Today's Question : "I recently stopped taking birth control (bc) pills and I don't know what to expect...when am I going to get my period again?"
Dear Reader, Unfortunately, due to diet, environmental factors, and genetics, every period is different and periods these days can be a little "outta whack!" But do not despair, because your body, if healthy, is going to figure out its own cycle post-bc. That said, it might take a while to get there. If you have just gone off birth control, depending on when in your cycle you stopped taking bc, you may experience spotting or bleeding right away or it may take some time. You may get a regular period on the date you expect, or it may disappear for a month or two. If you were taking an oral pill, most likely you were taking 21 days of pill swith hormones, and then 7 days with placebo pills which were merely place holders with no hormones. Generally, it is during the placebo week when women have bleeding. In general, when you stop taking "the pill" you will most likely have two weeks before you ovulate, and two to four weeks after that is when you will have your period.
But remember every body is different so if you are trying to get pregnant, I would recommend having at least one "normal period" before expecting results. If you are trying to avoid pregnancy, be sure to use a barrier method if having vaginal intercourse with a man including condoms, a diaphragm, or cervical cap.
Additionally, some women choose to not take the placebo pills in order to not bleed at all because they are going to the beach, have a special weekend planned, or have difficult symptoms during bleeding including heavy cramping or headaches. Yet, in general I would not recommend doing this for too many months, as psychologically many women need to see the monthly bleeding to be sure they are not pregnant, and you may see some spotting or light irregular bleeding if you do not maintain a regular schedule. However, there are no known health risks associated with continually taking hormonal pills (i.e. skipping placebo pills).
And remember to talk with your health care provider about going off your bc because s/he will also have insight into your body's reaction.
Good luck with the change and remember to be patient and kind to your body! Eat healthy food, make exercise a part of your routine, and get plenty of sleep!
