Stopping the pill and periods : what are the effects on menstruation?

Today, many women use the contraceptive pill. It's an easy-to-use contraceptive method. There are several reasons why a woman may decide to stop taking the pill: a desire to become pregnant, a change in contraception or the desire to stop taking hormones. Does periods come back quickly? We tell you all about it in this article!

What happens when I stop taking the pill?

First of all, if you want to stop taking the pill, it's best to talk to your doctor or gynecologist about finding another contraceptive method. Indeed, if you have no plans to become pregnant, or desire to have a baby, it's important to remember that you can become pregnant the day after lyou stop taking the pill. If you do have intercourse, remember to use another contraceptive method, such as a condom.

You can stop taking the pill at any time during the course of your pack. However, if your periods tend to be irregular, or if you'd like to get a better fix on your next cycles, we recommend that you finish your pack so that your body feels as little lost as possible. The periods with pill are in fact artificial and s'called withdrawal bleeding. Your body starts to function normally again and to have real "natural" periods .

What impact does stopping the pill have on periods ?

It's legitimate to wonder about the impact that stopping will have on our bodies, and in particular on the first bleeding after stopping. There are several side effects to stopping this little tablet.

Resumption of the biological menstrual cycle

Stopping means resuming life cycle. In theory, after stopping the pill, the cycle starts again: menstrual flow, follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase reappear. But this can take time.

The first periods after stopping the pill

Visit first periods after stopping the pill are often eagerly awaited. Whether you want to switch to a different contraceptive method or take greater control of your body, menstruation is a very important time of the year. mark in our cycle.

But the delay of periods is common. It requires :

• on the one hand, that the hormones ingested during the previous months by taking the pill are eliminated
• on the other hand, that hormone production resumes

Menstruation may not arrive for two or three months after stopping, or even longer. Similarly, it's quite possible that your cycles, and therefore your blood loss, will be irregular for up to 1 year after stopping.
When your first period appears after stopping the pill, it will tend to return (over time) to its pre-pill state.

That is to say, in terms of flow, duration, pain, etc. Often they are more abundant and more painful than on the pill.

Always remember to protect yourself after stopping the pill, even if you haven't yet had your period, as the contraceptive effect is no longer guaranteed!

 

What other effects does stopping the pill have on the body?

The periods are not the only hormonal changes you have to deal with. Positive and negative side effects also occur. In fact, the cycle starts up again and gradually begins to produce hormones. With this comes the resumption of premenstrual syndrome (pain, mood swings, etc. a few days before menstruation), mood swings according to the stages of the cycle, a resumption or increase in libido, a change in the appearance of the skin, with, for example, the resumption of acne if you suffered from it before taking the pill. But if you weren't prone to acne before, clear skin will eventually return within a few months. Finally, potential weight variations may occur.
Generally speaking, you will more or less return to the symptoms you had before taking the pill.
Some women observe a reconnection with their cycle and emotions, sometimes smoothed out on the pill.

The onset of PMS symptoms

With the arrival of the first periods, you can rediscover the joys of premenstrual syndrome. Present to a greater or lesser extent depending on the woman, it manifests itself in multiple symptoms that appear between 2 and 7 days before menstruation (sometimes more!), such as swelling and pain in the lower abdomen, breast pain, headaches, irritability, mood swings, acne, etc. PMS may have been smoothed out while taking the pill. When you stop taking the pill, it's quite natural for it to reappear.

Generally speaking, the body resumes its natural functioning, which leads to different symptoms throughout the cycle.

A change in the length of the menstrual cycle

If the periods on the pill were much shorter, it's normal for them to return to a normal length when the pill is stopped. Menstruation generally lasts from 2 to 7 days. This varies from woman to woman and from stage to stage.

What to do if periods is late or non-existent after stopping the pill?

Sometimes the wait is very long. A delay of periods or even absence (amenorrhea) can quickly become a source of anxiety.
However, the stress further delays menstruation.
If it makes you feel better, consult a health professional if your bleeding does not return after several months. It takes time for the synthetic hormones to be eliminated, for the natural production to resume and for the body to function normally again. Eventually, your menstrual bleeding will return. If you still haven't returned from periods and you think there's a risk of pregnancy (for example, if you've missed a pill in the previous month), take a pregnancy test!

FAQ periods after stopping the pill

When do periods arrive after stopping the pill?

Why don't I have any periods after stopping the pill?

 

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