When you stop taking birth control pills it may take some time for your body to return to its baseline normal. You may stop your pills at any time, however it may be advantageous to wait until you finish your current month. This will make it easier to keep track of your menstrual cycle. The usual recommendation is to stop taking the Pill two or three months before you want to start trying to conceive, reports Dr. Spock. If you are stopping for other reasons, note that your fertility will immediately return and it will be possible to get pregnant. You should discuss alternate birth control options with your provider. There are some common symptoms that may occur after stopping your birth control pills.
Delayed Ovulation and Menstruation
It may take a while for your pill's hormones to completely leave your system. Although many women will ovulate within two to four weeks after stopping the pill, for others it may take months. This will also delay your menstrual period. Be patient and give your body's natural hormone cycle some time to resume. If you don't get a period for several months, you may have post-pill amenorrhea, reports Mayo Clinic. If you do not get your period within six months, contact your physician, you may also want to take a pregnancy test.
Irregular Periods
Once your menstrual cycle resumes, your periods may be irregular. While on the pill you experience regular cycles to the exact day. It may take time for your body to resume its natural hormonal balance to regulate your cycle. If your cycle was not regular prior to your going on the birth control pill, it may not be regular after quitting. Your menstrual cycle may also change with age, stress, weight loss or gain, and illness.
Infertility
Some women report infertility after stopping the pill. This is because it may take up to several months for the return of your normal menstrual cycle. This infertility is most likely temporary until your body's hormones begin to regulate. Ovulation tests may help you to better predict the fertile days of your cycle when you are experiencing irregularity.
