Long term birth control usage and missing period

**lbaker** · 03-29-2011 12:08 AM

I was wondering if anyone had experienced delayed return to a normal cycle after a long time on Oral Contraceptives?

I had a bit of a pregnancy scare right around Christmas, with nausea and my first ever late period. Two pregnancy tests convinced me I was not pregnant, and my period came a week late. Due to financial issues, I had to stop my birth control usage in February. I used birth control virtually non-stop for the last ten years (even before I was sexually active due to terribly menstrual cramps).

I assume, but am not positive, that I had a normal period in February. I never kept track of my periods, since my pills did that for me always. But I'm pretty sure I would have panicked in February if I was late. February was the very last time I was on birth control before needing to stop. March, I didn't have a single sign of a period. I figured out that I should have started around the 1st, but I had no cramps or spotting or anything else.

I of course took a pregnancy test after I'd been about ten days late, and it came back negative. I don't seem to have any pregnancy symptoms either. I would LOVE to go to the doctor and allay all my fears, but I've been unemployed for a couple of years now, and my husband isn't working very regularly, so I have no insurance and I can barely pay rent.

I realize no one can give me a definitive answer here, but I'm curious if it's normal for there to be a delay in a normal cycle once ending such a long time of using birth control pills? Has anyone else experienced anything similar? Like I mentioned, I've NEVER had an irregularities in my period before Christmas.

I appreciate any help you might be.

**ItsASecret** · 03-29-2011 07:24 AM

It can take up to several, sometimes 6 months, to get back on a regular schedule after coming off of the pill. Your body was used to seeing that pill in you regulating everything, everything was good your body was happy seeing that something was keeping everything on track, suddenly that master controller is gone and it is left to regulate things on it's own. The time it takes varies of course, all women will be different there is no definitive way to tell. Since it has only been one month since you stopped I would not get alarmed chances are it is coming. If you notice a brownish discharge it means your body is preparing for your period by shedding some of the uterine lining even without the blood. If it does not come in April as well that is when you can check for pregnancy but there is still the possibility that your body still isn't regulated. You can of course see a doctor if no period this month, they can give you stuff to induce a period.

**kira** · 03-29-2011 10:33 AM

It took a year for my periods to become normal after using birth control for years. Sometimes I went up to 4 months between periods during that time.

**lbaker** · 04-05-2011 06:38 AM

Thanks for the help!!! I was thrilled to have my period start today, quickly followed by irritation for obvious reasons. But at least I'm no longer scared.