Period late after stopping the pill

[rainbowcakes]

Hey everyone,

Ive been on the pill for 13 years (Microgynon, so you take a pill every day for 3 weeks, and in the 'pill free' week you have your period). DH and I have not actively decided to TTC, but rather stop contraception and 'see what happens'. I am 28.

I took my last pill on 2nd December and my period arrived as normal a few days later, and I didn't start a new packet of pills afterwards.

My first 'off the pill' period was due last Thursday but it still hasnt arrived, so it's a week late. Did a pregnancy test last Saturday but it was negative. Can feel myself starting to symptom spot, but not sure if these are a side effect of coming off the pill!

Does anyone know how long it takes for your periods to come back after the pill/become regular? They arrived like clock work on the pill & I was on it for so long that I cant remember what they were like before!

I have googled this, but the info seems to be aimed at people who took the pill that stops you having periods completely.

Thank you

Not sure this is helpful but i stopped the pill (microgynon, the same) after 5 years and didn’t even have a period. i got pregnant straight away! not recommended i don’t think. i would keep testing, maybe next week? and use your morning wee 😊

Remember while on the pill you get fake periods in the week you don't take the pill. It can take a few months for your periods to become regular again and it helps if you wait till then before you start 'trying'. I got the fake period when I finished my last packet but it took 3 months before my next period arrived. If we'd been 'trying' in that time I would have been demented convinced I was pregnant every month.

Same as guiltynetter, I got pregnant straight after having stopped the pill, without a "true" period in between. However, my pregnancy dates show that i didn't ovulate until about 6 weeks after I stopped the pill, so I wouldn't have had a period for a couple of months.

Think it just takes a while for your body to get back into the rhythm of things, so don't worry, or drive yourself mad symptom spotting!

Your normal period wouldn't come the same time as it would on the pill,theyre "pretend" periods. Could take months for it to return normally,haven't you looked this up?? Mine luckily did return as normal which I was shocked about but that's very rare xx

You don't need time for the pill to get out of your system, that's an old wives tale. You have essentially been medically managing your cycle for 13yrs so what your real cycle is now is anyone's guess. You could get pregnant at any time as you don't know when you'll ovulate but just keep going for a bit and see if your cycle becomes clearer.

I am a year on from the pill and mine are still massively irregular. No BFP! I was informed it can take up to 9 months.

I stopped my pill on the 23rd of November had my breakthrough on the 27th and didn't have my first proper period until the 1st of Jan this would mean a 35 day cycle. I cant remember what they were like 10 years ago, pretty regular from what I can remember. Don't fret (I did!) it will happen. My first was also really light, way lighter than what I used to get before the pill.

Day 52 of waiting here after stopping on 20.11.17.

You don’t however need to have an AF to get pregnant so it is possible you go straight to being knocked up. On the other hand it can take up to a year to settle.

If you are concerned, times an issue or nothing happens after 3 months there are things the dr can do to kickstart it all.

If you want to monitor a bit get some cheap ovulation sticks to see if things are starting to happen.

As a side note there are loads of articles on the net about how stopping the pill can mimic pregnancy symptoms so the only symptom you can really trust is a BFP

Rainbowcakes i was exactly the same had been on Microgynon for 13 years with no break, stopped it last March (10 months ago) I had normal after pill bleed then nothing for 38 days. After that my cycles slowly came down 37, 35, 32 days etc and now seem to have settled at 29/30 days. I would say it took about 6 months for them to settle after stopping the pill. Like a few people have already said the bleed you have after stopping the pill or between packets is 'fake' so you can't really count last Thursday as when your period should of arrived if that makes sense. I actually wish i'd come off the pill sooner as i didn't realise how long it would take for my cycles to get back to normal but as some people have already said it can happen straight away. Good luck!

I was in a similar situation to you this time last year. My GP went to great lengths to explain that you haven't been having 'periods' - you've been having 'withdrawl bleeds'.

Normally, it will take up to 6 months for your cycles to settle down, but anything up to 12 months isn't considered unusual.

Thanks everyone! Feel a bit stupid as i totally forgot the period you get whilst on the pill is a 'fake' period good to know other people's experiences though. I will go to the GP if it hasnt made an appearance by March or so.

Its annoying as I keep getting period like pains & lower back ache, yet it still hasnt shown up! Will just have to be patient and wait for my body to adjust. We arent desperate to fall pregnant straight away so there should be plenty of time.

Thanks all!

For me it was about 3 months, but apparently your cycle can take up to a year to settle down when you come off the pill...