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How Long will BC stay in my system if I only took the pill for 3 weeks

An_246868 posted:

I started taking lo-estrin last month in June I took it a total of 3 weeks and I got my period early on the 22nd so I stopped taking it. Well now its July 31 and I have not received my period at all for July is that because the birth control is still in my system? I have taken two pregnancy test two days apart and they were both negative. Is it possible im pregnant or am I just having side effects from the birth control

1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:How Long will BC stay in my system if I only took the pill for 3 weeksI started taking lo-estrin last month in June I took it a total of 3 weeks and I got my period early on the 22nd so I stopped taking it. Well now its July 31 and I have not received my period at all for July is that because the birth control is still in my system? I have taken two pregnancy test two days apart and they were both negative. Is it possible im pregnant or am I just having side effects from the birth control

Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:

Dear An: The hormones in a birth control pill (BCP) should be out of your body within three to four days. Thus in your case, this is not the likely culprit in your missed/late period.

The two most common reasons (once pregnancy has been ruled out) are as follows:

1. If you had a history of irregular cycles before,your "natural" underlying cycle pattern is returning.

2. After one or more cycles on a BCP it can take up to 4-8 weeks for your "real" period to return. As you know, BCPs work by suppressing ovulations--so you won't conceive. BCPs can continue to delay the return of regular ovulations somewhat. Probably the best information we have about when a woman begins to ovulate, after BCPs, comes from studies about how long it takes for a woman to conceive after stopping BCPs.

Comparing 925 BCP users, short term users (less than two years of use) vs. long term (greater than two years of use), Hassan (2004) found a different in time to pregnancy. Short term users averaged 4.5 months to conception while long term users averaged 8.5 months.

Bottom line, it would not be worrisome if you had up to three months of a missed period after stopping BCPs. Longer than that you should see your GYN or clinic. If you stopped your pills to get pregnant, you can certainly conceive even before your next "real period" arrives.

Yours,
Jane

Report This| Share this:How Long will BC stay in my system if I only took the pill for 3 weeksDear An: The hormones in a birth control pill (BCP) should be out of your body within three to four days. Thus in your case, this is not the likely culprit in your missed/late period. The two most common reasons (once pregnancy has been ruled out) are as follows: 1. If you had a history of irregular cycles before,your "natural" underlying cycle pattern is returning. 2. After one or more cycles on a BCP it can take up to 4-8 weeks for your "real" period to return. As you know, BCPs work by suppressing ovulations--so you won't conceive. BCPs can continue to delay the return of regular ovulations somewhat. Probably the best information we have about when a woman begins to ovulate, after BCPs, comes from studies about how long it takes for a woman to conceive after stopping BCPs. Comparing 925 BCP users, short term users (less than two years of use) vs. long term (greater than two years of use), Hassan (2004) found a different in time to pregnancy. Short term users averaged 4.5 months to conception while long term users averaged 8.5 months. Bottom line, it would not be worrisome if you had up to three months of a missed period after stopping BCPs. Longer than that you should see your GYN or clinic. If you stopped your pills to get pregnant, you can certainly conceive even before your next "real period" arrives. Yours, Jane

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