For many women, practicing safe sex means taking an oral contraceptive. Birth control medications are designed to help prevent pregnancy, but these pills are only designed to be a temporary solution.
A lot of women know that they can expect some mood swings, potential acne breakouts, and even spotting once they begin taking an oral birth control pill. What you might not realize is that your period may be erratic and unpredictable when you stop taking the pill. These anomalies are normal, but they can seem frightening to the uneducated patient.
1. Immediate ovulation could occur.
Rumors have been circulated through the female community for many years regarding the difficulties of getting pregnant after taking the pill. As a result, a lot of women believe that they need to be off the pill for several months or even years before they can conceive.
For your own protection, you need to recognize that this just isn't true. As soon as you stop taking your oral contraceptive, your body will no longer be receiving doses of the medication suppressing ovulation. This means that immediate ovulation, and subsequent pregnancy, can occur. If you don't want to become pregnant right away, be sure that you are using another form of birth control to prevent conception.
2. Your period might not come back for awhile.
If you stop taking your oral birth control pills and you don't get a period right away, there's no need to worry. Taking a pregnancy test to confirm that conception isn't delaying your period is advised. A negative pregnancy test could meant that you are suffering from post-pill amenorrhea.
Extended-cycle oral contraceptives are popular among today's women because these pills allow you to eliminate your period for months or even years. Depending on the length of time you have taken your extended-cycle oral contraceptive, your body may need time to adjust.
Your birth control stopped your body from producing the hormones that trigger ovulation, and it may take some time for these hormones to become naturally regulated once again. It's always a good idea to visit your gynecologists regularly while transitioning off the pill to ensure that your lack of a period isn't the result of disease or infection.
You need to be prepared to identify some of the side effects associated with the decision not to take an oral contraceptive. Educating yourself will help you better prevent accidental pregnancy and identify irregularities as you transition off the pill. Contact a clinic, like Anchorage OB, for more help.
About a year ago, we began noticing some changes in my wife. At first we just thought she had the run-of-the-mill stomach flu, but after carefully considering her condition, we realized that there was a chance she could be pregnant. We stopped everything and sought immediate medical care for her, and within a few hours we discovered that she was carrying our first child. It was both magical and terrifying, and the first few months were especially grueling for our entire family. I wanted to start a blog completely dedicated to getting excellent medical care, especially during pregnancy and childbirth.