How to Get Your Period Back After Birth Control

Post-pill amenorrhea is a condition where a woman does not get a menstrual period after going off birth control pills. This typically isn't a cause for alarm, and usually occurs because the body needs time to adjust back to its natural hormonal levels. However, it can be disconcerting for a woman not to have a period, especially when the birth control pill she had been taking provided her with predictable monthly menstruation. Many women become anxious to resume their regular, natural menstrual cycle. Fortunately, getting your period back after birth control is usually a straightforward process.

Step 1

Wait. For the majority of women, normal menstruation will occur approximately four to six weeks after stopping birth control, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, it can take some women up to three months or longer for that first menstrual period to occur. Be patient and wait for your cycles to return naturally.

Step 2

Consider taking a pregnancy test to ensure pregnancy is not causing your absent period. In fact, since it is possible to ovulate before your period returns, it may be a good idea to take a pregnancy test on a regular basis as you wait, especially if you are sexually active, according to Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo, a board certified obstetrician-gynecologist and medical expert at Babyzone.com. This will prevent you from becoming unexpectedly pregnant-but unaware of that fact-as you wait for your period to return.

Step 3

See your doctor. If you are not pregnant and your period has not returned for over six months, your doctor should rule out other medical conditions that could be causing your lack of period. If no other medical issue is found, your doctor may recommend continuing to wait for your period to resume naturally or may prescribe fertility drugs in order to induce ovulation. Discuss the pros and cons of each path with your doctor.

Tip

If you went off birth control in order to get pregnant, it might be best to wait until you do have your period return to begin actively trying to conceive. Although there is no medical reason for waiting, it will make it easier to correctly determine your due date and the fetal age if you want until your regular menstrual cycle to resume.

Warning

Stress or being severely underweight may also be causes of an absent period, according to Dr. Christos Coutifaris, a professor and director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Pennsylvania and medical expert for BabyCenter.com. If you are stressed, consider taking measures like deep breathing exercises, meditation, long walks or yoga to help manage your stress. If being underweight is your problem, consult a doctor to rule out a medical condition causing your low weight or to get recommendations to safely gain weight.