Cycle Recovery After Stopping Birth Control Pills: What to Expect

Question
Hello Dr. Rappaport, I'm curious if you can tell me how long after you get off the birth control pill does it take to go back to the cycle you were on.  Confusing question? I'm 40 years old, and have been on the pill for about 7 months and I just went off. Before going on the pill, I had gotten pregnant the month before, but didn't have the baby - my dr. put me on the pill.  Before I was on the pill, I was on a 30 day cylce, now since being on the pill, it's changed to 28.  I'd like to think about trying to get pregnant, but I'm not sure when I'd ovulate? Does my body continue on the 28, or resort back to 30? Also, because of the pill does it take your body a few months to adjust one way or another when trying to conceive?

Thank you,
Laura

Answer
When  you have been on the birth control pill for a long time and then go off the pill, your body usually reverts back to the type of cycle you had prior to starting the pill. Sometimes, it can take a few months before you return to your normal cycle. I would keep a careful record for the first three months after going off the pill in order to see the length of your cycle. Ovulation always occurs fourteen days prior to the first day of your period.