How long did it take to get your period back after stopping the pill?

jolene118

So to make a long story short, hubs and I were going to start trying for a baby around November-ish. I was going to finish my birth control in October and we'd just take it from there. However, I screwed up big time taking my pill in September. During week two of my pack, I totally forgot to take it 3 freaking days in a row. In all the years I've been on the pill, I've never forgotten more than 1 day. I have no idea what happened. I called my gyno to see what I should do, and she said to wait until I got my period to start a new pack. I had started bleeding but she said it wasn't a period but a breakthrough bleed from going off the pill. So I had my last period August 29 and still haven't gotten it. I took a HPT yesterday and it was negative.  I was always pretty regular before going on the pill, usually 29 days on the dot.

Just wondering what some of your experiences are with going off the pill and starting your cycle again. I know it can take a while and I know I messed up by stopping in the middle of a pack, and I may give my doctor a call again this week just to be safe and test again later in the week.

als1982

My cycle regulated right away after stopping the BCP to a standard 27/28 day cycle. That said, we've been TTC since May to no avail. So, you're just going to have to wait and see how your body works.

cjt121413

So you didn't start back on the pill after you forgot three days? I'm a little confused.

I stopped the pill mid-pack and got a breakthrough bleed a couple days later. I then had a 30 day cycle (with ovulation ) and got another period. But everyone is different. It helped me to chart my temps and other fertility signs using the Fertility Friend app.

IB113

I had a 28 day cycle and then a 30 day, and now this third cycle off is looking like a 32 day cycle, which was about my normal ten years ago before I started taking the pill. That said, I think it it totally normal to take a few months to regulate after coming off the pill.

jolene118

cjt121413 said:

So you didn't start back on the pill after you forgot three days? I'm a little confused.

I stopped the pill mid-pack and got a breakthrough bleed a couple days later. I then had a 30 day cycle (with ovulation ) and got another period. But everyone is different. It helped me to chart my temps and other fertility signs using the Fertility Friend app.

Sorry, it's hard to explain. I had my last period August 29 and kept going with my next pack. The week of September 7, I missed three pills. My doctor said to throw the pack away and start a new pack when I get my next period, which hasn't happened yet. But I guess I keep counting from August 29 instead of after I stopped taking it. I know my situation is different because you're not supposed to really stop taking in the middle of the pack, but I really appreciate the insight.

I haven't started charting yet because I think I was waiting for my period, but perhaps I will do that just to get a better understanding of my cycle. Thanks!

Blonde1817

This is my first month after the pill.  I went through the whole pack and just didn't start a new one, so while I got my period after the placebo week, I don't think that counts as being off the pill yet.  I should be getting it around next weekend, so we'll see.  I'll be interested to see if my body goes back to the way my cycle was before BCP (26 day cycle).

I know that anytime I messed up my pill, it took me a long time to get back on track. I would breakthrough bleed in the middle of the month, and then not get my period when I was supposed to.  Toward the end I stopped getting my period at all, which I'm told is normal.  But after all that I was so ready to stop BCP!  I've heard it can take months to normalize, but if you're concerned I would just call your doctor. So frustrating though!

Hulabalu

It took me three months before I got my period! Luckily we were not TTC at the time - I would have gone crazy!

Xstatic3333

Just about a month for me, but I think longer is perfectly normal, especially with stopping in the middle of the pack. Never hurts to POAS if you're unsure.

cait5413

I stopped after finishing out a pack, so had my period like I would on the pill, and then got additional bleeding about a week and a half later. So, I kept having periods, but my cycles were off. I stopped BCP in March or April (we didn't start trying TTC til May) and this is the first cycle that has felt like periods did before I was on the pill (back to the cramps I used to have, and back to a 34-day cycle,which is normal for me--before now, it has been about 40 days, with occasional spotting 1/2way through the cycle, which also happened on the pill). Some people go back to a "normal" cycle pretty much right away, others don't. My OB advised going off the pill 3 months before starting to try. 

myjessesgirl

The pill is basically a placeholder and stopping (or using the placebo) always causes breakthrough bleeding. Most pills are the same doses of estrogen/progesterone throughout the entire month, but some vary. Monophasic (same dose every pill) is easy enough to stop or extend randomly without adverse effects. So your breakthrough bleeding could be considered your "period." Tri- or biphasic pills are a little different, but just follow a more natural cycle of increasing progesterone over the month and decreasing estrogen. But they still can be stopped mid-month and you get a breakthrough "period." They just mess with your hormones a bit so it might take longer to get back to normal. So with that in mind, it could be that your body recognizes the withdrawal of the pill as the time to start its own estrogen production, and the cycle starts and you get a period about a month later. Doesn't necessarily mean you will ovulate, but your body should take over in a typical cyclical fashion whether you stop the pill mid-month or at the end. There are definitely variations, but I would expect your next period to be about a month from the breakthrough bleeding you had when stopping the last pack. That's the scientific explanation. Anecdotally, when I was TTC last Spring, I got my period back, after stopping the pill a few days early, 27 days after the breakthrough bleeding.

Hulabalu

PP sounds like she knows what she's talking about, but I would advise you to not get too stressed out if you don't get your period on the one month mark. I took monophasic pills, stopped at the end of a pack, and it still took 3 months from the breakthrough bleeding until I got my period.

What I've read is that it often takes a few months to get your regular cycles back, but that it is still normal that it takes up to a year. Not to get your first period, but to get things back to normal. 

jolene118

Thanks ladies! I really appreciate the reassurance and insight. Anxious to get things back to normal!!

satindawl83

Took two months here, which was surprising. One of the reasons we started trying was because last time I stopped taking the pill (because of insurance reasons), I didn't get a period for 6 months!

Went to the doctor and they said that I had developed cysts and the pills were what was preventing them.

The human body is a crazy thing! Give it some time.

mommytimesfour

Mine regulated and returned to normal right away, but it's very common for it to take a couple months.

wcookc

I'm planning to stop BCP next summer. My last day taking a pill (placebo pill) will be July 2. We are planning to go on vacation July 6 and I was really really hoping to not bleed, which is my worst nightmare, while on vacation. I know everyone is different, but when was the first sign of a period for everyone after stopping the pill?

babymish

I too stopped taking the pill 1 week into a packet - so impatient :S

If I ever missed a pill in the past (didn't happen often) but when it did I used to get a small bleed very soon after. But 11 days after I stopped taking it to TTC and I am still waiting for AF...I think it just differ's from person to person. 

nwshay

I stopped BCP on Sept. 24th a 5 days before my placebos and I still haven't gotten my period

sarahmsoda

I got my first period a month after stopping but then not again for another 3 months. 

BCP did a number on my cycles, I really wish I never took it. I used to be very regular and I have been off of it 1.5 years and I am still not regular. 

pourmeanothermocktail

I did not get my breakthrough/withdrawal bleeding for the last two "cycles" I was on BCP. My final pill was on Sep 26, I finished out all of the active pills and should have had at least pill bleeding on 27th, but did not. I used to be every 26-28 days like clockwork. Have NOT seen AF yet. At the same time, pretty sure I O'd on Oct 15, which seems late for my normal length cycle, so maybe I'll see it in another week. Or maybe I'll see a + sign, who knows?!

Skyjewell23

I chose to stay off BC after I had my son. When we decided to TTC him, I went off BC end Dec 2012, I started charting immediately and I ovulated in January 2013. I had a normal cycle immediately.

My understanding is that it can take awhile for your cycles to regulate. I was prepared to wait at least 6 months to have a "normal" cycle.

onefootinthebayou

I had absolutely no disruption of cycle or any changes whatsoever after going off BCP 5 months ago.

Tennis11785

I am going through this too.  Before BC, I was pretty regular.  Last BC was in August.  September I got my period, but I'm currently 5 days late for October (negative pregnancy test).  I guess we will see how long it takes for me to get regular again.  

LitlePrety

onefootinthebayou said:

I had absolutely no disruption of cycle or any changes whatsoever after going off BCP 5 months ago.

This.  Except I went off BCP in 2012.

Edit: to add time