Unexpected Period Changes After Pill Use: What to Know

Question
MY AGE IS 31 I HAVE 0 CHILDREN AND THE DAY OF MY LAST PERIOD WAS JAN.20,2005. IT STARTED 11 DAYS EARLY SO I HAD BREAKTHROUGH BLEEDING. SO IF I COUNT 28 DAY FROM THE 20TH AND TODAY IS FEB.22,2005 THAT WOULD MEAN THAT I AM 5 DAYS LATE. I WAS ON THE PILL FOR 11 YRS FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS AND STOPPED TAKING IT BECDAUSE I WANT TO CONCEIVE A BABY IN ABOUT 5 MONTHS. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE SEXUALY ACTIVE AND I AM AFRAID I AM NOW PREGNGNT. I TOOK A HOME TEST AND IT WAS NEGATIVE. I AM JUST WONDERING WHY AM I LATE?

Answer
While you were on the pill, you probably had a regular 28 day cycle (from the first day of your period until the first day of your next period). Now that you stopped the pill, you do not have to have a cycle that is exactly 28 days. A cycle is considered normal from 21-35 days in length. If your last period started on January 20, it is not uncommon or abnormal to get your next period as late as February 23. The best time to take a pregnancy test is seven days after missing your period. Therefore, I would repeat the pregnancy test on Thursday. If it is still negative, you may merely have some hormonal imbalance this month. This can occur when one stops using birth control pills after using them for so many years.