How Long Should It Take My Period to Return After Stopping Birth Control?

I’m coming off birth control after 16 consecutive years and haven’t had a period yet (it’s been two months). I keep reading it’s because my hormones are imbalanced, and everyone around me is giving me a million different ways to “hack my hormones.” Is there any validity to this? I’ve seen things like “cut out dairy” and “avoid all Tupperware” and I’m not sure what to home in on.
—Ann Marie

It is extremely common for it to take a number of months for a cycle to return to its typical cadence after coming off hormonal birth control. Most people have a period return within 3 months, but for some individuals this could be up to nine months. Even when a cycle does return quickly, it’s more likely to be associated with a hormone balance that is less favorable to pregnancy. This does not mean you cannot get pregnant right away, but pregnancy is less likely in the first months off birth control.

The reason for this is a hormonal imbalance. While you’re on hormonal birth control, the medication is effectively providing the hormonal feedback that generates a cycle. It takes time for these hormones to clear and for your cycle to take over. For some women as well, it may be hard to remember what their cycle was like before birth control — which can come as a surprise.

If you have not had a period after three months off of birth control, it is worth a call to your doctor. They are likely to tell you to wait a bit longer, but at this point most women have had their period back, so it is a good time to check in.

You cannot hack your hormones, though, sorry. They just need to hack themselves. Avoiding Tupperware or milk isn’t going to do it. (One proactive thing you could do instead is read Taking Charge of Your Fertility.)