How long after Birthcontrol?

CandieR90 · November 2013

Hey everyone. My husband and I decided it's time to get started trying to conceive. I have been on my birth control for about 7 years and I just finished my last pack. I tried to ask my OBGYN how long it would take to be gone out of my system and all I got out of her was well every person is different and every birth control has a different dosage so she couldn't give me an answer. Have any of you had to go through this and how long did it take to get completely out of your system?

Twinkie0612 · November 2013

If you were on the pill it is out of your system within 24 hours, which is why you have to take the pill everyday.

I think the question you are trying to ask is how long it will take for your cycle to regulate after BCP, which varies for each person. Some women have regular cycles right away (I am one of those women), others take several months for their cycles to regulate. There is no way to know which one you will be.

beckynsean11 · November 2013

Unfortunately there is not cut & dry answer. It's completely different for everyone. I was regular immediately. There are others that have needed a few cycles to a year to fully regulate. You just have to wait & see what happens. I recommend that you look into charting your BBT (check out fertilityfriend.com) it's easy & will give you a pretty clear picture of what's going on. You may also want to pick up a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility & do some reading.

teresaide · November 2013

Yes, definitely start temping right away. Even if your cycles are irregular (like mine), temping is going to give you so much more clarity than anything else. Good luck!

DiamondStardust · November 2013

My cycles started right up immediately, but it took awhile, maybe about 3-4 months for my hormones to really work themselves out. I would spot for days before AF and now I don't. My lutel phase (the phase after ovulation) has gotten longer with time. You can still get pregnant, as long as you're ovulating though. The only exception would be if your lutel phase is really short or you have a different fertility issue but you won't know about that unless you chart your cycles for awhile.

emsrdh03 · November 2013

I went off the pill last January and my cycles have been anything but regular. I did get pregnant so even with wonky cycles its definitely possible. My best advice is to temp and chart. I'm now in my 2nd cycle post miscarriage and things are still a bit crazy, but temping at least lets me know what's going on so I never wonder if I'm "late."

norweigan · November 2013

I got off a week and a half ago and my moods have been all over the place. I haven't even had AF yet and I feel like I'm PMSing. So much fun to be a woman.

AppleGrapeMSTK · November 2013

I had a withdrawal bleed, and that was it. It took some provera after 6 months to get things going again.

mander82 · November 2013

I quit my BC Oct 1st and i can tell you to make sure you start charting your temp right off the bat. I thought i would have at least one normal cycle after the pill. Now i am on CD 28 and just starting temping @ CD 21. I wish i would have started on day 1 cause I have no clue if i have ovulated yet.

cakebatter27 · November 2013

It really depends on the birth control and the person. I was on orthro tri cyclen lo for 10 years and this is my 2nd cycle off the pill. My first was 28 days and this one is looking to be about 25-27.

I believe the pill is out of your system within 24 hours, which is why you must take it daily as a birth control method.

GL!

LG2793 · November 2013

It's been 7 months since I've been off Yaz, and I got NUTHIN! No period, no O, nada! Hopefully your story will be different! Good luck!

Kara85 · November 2013

I'm going into my 9th month post-BC (NuvaRing) and I'm still waiting to see if my cycles are evening out. I strongly agree with PP who suggested starting tempting right away...I really wish I had in those first few months, because now I'm almost 9 months out but with only 2 cycles (~3 - 4 months) worth of data. I just assumed that I would regulate after a few months (it seemed pretty normal for most people) but since that didn't happen I wish I had some idea of what was happening right from the start.

knitsandgiggles · November 2013

I was on BCP for 11 years before I stopped them last March to TTC. My cycle regulated right away, but I had every pregnancy symptom under the sun during that first cycle. I got pregnant the second cycle off - I highly suggest temping to get an understanding of what is happening with your body. Good luck!

kwicks · November 2013

I stopped bc after 11 years on bcp, then the nuvaring September 2nd. After the initial withdrawal bleed, I got my first period 46 days later. As others have said, Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a great resource and has a ton of information I found to be really helpful.
Now that I'm in my second cycle, I'm really aware of my cm, my calendar, and am trying really hard to temp every morning. I think the first cycle off bc is really hard... Figuring out your natural hormones, waiting for af and all that goes in it. Good luck!

henderfitz2 · November 2013

Exact same issue here. I quit in July after 7 years and had the withdrawal bleed at the end of that pack, but have seen nothing since then. It's been 114 days of the same cycle and my OB told me to keep doing OPKs for 2 more months so I'm trying a different doctor. Hopefully your first cycle doesn't last as long. Good luck!

britneyfaye · November 2013

It's been over 6 months since coming off BC and I have yet to cycle on my own. I did finally ovulate last week though! Good luck to you! Your doctor is absolutely right, it differs for everyone. Welcome!

mikescutie7 · November 2013

I had very irregular cycles before going on to the pill, ranging from 29 to 42 days and very heavy. After getting off the pill 6 months ago my periods have been much more regular and shorter, which I worried about but a doctor said all was fine. The first month or two it felt like i was still on the pill but since more like myself, I lost ten lbs but I've been breaking out like crazy

Weezy56 · November 2013

I was on the pill for 9 years and stopped at the end of July. My first cycle was 83 days and I didn't ovulate. Hopefully yours won't last that long, good luck!

MrsRKJ · November 2013

I went off BC in October 2011 (after being on and off of it for 12 years) My cycles were wonky for about 6 months, then started back "regular" (for me at least). I got pregnant in August 2012. So if your question is how long did it take me to get pregnant after going off BC, 10 months. How long it took my cycles to get back to regular, 6 months.

Good luck!

kdr115 · November 2013

I was on BCP for just over 10 years, and finished my last pack in August. My 1st cycle was 28 days, then 2nd cycle was 25 days. I started temp. charting for my 3rd cycle, and it has been going really well. By the looks of things my body has regulated. I have experienced a few different PMS symptoms now being off the pill, but overall it has been an easy transition - just tough not always knowing when to expect my period now, but temp charting definitely helps this 3rd cycle! From what I understand talking to my friend who is a doctor, as soon as you stop taking the pill it is out of your system, just takes time for your body to regulate your hormones on its own again. Personally, I would say this happened quickly for me.

joshua+rebecca11 · November 2013

I stopped BC (the pill) at the end if September and starting temping an checking cervical fluid and position immediately. I ended up ovulating 19 days after I took my last pill. Obviously everybody's body is different, but I would advice starting charting immediately, because then you know exactly what is going on.

NavyFlyer · November 2013

I stopped the pill at the end of May, so about 6 months ago. I really feel like just now I am back to normal. My cycles were pretty normal after 2 months, but my periods were way off. They had always been about 5 days and pretty heavy, red bleeding on BC. When I went off BC, for at least 4 months my periods were VERY light, just 4 days, and only brown gunk. No red. These past 2 cycles are the first time things have felt normal. Oh yea, and CM. I had ZERO EWCM the first 3 months off BC, a little the 4th, and these last 2 cycles I've had a decent amount. So for me, the answer is 5 months.

runawaylaurel · November 2013

I'm on month 7 with no ovulation, no natural period. I took Provera at month 4, but my body didn't kick start after that.

I will repeat: Everyone's different. Chart now, not later, and figure out what your body is up to.

pearl262 · November 2013

I went off birth control over 8 months ago, and since then my cycles have ranged from about 45-90 days - I do, eventually, ovulate and have a period each cycle, but they are very irregular (my periods were normal before I started birth control - were yours?). I agree, it affects different people in different ways. In hindsight, I would have gone off birth control pills at least a year before I actually *wanted* to get pregnant, but everyone said my cycles would normalize within a month or two, and what did I know!

I've been charting ever since going off birth control, which was really helpful for my doctor to be able to see what is happening. I highly suggest you do this if you're not already! If I hadn't been charting, I would have had to wait longer to begin fertility treatment, insurance coverage, etc.

BeachLover2885 · November 2013

I stopped my BCP (I was taking Seasonique) October 1 and my first real period returned right on schedule (28 days after the false period). I noticed I had EWCM about 2 weeks after stopping the pill and that same week I had cramps and other symptoms that could be attributed to ovulation. I think my cycle returned to normal but time will tell. I always had very regular cycles prior to taking the pill, so I'm hoping that continues. My doctor suggested waiting one cycle to start TTC, but she didn't seem overly concerned. I have a friend who got pregnant right after stopping the pill, and I have another friend whose cycle is completely erratic after stopping, so it really varies completely.

RayRay007 · November 2013

Didn't read all the answers but i went off bc after 10 years and my cycles continued on as "normal" give or take a couple days. Didn't chart right away but when I did I was O'ing as you would expect. But everyone is different. For me, my post pg cycles were totally normal too, 26-28 days as soon as they returned pp. ETA: my cycles were textbook before bcp

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