Irregular Periods After Pill: Causes & What to Expect

Question
Hi, I went off the pill 8 1/2 weeks ago and mestruated immediately. It lasted 5 days and then 2 1/2 weeks after i had stopped the pill i got another period which lasted 9 days.i think it has now been 4-5 weeks since that last period and i have not got another period again. this is a bit strange as i have always had regular periods on and off the pill. i have had some bloating and pains and moodiness but so far no period. what could be going on?

Answer
Dear Colleen,

If you had unprotected sex during the last cycle, then you cannot dismiss the possibility of pregnancy.

The symptoms you describe are hormonal in nature and can also be related to hormone fluctuations within your cycle. That is why it so difficult to "diagnose" a pregnancy based on symptoms alone. It is also not unusual for women to experience some irregularity of their cycles when coming off the BCP. Sometimes it can take awhile for your body to get those menstrual cycles regulated again on its own without the hormonal influence of the BCP.

You will need to test for pregnancy to know for sure whether you have conceived. Although some tests claim accuracy on the first day of a missed period, I usually suggest that women wait until the week after a missed or spotty period before testing for pregnancy. This tends to minimize the incidence of false negative results and also avoids wasting money on a test for a simple delay of a period by a few days. When/if you test make sure to use 1st morning urine to get a concentrated sample for the most accurate results.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda