When you feel that the pill you are currently on is not the right pill for you, stopping the pill is a good idea. After being on the pill for over 3 months, if you continue to notice discomforting side effects (headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, depression, vaginal infections, and cramps, just to name a few), those are signs that you should stop the pill and try another oral contraceptive.
Can I stop taking the pill immediately or should I wait till the end of the pack?
If you have just started taking birth control pills or is trying a new brand of pills, it is recommended to stay on it the pill for the first 3 months even if you are experiencing negative side effects. The negative side effects normally would pass after 3 months. If it continues, you may stop the pill.
Stopping the pill may change your regular menstrual cycle. You can stop taking the pill immediately if you are uncomfortable with continuing the pill. As soon you stop taking the pill, you will experience bleeding.
When stopping the pill, make sure you have an alternative form of contraception, such as a condom.
If I have stopped taking the pill and want to get back on the pill, should I wait until it is the beginning of a month?
If you are starting a new brand of birth control pills, make sure you have a back up method of contraception such as condoms. Your first pack of pills may not protect you from pregnancy on the first week of taking them.
You can start your pills today, on the day your period begins, on the fifth day your period begins, or on the first Sunday after your period begins (so your menses will almost always begin on a Tuesday or Wednesday).
If I stop the pill and my period does not come back, what does that mean?
If you do not get your period after stopping the pill for three months, you should first take a home pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant. If you are not pregnant and still did not get your period for at least three months, see your doctor. You may be experiencing post-pill amenorrhea. Post-pill amenorrhea is when the pill stops your body from producing hormones needed for ovulation and menstruation. It may take some time before your body gets back into regular production of these hormones needed for your menstruation.
If I am planning to become pregnant, when should I stop taking the pill?
It is recommended to stop taking the birth control pill one month before you conceive so you can get back on your regular natural menstrual flow. If you are planning on stopping the pill longer before you conceive, make sure you are using other forms of contraception such as condoms.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control(prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
I stopped taking Levora in the middle of the pack on July 14th, then had a period that lasted about 5 days and then tried concieving as soo as my period ended. I took a pregnancy test two weeks later, then another one week after that and then had a doctors appointment and a pt there which was also negative, this was a two months ago and I still haven’t gotten a period back. Is it possible that I could’ve even gotten pregnant that soon after quitting the pill if I’d been on it for almost 4 years?
Also if it’s any help I’m trying to concieve and would like to know if there’s any tips on doing that faster or if it’s even possible since my period is a wall. Finally, is there any way I can get my period back quicker?
Comment by Abbey — September 6, 2012 @ 9:02 pm
Dear Abbey,
When girls are ready to come off the pill so they can have a baby, it is recommended they start trying 3 months after they have stopped the pill. It usually takes up to 3 months for your body to get back into it’s own rhythm so hopefully by next month or the month after you would get your period. It is possible for you to conceive as soon as you come off the pill, but this does not happen to everybody. I would advise you speak to your doctor about ways to help you conceive. He/she should be able to give you some tips on getting pregnant.
Comment by Janine — September 7, 2012 @ 1:05 am
Hi..
I want to ask coz I’m kinda worried..
Bcoz I started takng pills last decmber den stopped by march..
By april I had my menstration normal but in may til june I was delayed .no sex at all..
So by the month of june I try takng bcp and so my period came.
I take pills agen from july till august.
My last mens was 2nd wik of august
So I am expectng my period dis week but I am worried coz I never take pills anymore after my last period den had sex last week without any contraceptives..
But I am always having alcohol(beer) almost everynight..
Is der still a tendency I get pregnant??
Pls help
Comment by ashley — September 9, 2012 @ 3:32 am
Dear ashley,
Whenever you are having unprotected sex and is not using any protection at all you are at risk for pregnancy. I would advise you to use contraception ie. (condoms, the pill, the shot, the patch, iud, implant, etc) if you are having sex on a regular basis. If you think you are pregnant, take a pregnancy test in the next two weeks.
Comment by Janine — September 10, 2012 @ 1:25 am
Hello. I started lo loestrin fe about 4 weeks postpartum. I had some bleeding prior to that, but was not sure it was my actual period. My obgyn said to go ahead and start the pack regardless. Therefore I started them on a random weekday. After taking the pill I began basically having a period every other week for a while. Heavy with lots of body aches and cramping. The month of July was my last pack. I didn’t have a refill so by the time the pharmacy contacted my doctor it had been probably 3 weeks before I began them again.y husband and I had sex August 14 and August 17. I do not remember bleeding even in July as it seems the every other week thing had lessened. I’ve never been regular and it took 3 years of being off the pill before I got pregnant this last time. I still haven’t had a period an am on the 3rd week of the new pack. Is there a possibility I could be pregnant? Or a high possibility I should say? I took a test last week but it was negative. Tho I realize this could be too soon. Any thoughts???? Thank you, Melissa
Comment by Melissa — September 12, 2012 @ 2:25 am
Dear Melissa,
If it has been a month since you had sex and the test you took last week is negative, you are most likely not pregnant. Continue taking the pill as you normally would. Once you have been on the pill for more than 3 months continuously, you should get your period again. If you still didn’t get your period, talk to your doctor. I highly advise you to get your doctor to write your prescriptions for 3 months at a time so you won’t run out of pills.
Comment by Janine — September 13, 2012 @ 1:28 am
Thank you for your response. I happened to take another test this morning bc I’m so anxious. The first line appeared before the urine even reached the control window. So fast that I questioned a false positive. The test was as positive as it could be.
Comment by Melissa — September 13, 2012 @ 2:37 am
I ran out of birth control pills so I have been off the pill for one month but just got more pills and want to go back on the pill, do I have to wait until I get a period before I can start the pills again? I read that my period may not come because I was off the pill for a few weeks? Sunday will be one month from when my pack ran out, should I start taking pills again then when I normally would be starting a new pack if I hadn’t run out? Is it harmful to start the pills without having a period before?
Comment by Jade — September 13, 2012 @ 2:59 am
Hi Melissa,
I would advise you to go to the doctor to get a more accurate test done. The doctor would be able to tell you if you are pregnant or not.
Comment by Janine — September 14, 2012 @ 1:55 am
Dear Jade,
Making sure you have your period before you start the pill ensures that you are not pregnant before you start the pill and so that you will always get your period around that same time of the month. I would advise you to take a pregnancy test first to confirm you are not pregnant. Once confirmed, you can start the pill whenever you want.
Comment by Janine — September 14, 2012 @ 2:26 am
I came off the pill 3 weeks ago (after completing a pack) and had the normal break period. I didn’t start taking it again the following week as I planned to stop taking it completely. In the past 2 weeks me and my boyfriend have had unprotected sex a few times but he has “pulled out”. Since the normal bleed at the end of my packet 3 weeks ago, I have had no other breakthrough period.. will my period come in a weeks time? (the usual time if I had started another pack) or is there a possibility I am pregnant? I’ve been getting really bad lower back ache and my nipples hurt but I guess these could also be sign my period is due
Comment by boo — September 25, 2012 @ 5:05 am
Dear boo,
Whenever you have unprotected sex, chances of you becoming pregnant is high. Wait for your period to come next week. If it doesn’t come take a pregnancy test. If you plan on staying off the pill but is still having unprotected sex and not wanting to become pregnant, I would advise you to use some form of contraception (ie. condoms, iud, patch, implant, etc). Speak to your doctor about what other birth control options are available to you other than the pill.
Comment by Janine — September 26, 2012 @ 1:00 am
Hi, I have been on birth control for over 5 years now. My boyfriend and I had unprotected sex and then a week later I stopped birth control in mid pack, i had a week break then continued taking it, it has been 5 weeks since our unprotected sex session and have taken numerous pregnancy tests the past 2 weeks, all showing up negative? Please help!!!!
Comment by Hannah123 — September 27, 2012 @ 4:02 am
Dear Hannah123,
When you had unprotected sex, you were still protected with the pill. Are you experiencing pregnancy symptoms? They could be from going off the pill and now back on the pill. Your body may have been confused with the hormones when you came off and then back on the pill.
Comment by Janine — September 28, 2012 @ 2:43 am
Could it be showing a false negative?!
Comment by Hannah123 — September 28, 2012 @ 4:05 am
My left nipple is tender but I’m not sure if it is because I’ve been checking it every two seconds and I have had mild cramps but that is about it. I have read so much about false negatives that I have completely scared myself stupid. I heard sperm can stay alive still 4 days after unprotected sex so that’s why I am freaking out as I stopped the pill a week later! Sorry I am such a paranoid person, I did 3 days ago and still negative
Comment by Hannah123 — September 28, 2012 @ 4:08 am
I have one tender nipple and a few cramps but that is about it. I heard sperm can last for upto a week after so I am now stressing myself stupid because I stopped a week later. I did a test 3 days ago and it is still negative but I have heard about so many false negatives.
Comment by Hannah123 — September 28, 2012 @ 4:21 am
Dear Hannah123,
Since it has been at least 5 weeks since you had unprotected sex and your recent pregnancy test you took 3 days ago says it is negative, I am pretty sure you are not pregnant. The tenderness from your nipples can be a side effect from starting the pill again and stress. If you want an accurate test done to make sure you are not pregnant, make an appointment with your doctor to get a pregnancy test. This way you would know for sure whether you are pregnant or not.
Comment by Janine — October 1, 2012 @ 1:41 am
I stopped taking my birth control pills after the last day of my sugar pill, which my last sugar pill was on Saturday the 17th. I had started my period the 14th and still took the sugar pills all the way until pack was empty. I had no bleeding at all monday meaning my period was over. I have not taken any birth control at all Sunday Monday or today. But this evening around 11:00 I noticed I was spotting. I have not had sex at all either. Is this normal after stopping birth control? How long will I bleed for? Please help! Thanks!
Also I didn’t stop by choice, my insurance blocked me from refilling scripts at retail stores and made me get them mailed in. So I’m pretty much having to wait until they give me my script. which is so stupid! So when they come in when should I start taking them again?
Comment by Hope — November 20, 2012 @ 10:12 pm
Dear Hope,
The spotting can be from your body getting back to it’s normal rhythm. It takes your body up to 3 months to go back to it’s normal rhythm. When you do receive your next package of birth control pills, take them on the first Sunday of your period.
Comment by Janine — November 21, 2012 @ 10:58 am
Ive been on the pill for a year and i decided to stop last month because i was spotting for a week before my period started. Now its been 3 weeks andi started spotting again after 22 days off the pill. Im experiencing fatigue as well for 3 days now and i had unprotected sex with withdrawal five days prior to expriencing spotting. Spotting has been going on for abt 3 days now. I want to go back into taking the pill cuz im scared of menstrual cramps and my period has always been irregular and of cours i dont want to get pregnant yet. When can i start taking it again?
Comment by Lonelyplanet — December 8, 2012 @ 2:43 pm
Dear Lonelyplanet,
If you stopped taking the pill the first time because you had started spotting when your are not supposed to, then I would advise you to talk to your doctor about prescribing you to a higher dose birth control pill. Make an appointment with your doctor to talk to him/her about changing to a higher dose pill and also to take a pregnancy test to confirm you are not pregnant before starting on the new pill.
Comment by Janine — December 10, 2012 @ 4:28 am
My regular date for periods is sequenced in betwwen 20th to 22nd of every month, i had sex with my boyfriend on 29th of the last month at that time i had been passed through th periods process. In this month i should have same dates of periods but somehow 3 days have been passed but there is no indication. I never used any pills and its not possible for me to consult any doctor. Can you please help me in taking pills, which pills i have to use or i have to wait?
Many Thanks,
Comment by Anunmoyous — December 25, 2012 @ 1:52 am
Dear Anunmoyous,
I would advise you to take a pregnancy test to see if you are pregnant. Good luck!
Comment by Janine — December 26, 2012 @ 2:16 am
I stopped taking the pill about 2 months ago. After stopping the pill, I got my period at the time that I normally did while taking the pills. Everything was regular. I should have gotten my period two days ago, though, but it hasn’t came. Idk what’s going on. Idk if it’s that post-pill amenorrhea or not.. I’m really getting kind of scared.
Comment by Stefanie — December 27, 2012 @ 2:17 pm
Dear Stefanie,
Sounds like your body may be getting back to it’s own rhythm and this usually takes up to 3 months, or if you are still sexually active you may be pregnant. I would advise you to take a pregnancy test.
Comment by Janine — December 27, 2012 @ 10:57 pm
I stopped taking the pill in 4 months ago and everything was normal. I got my last period on January 6th but I had unprotected sex on the 5th so on the 6th I still went to get Plan B. I’ve decided I want to go back on the pill. When should I start?
Comment by Ashley — January 7, 2013 @ 10:10 am
Dear Ashley,
Talk to your doctor to get a pregnancy test to confirm you are not pregnant. Once confirmed, get a prescription for birth control pills and start taking it the Sunday of your next period or whenever your doctor advises you to start taking it.
Comment by Janine — January 8, 2013 @ 2:52 am