Coming off BCP - how long did it take to get AF?

tory · 09-23-2008, 06:34 AM

Hi girls,

Two months ago I came off Dianette (a BCP available in the UK which controls acne) which I'd been on for 10+ years. My husband and I are TTC, but so far I've had no AF at all. I expected a wait, but I'm just wondering how long is average? My mum apparently took 3 months when she came off the pill many years ago (she doesn't have PCOS). What are other people's experiences?

Thanks,

Tory

wannabub · 09-23-2008, 06:55 AM

Hi Tory
I never got AF after coming off BC (been off 1 year) prior to BC i was like clockwork. This is why I went to the Dr and eventually got Dx. Hope you have better luck. All the best.

GovtProf · 09-25-2008, 12:23 PM

I have been on and off birth control for 8 years (gone off three time). Each time it took me 2 months to get AF and then the first 6 months my cycles were very wonky. I have a cycle every 36 days. Good Luck!

jiggygrl · 09-25-2008, 03:09 PM

Hi there,
I took me 3 weeks to get AF and I was on Jasmin for 7+ years. I hope this helps.

bird1e · 09-26-2008, 04:52 AM

Hi, I'm in the exact same situation as you. I also came off Dianette 2 months ago, after taking it for about 15 years. No sign of AF yet, but that doesn't suprise me as she never came before I started on bcp either.

I've been having some side-effects from coming off bcp. Hot flushes, headaches, hair loss, moodiness. Have you suffered anything like that? I'm wondering how long these side effects are going to last.

kch2 · 09-29-2008, 01:45 AM

I was on BC for five years. After going off I only got my peroid once in a year and half. That is when I got dx w/ pcos.

I started met. and my AF returned after four months of being on MET. I would highly suggest you go on Met. if you are coming off BC. The estrogen in BC tends to make insulin resistance (what causes pcos) worse. This doesn't show up until after you get off BC. By starting met right away you can stop the insulin resistance before it causes a number of hormonal imbalances which result in skin, weight, and hair issues.

Just a suggestion.

kch2 · 09-29-2008, 01:50 AM

I was on BC for five years. I went off and god my period once in a year and half. Then i was dx with pcos.

I started met---after four months of being of Met. my AF returned.

I would highly suggest looking into going on Met if you are getting of the pill. The estrogen in the pill makes insulin resistance (what causes pcos) worse--which shows up after you get off the pill.

But by going on Met earlier once you get off BC then you can avoid the bad hormonal imbalances that tend to happen---which is why ppl don't get their period.

Just a suggestion.

ErikaG_78 · 09-30-2008, 12:59 AM

My cycles were always very irregular (mostly 50-100 days long). After stopping BCP it took me 3.5 months to get AF.
I hope you don't have to wait that long! Good luck!

Snow · 10-01-2008, 03:53 PM

I can now answer this as my AF has just started today for the first time since stopping Nuvaring (like BCP) which I stopped last november. I had the usual breakthrough bleed 3 days after removing it and then nothing 10 months. Although this length of time can be common in ladies with PCOS, it's also common for ladies who don't have PCOS to take up to a year for their periods to restart

tory · 10-04-2008, 01:17 PM

First of all - thanks so much everyone for all your replies. I still haven't had AF - two months and counting - but still live in hope! When I had a hysteroscopy just the week I came off the BCP they said my lining was very very thin - so perhaps that's why it's taking so long for me to get a period now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bird1e

Hi, I'm in the exact same situation as you. I also came off Dianette 2 months ago, after taking it for about 15 years. No sign of AF yet, but that doesn't suprise me as she never came before I started on bcp either.

I've been having some side-effects from coming off bcp. Hot flushes, headaches, hair loss, moodiness. Have you suffered anything like that? I'm wondering how long these side effects are going to last.

I don't think I've had any obvious side effects - that may be down to Met, though. I've been on Met for 8 years, but now I've come off BCP it's the first time I've been able to measure the affect it's had on me. I think it's helped to balance my lh/fsh (which were both 7 last week) and also stop my insulin resistance. Might be worth it for you too?