LP, is the time between when you ovulate til the time you get your period. It's also known as the two week wait). A good souce for learning how to chart is to read the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" or use www.fertilityfriend.com. Fertility Friend also has an online course send to you by email to help you learn how to chart and take your temps. By charting, you will know when you ovulate and you will know when to expect your period because you will know the length of your LP. If yu do not get your period with in the next week, I would call the doctor again to get a pee test/blood test to make sure you are not pg and then if need talk to the doctor about getting something to jumpstart your period. Good luck to you!
If you are TTC again, I would love to suggest my favorite website www.thenestbaby.com. They have a message board devoted to those with "Babies on the Brain" and those who are "Getting Pregnant". Look under the Community tab to see all the message boards they have.

It is normal for your cycles to be irregular after stopping the pill.

When you are on the pill your body doesn't build up a uterine lining the way it does when you are not using hormonal BC. This is why women on the pill have lighter periods. The "period" you have when you are on the pill is not a true period- it's just your body reacting to the withdrawal from estrogen by bleeding a little bit from the little bit of lining that is built up.

In order to have a period your body must build up levels of certain hormones which does not happen when you are on the pill. So once you have stopped the pill it may take awhile for your body to build up that lining and get the proper hormonal balance again.

5-6 weeks is really not that long in terms of waiting for your period. I would probably wait a few more weeks before I did anything drastic. If you were pregnant it would take about 10-14 days from ovulation. It probably wouldn't cause an abortion if you are pregnant but I agree with you that I wouldn't want to try another drug before trying to let my body get back to normal function.

Hi B.!

i can relate to what you are experiencing right now. i had also been on the pill for years and finally got off for the same reasons as you. for over a year after that my period was very irregular and whats more i got severe acne that just kept getting worse and worse, when i had not even had pimples in puberty. after a little more than a year i became pregnant and thats what i believe really regulated my hormones. i would check with your ob-gyn to make sure that everything is ok, but if you can avoid it i would Not take any more hormones. i think we use them way to carelessly and there is no longterm evidence to prove that it is not harmful. i think if it can turn your body upside-down like that we should be very cautious about it. i know im not ever taking hormones again unless i am seriously sick and need them as a short term treatment.

When in doubt visit your OB/GYN and ask these questions to them and express your concerns about not wanting to be on medication and that you are cleansing your body from all toxins to get your body more "normal". When you get all your questions answered (write your questions down before your visit should you forget to ask) so that way you are certain and comfortable with the next plan of action. Good Luck.

B. you need to follow up with your doctor. Your body has to discharge the old layers in your uterus. You could end up doing damage to yourself if you let it go and if you get pregnant with all that in there it might not be good for the baby. Have the doctor do a blood test for PG before you do anything then get your body flowing again. It will make it easier to get PG if your lining walls are clean.

I've also been on the pill for years, except when I was pregnant. It can take a little bit for your body to return to "normal" after stopping the pill. I really wouldn't be too concerned. It sounds like you've only really missed one cycle. Also, it's the holidays and we're all under a lot of stress. Stress can cause your period to be delayed or even missed. I would just say to relax a little about it. If you miss two or three cycles, then I'd go see the OB/GYN. I'm like you, I hate to pump my body full of tons of drugs. I think that your body knows what's best for it. As long as it's not a reoccuring condition, I wouldn't worry too much. Good Luck! :)