By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    An Expert’s Guide To Building and Improving Endurance
    June 30, 2022
    medical assistants
    What Do Medical Assistants Do On a Day to Day Basis?
    April 5, 2022
    superfoods to help with prostate health
    10 Healthy Foods That Can Help Protect Your Prostate
    August 29, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    healthcare cost crisis
    What If the Health Care Cost Crisis Solves Itself?
    May 11, 2013
    Do You Need Life Insurance? What Does It Cover?
    December 23, 2022
    HIE metal plans
    The Four “Metal Plans” of Health Insurance Exchanges
    May 28, 2013
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How To Get Your Period Back After Birth Control
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Women Health > How To Get Your Period Back After Birth Control
Women Health

How To Get Your Period Back After Birth Control

Andy Salmen
Andy Salmen
Share
10 Min Read
tips for quitting birth control
Shutterstock Photo License - Pixel-Shot
SHARE

Birth control has been a popular topic in many political circles. Melinda Gates even had a discussion about improving access to birth control pills.

Contents
1. Lack of hormones2. Delayed ovulationPregnancy after quittingIf menses doesn’t returnWhen to see a doctorSide effects of quitting birth controlSome things you can do to help regulate your cycleManage stressConsume cruciferous vegetablesEat healthilyReduce sugar consumptionInositolConclusion

Birth control does a great job of preventing unplanned pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancy is considered an epidemic, since there are three million every year and half of them (1.5 million) result in abortion. However, for various reasons, you may need to get off these pills. It’s probably time to get a new baby, or you are looking to switch birth control methods or have side effects from the one you are on. Quitting birth control can affect people differently.

While some can get pregnant immediately after they stop birth control, others may need their body to adjust to the new normal. It may take a few months for them to begin ovulation. For some others, they may experience a delay before the period normalizes. That being said, it is not out of the ordinary to experience late or irregular periods after quitting hormonal birth control. Two things to expect if you are quitting birth control.

1. Lack of hormones

The body now has the job of producing hormones to regulate periods. Before now, the hormonal birth control you were on was in charge of regulating your body’s hormones and period. Even though the pill blocks ovulation, you experience withdrawal bleeding when you go on break from your pills. Now that your body is in charge, your body may lack the hormone required to bring your period back. This may go on for a while until it normalizes after some time.

More Read

Key Reasons Why Vaginal Health Is Important For Women
Melinda Gates Talks Birth Control and Contraception
Better Coverage for Women’s Preventive Health Starts Today
Glow Through Menopause: A Comprehensive Guide to Skin Health and Radiance
Benefits of Acupuncture for Fertility: A Comprehensive Guide

Hormonal changes after quitting birth control can also increase your sex drive. One study found that 15% of women feel much stronger sexual urges after quitting birth control.

2. Delayed ovulation

Without contraceptives, ovulation ought to happen once every menstrual cycle. But if you were on any of the hormonal birth control methods, like the pill, injections, or implants, they were able to work by preventing the chances of ovulation. So it may take time for your body to regularise the return of ovulation. Until there is ovulation, period may not occur because eggs need to be released to the ovaries. Period will take place when there are unfertilized eggs and a shift in hormone levels. You will need to find out what the issues are with your doctor, as they might lead to concerns like the need for emergency contraception.

Pregnancy after quitting

Pregnancy may be an unexpected occurrence after stopping birth control. Sometimes ovulation may happen undetected after you stop birth control. There might be a remote possibility that you could be pregnant. A pregnancy test would confirm this. Pregnancy is possible if you have been sexually active after stopping birth control and haven’t resumed seeing your menses after 4weeks.

If menses doesn’t return

In many cases, a woman’s body will go back to normal hormone production, and menstruation reverts to how it used to be after stopping birth control. This means that if you had irregular periods before you started birth control, it may not change from that when you stop birth control. So, your menstrual history should be considered before concluding that there might be a problem or not if you have yet to resume your period. 

However, It might become necessary to check for any underlying medical issues that birth control may have masked. Truth is, if you are not seeing your period, it’s not because of being on birth control and has nothing to do with birth control. Some factors to consider if your period hasn’t returned yet include:

  • Chronic stress: cortisol produced when your body undergoes stress can lead to delayed light or no period.
  • PCOS: polycystic ovary syndrome stops your period. At other times it makes your period hard to predict because it has become irregular. It is a hormonal condition that affects women. It occurs when hormones are out of balance.
  • Thyroid disorder: When the body produces too much or too little thyroid hormone, periods may stop for a short or long time.
  • Chronic vitamin D deficiency: your doctor can assess vitamin D status and supplement to address insufficiency and help regulate menstrual disorders.
  • Weight loss: Intense exercise and significant weight loss can alter reproductive hormone levels that prevent ovulation and menstruation from taking place.
  • Ovarian cysts occur when the ovaries make more male hormones than necessary and can cause cysts to develop on the ovaries. They may disappear but can cause complications like menstrual irregularities if they do not. 
  • Premature menopause is when one stops seeing their period before they turn 40. At this point, a woman stops ovulating, and the monthly period ceases.

Your doctor may recommend treatment for secondary amenorrhea if there are any underlying issues. Taking supplements or working on higher daily caloric intake. Sometimes progesterone injection may be administered to make your period come back. Lifestyle changes and exercises can help with weight loss-related cases.

When to see a doctor

Let your doctor know after going 3 months without a period. You should ASAP if you experience severe and persistent symptoms like:

  • Fevers
  • Vision changes
  • Bad headaches
  • Hair Loss
  • Excess hair growth
  • Breast secretion or milk production

Side effects of quitting birth control

It is normal to experience certain side effects after stopping birth control. Side effects are temporary and usually go away on their own without needing treatments. Some are beneficial for those who experienced side effects from using Birth control. Once they quit, side effects reverse. Increased libido, fewer headaches, improved mood, and less nausea are some of the benefits you may enjoy if you suffered otherwise while on birth control.

For some others, they may experience the following side effects 

  • spotting or bleeding between periods
  • breast tenderness
  • changes to the skin or hair
  • headaches

If you used contraceptives to manage certain premenstrual or health conditions, expect that when you stop birth control, these conditions will likely come back. These conditions include:

  • premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  • premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
  • polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Period pain
  • Mood swings
  • Acne
  • Menstrual migraines.

Some things you can do to help regulate your cycle

Manage stress

Hormonal imbalance is the culprit responsible for missing or irregular periods. Sufficient rest and sleep can help drop cortisol and blood sugar levels. It also helps in balancing hormone levels.

Consume cruciferous vegetables

Lettuce, broccoli, and other dark green veggies contain DIM, which helps to balance hormones. For instance, they help to metabolize excess estrogen. According to research by Zoey, DIM present in these vegetables facilitates a healthy menstrual cycle and reduces certain kinds of cancers that are estrogen sensitive.

Eat healthily

Consume food with complex carbs. These include oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, cereal, beans, barley, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other plant-based foods. These foods are rich in vitamins, phytochemicals, and minerals. Around 3-quarters of daily calories should come from complex carbohydrates. Fruits and healthy fats in nuts and avocados are also essential for optimal health. Fatty acids are equally important for hormonal health and improve the menstrual cycle

Reduce sugar consumption

Sugar intake can worsen insulin resistance. Irregular menstruation can be a sign of increased insulin levels. As much as you can, avoid sugar. The easiest way to pull this off is to avoid consuming processed food. 

Inositol

This nutrient can help to facilitate ovulation in women. It normalizes ovarian function, improves oocyte and embryo quality in PCOS, and re-establishes ovulatory menstrual cycles.

Conclusion

After getting off the birth control pill, it may take up to 3 months or more for your period to return. This isn’t yet an indicator that there is an underlying issue. Until you have been examined and tested by a doctor, only then can it be established that something may be wrong somewhere. If everything seems okay after visiting a doctor, you can work on restoring your menstrual cycle by eating a hormone-healthy diet. It’s always wise to speak to your doctor if you don’t get your period after 3 months of stopping your pills.

TAGGED:birth controlovulationwomen's health
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

technology in medical research
The Tools Helping Medical Researchers See the Full Picture
News Technology
August 3, 2025
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025

You Might also Like

breast augmentation and mental health
Women Health

Breast Augmentations Can Do Wonders for Mental Health

July 27, 2024
supplements to manage health issues
Women Health

5 Supplements To Ease Period & PMS Symptoms

July 18, 2023
birth control benefits and risks
Pregnancy

Understanding the Health Benefits and Risks of Birth Control Pills

May 11, 2023
mixing Addyi and alcohol
Health

Mixing Addyi and Alcoholic Drink: A Look at the Risks and Benefits

August 12, 2023
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?