Dealing with Post Pill Amenorrhea

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Hi and happy Monday to you! I hope you had a lovely weekend.

I didn’t know if I was going to do a full post about dealing with post-pill amenorrhea. Especially since I many of you come here for recipes, but this blog is really about health and for women our cycle is a great indicator of our health. Plus, I know from previous comments that there are others out there struggling with similar issues so I wanted to share. If you’re here for the recipes and workouts, simply skip this post. I’ll be back tomorrow with a recipe for ya!

Girl with long brown hair in white top and jean shorts standing against a red brick wall.

So here’s the story — as I mentioned here and here, I’ve been dealing with post pill amenorrhea since going off birth control pills last September. If you’re unfamiliar, amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. It can be brought on by a variety of things. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause are all natural and normal reasons. However, it can also happen due to medications, contraceptives, lifestyle factors or other complications.

No period, no worries?

At first I wasn’t really concerned about experiencing amenorrhea after coming off birth control pills. I’d heard (and read online) that it can take a while for your body to adjust. After the holidays and three months without anything I started to get a little worried and decided to make an appointment with my gynecologist. I could tell she was kind of annoyed with me for just going off them without asking. Isaac and I weren’t trying to conceive — I just wanted to be more natural and stop putting the hormones in my body. Plus, I knew that in the next couple years we would likely want to start a family. She had me take a pregnancy test (negative) and then gave me a pack of birth control pills to take “just to see if I could jumpstart things.” I left the office with the pills, but knew I wasn’t going to take them. From everything I’ve read, I knew that the pill wasn’t going to solve my issues. If anything, it would just mask them.

At this point I had already started seeing an acupuncturist every two weeks. He did his needle work, prescribed me a few supplements and made me feel relieved by saying that he sees women all the time with the same issues after coming off hormonal birth control. I trusted his advice and just kept moving forward, hoping that working with him would help.

I also started looking for a new gynecologist and booked an appointment. She had blood work ordered. My hormone levels looked okay, but she recommended doing the progestin challenge. I was hesitant since it was introducing more hormones but my acupuncturist thought I should try it (as did my sister and mother-in-law) so I did. Nothing happened. This typically means you either have low serum estradiol (estrogen), a dysfunction with the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, or a problem with the uterine outflow tract.

Hypothalamic amenorrhea diagnosis

Since the progestin challenge didn’t work I was referred to an endocrinologist (fertility specialist) and after looking over my blood work he diagnosed me with hypothalamic amenorrhea. Both my luteinising hormone (LH) and my follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels are low. I am producing some estrogen but not enough. He recommended I get an MRI of my brain to check for a pituitary tumor and an ultrasound to check for cysts (because I could have PCOS as well!), but his biggest piece of advice was to eat more, exercise less and work on removing stress from my life. <— Easy peasy… hopefully you sense the sarcasm here.

Leaving the office I was scared. I was thinking about the possibility of not being able to have children, possibly having a brain tumor and also wondering about the exercise and dietary recommendations. Here’s a little snippet of my thoughts that day: I’ve heard of athletes losing their menstrual cycle, but I’m not THAT fit and I feel like I eat plenty. My body fat isn’t low, my BMI is normal (21) and I’m not training for a marathon or anything. Why me? I had my period in college when I was smaller than I am now!? How is that possible? <— I was on birth control in college so even if I wasn’t ovulating then, the birth control withdrawal bleed made me think and feel like I was.

After my appointment with the endocrinologist I met with my acupuncturist. My records had already been sent over to him so we talked everything through. He was grateful I got the blood work done because he now knows to work on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. He still thinks that the pill has caused much of my issues. Being on it for 13 years is a long time!! Western doctors won’t typically admit this, but the pill has side effects. It suppress hormones (LH and FSH included) and it takes some women’s bodies longer than others to start functioning properly.

Eat more, exercise less?

I asked my acupuncturist about the eating more and exercising less recommendation and he said that he thinks 21 is a healthy BMI, but many doctors do like to see 22 so perhaps it could help.

I had a good cry and then I really thought about it. Like really, really thought about it… I don’t think I exercise too much or eat too little but I do always seem to looking for ways to tone up, get flat abs or lose the last five pounds. <— I feel like most women out there can relate to these feelings. Maybe I am being too restrictive with what I eat or exercising too much? Maybe working out six days a week is too much for MY body. Everyone is different and perhaps my current habits are putting too much stress on my body?

So that’s where I’m at right now. I don’t have any answers and I haven’t gotten my period yet.

It’s been about two weeks since my appointment with the endocrinologist. I haven’t gotten the MRI or the ultrasound, but I’ve been working to embrace his lifestyle suggestions. I’ve stopped tracking what I eat and I’m letting myself eat whatever I’m craving. I told Isaac last night I’m probably taking advantage of the whole “eat more” thing. As a food lover, that part is easy for me! We had a good laugh about it, but maybe it’s what I need. I’ve stopped running and cut back to exercising 3-4 days a week, only when I’m feeling up to it. I’m walking, taking barre classes and I’ve started back with yoga (which really helps with stress for me). I want to add in some strength training with weights as well, but I haven’t done so yet.

I’m doing a few other things to help as well. Going to bed earlier, taking specific supplements and I also just started seed cycling this week. I really want to balance my hormones naturally so I’m hoping all this works!

As a health coach, personal trainer and member of the health and wellness world I feel like this whole process is definitely going to be a challenge for me. Heck, it’s my job to work out, eat healthy and look fit! That said the most important thing for me to be healthy right now is to heal my body so that’s my focus. I might have to cut back on working out or gain a few pounds, but in the end I know it will be worth it.

Thanks for listening. I hope me sharing helps someone else and I’ll be sure to keep you all updated.

2020 UPDATE: Just wanted to share that I was able to heal hypothalamic amenorrhea, get my cycle back, became pregnant and had a beautiful baby girl. If you’re currently struggling with HA right now I’m sending hope, love and positive vibes your way!

About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

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121 Comments

  1. Thanks again Brittany for sharing! I tried the Progestin back in december, didnt work either. Tried again in may with seed cycling as per my naturopath`s recommendation (and acupuncture). and I got my period 10 days after starting the progesterone! Currently finishing my second round of Clomid Im not ovulating on day 14-16 but more on 18-21….there is hope!!!!

    1. Thanks so much for the encouragement, Marieve. After hearing great things I started seed cycling this month! Sending positive vibes your way. <3

    2. I am in a very similar position after being on the pill a good 16 years! Any advice would be welcomed!

  2. I had tried the Progestin challenge back in the day too and it didn’t work. The bottom line was, I did need to eat more to make up for what I burned when I exercised so that my body had enough energy for all of it’s functions. I was a healthy weight according to standard charts but at the time, not enough for ME. I didn’t even run anywhere close to what I run now too! It’s so frustrating, I know, until you find the right balance.

    1. Thank you so much for sharing. I totally agree — we all have to figure out what works for our body. I’m hoping I can find the right balance for ME soon. 🙂

  3. Thanks for sharing your story. I think you are 100% correct when you make the point that every person’s body is different and has different dietary and exercise needs. I experienced something very similar after being on the pill for about 15 years and I didn’t get my period for about 2 years and am still and having irregular periods. I gained weight, cut out cardio, and it was uncomfortable as hell. I think a piece we often neglect to talk about is emotional stress. That was the missing puzzle piece for me. Once that was more dialed, I got my first natural period in what felt like forever! My hormones are still wacky and I have realized its a process and I can’t expect perfection. But letting go of obsessing over what I ate and focusing on health rather than getting the “perfect” body has done wonders for my physical and mental health. You will get through this! You are strong 🙂

    1. Thank you so much for the supportive words and for sharing what you went through. I totally agree about the emotional stress. I’m hoping that practicing yoga regularly will help with this aspect.

  4. Good for you for listening to your body!! I hope these lifestyle changes get your period back quickly for you!

  5. Your last post about struggling with the effects of coming off hormonal birth control was the first time I considered the ways in which birth control affects me. I am so grateful that you shared because I decided to come off of it, especially after reading Sweetening the Pill. Since your last post, I’ve been wondering how your journey has progressed and really appreciate this post. I think that your struggle to situate the doctor’s recommendations to eat more and exercise less within your professional identify further illustrates the way our culture defines women’s bodies. Health and physical fitness should not be defined by our external appearance. the image of a lean, toned body is difficult to release as an ideal body because we have not been trained to honor the wisdom and individuality of our bodies. I hope that you continue to share your journey coming off the pill. It is an aspect of women’s health that is sorely neglected.

    1. Thanks for sharing, Heather. I hope that the process of going off the pill is an easy one for you! I will definitely continue to share — especially now that I realize how many women are struggling with the same issues.

  6. Thanks so much for sharing! I was very fortunate that my period came back almost immediately when I went off the pill. I know many people are not as lucky. It is so important to let people know they are not alone in their struggles.

  7. I am in the same situation! I went off the pill last October, and I still have not menstruated. I am at a healthy BMI, am not a consistent exerciser, and I eat alot. I have tried maca and Rejuvaflow (from Natural Fertility).I do my best not to stress, though it is hard. I still need to make an appointment with my gynecologist though. Your post is inspiring, and I would greatly appreciate updates on your amenorrhea! It is very helpful to me and many other women in the same boat.

    1. Thanks so much for sharing. It’s nice knowing that we’re not alone. Sending you positive, healing vibes!

  8. I am so happy you posted this! I’ve recently been VERY passionate about learning about natural fertility since I got off of BC after being on it for 15 years and had some similar imbalances. A lot of what I found said the exact same thing- gain some weight and stress less. I also recommend charting your cycles and temperatures each day because it will tell you a WEALTH of information about your hormones. Its really so interesting. I also recommend the book- period repair manual (on amazon). There’s a troubleshooting section that recommends food, supplements, vitamins to help different hormonal imbalances. I love to chat about this so let me know if you have any questions!!

    1. Hi Heather! Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve been meaning to start tracking my temperature but haven’t yet. I need to! I’ll look for the Period Repair Manual on Amazon today! Thank you for recommending it. Have you been able to balance your hormones by following the guidelines in the book?

  9. I’ve been dealing with this for over 5 years and I was on the pill. I was told at first that not having periods was normal for me & my running then last year I started having stress fractures. After being passed around like a Thanksgiving turkey doctor to doctor at Mayo Clinic, I was eventually told I had HA and no estrogen and was given a high dose estrogen birth control pill. After 3 months on the pill, I couldn’t take it anymore & had to get off. I just knew in my heart that wasn’t the answer and that my body needed to find it’s own rhythm. Last month I began seeing a naturopath who realized NONE of my hormones were working. My body’s attacking my thyroid and I’m in stage 3 kidney disease. She put my whole medical picture together and discovered what the REAL cause was to my hormone problems. I was completely stunned by what it was. If you’d like to know, feel free to email me. I have not announced it to my readers yet. I wrote a post My Battle With Estrogen. Over 50k people have read it so far. You should read about what’s happened to me up until now. I want you to know, you’re not alone in this. Do not let a doctor just give you a pill. It’s only treating a symptom not the real problem.

    http://skinnyfitalicious.com/my-battle-with-estrogen/

    1. Thank you so much for sharing your journey and for the support. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with similar issues. I’ll definitely check out your post. Sending you a big virtual hug!

  10. thank you for sharing this Brittany! I went off the pill in early April and I had a hunch that I would likely not get my period back right away. Oddly enough I had read a few bloggers stories of having HA and it always struck me as something I may deal with as I actually went on the pill in college as a way to “reset” my cycle after losing a little too much weight and losing my period. Although I’m at a healthy BMI (21 as well), I did work out about 6 days a week with a lot of running. Without even going to a doctor I decided to just cut back on exercise and eat what I wanted at the beginning of June. I made sure to take 2 complete rest days, with the other days consisting of yoga, at home barre workouts and walking. It was actually really nice to sleep in a bit more and made me realize that exercise had become a bit unhealthy for me. At the point when I was feeling like I was actually putting on weight (really probably about 5 lbs) I got my period just this Saturday. I’ll be keeping up with the lower exercise as I want things to continue regularly and want to tell you to keep it up! I really think that less stress on the body and a few lbs may be the key!! Hang in there!

    1. Yay! I love hearing stories of how others successfully got their period back. I’m so glad that cutting back on your exercise helped. Fingers crossed it will help me as well.

  11. 3 years ago I had the same diagnosis and it is hard. All of a sudden you are being told you have to change everything you thought you were doing right! I decided to go all in and do my best, after 3 months of eating a lot more, only walking and light yoga I gained 10lbs and got my period back! Two cycles later I got pregnant. Looking back now I would not change a thing and while it was hard at the time I learned a lot about my body & its limits 🙂

  12. Thanks for sharing your story! I figure out I.had hypothalamic amenorrhea a little over a year ago. I did all the doctors visits: they thought I had pcos too; I didn’t. I can’t presume to know what’s right for you or anything, but for my body, I had to eat more and tone down the high intensity workouts that I love so much. I was eating way too little though — 1400 calories to lose my last 5 pounds! Once I upped my calories, my period came back the next month. Good luck to you! It’s a very frustrating and emotional challenge dealing with our bodies when they rebel against us. I wish you all the luck!!

  13. I really enjoyed this post, and hope that eating more/exercising & stressing less will help. Sending healing thoughts your way.

  14. I’m a lurker but had to comment. This resonated with me because I have a similar experience. I went off birth control pills after almost 10 years when my husband and I decided to try for a baby, but I also suffered from anemorrhea after coming off the pill. It took years for my cycle to return and normalize. Ultimately, eating more, eating more fat, scaling back on exercise, and gaining weight helped re-regulate my cycles (and I’m expecting a baby in a few short weeks!)

    I think that sometimes our notion of what “healthy” means doesn’t actually serve our body’s needs, and it’s hard to come to terms with that. I really admire your initiative and your openness. Thanks for sharing, and good luck on this journey!

  15. I know exactly how you feel. I took the pill from 16-26 and decided to get off of it for the same reasons you did. I did not get my period for 7 months before I sought medical assistance. I first tried a tea designed to help regulate women’s hormones. It did do a jump start type of period. But then that disappeared. Went to a naturopath, she gave me tons of herbs and such, none of it worked. So I went to my acupuncturist. I went to appointments once a week for 5 months along with Chinese herbs she prescribed. Finally results! Since then my period has gotten back on track, it comes every month most of the time on a regular schedule but sometimes I get weird ones like 18 day cycle one month and then 30 day cycle another. I still think I have hormonal imbalances and plan to start taking evening primrose oil. Keep on the natural path though, you are doing awesome! 😀

  16. Thank you for this post. I’m dealing with the same issue right now and I feel less alone reading what you’re going through.

  17. I had nearly the *exact* same situation – I was on the pill for 14 years, failed the progesterone test, had an MRI, hypothalamic amenorrhea diagnosis, etc. Three years after going off the pill my cycle still hasn’t returned to normal… but I’m pregnant! So you never know…

  18. First, I’m sorry for the struggle you are having and wish you luck in figuring it all out. I think it’s great that you are both accepting that your body has a different set of needs and that you are sharing this — it’s sad how many struggles have been hidden away because people were uncomfortable discussing them! Second, as for the BMI — please don’t emphasize the number too strongly. Although it’s a good starting point for the average individual, it fails to tell so, so much. For example, according to the scale I could lose 15+ lbs and still be a ‘normal’ weight. Anyone I tell this to immediately responds with ‘from where?!’ (my body and mind agree with their assessment). As you mentioned, every body is different, not only in the composition (as my muscular frame indicates), but also in general needs and underlying set points. I always feel the need to caution when people refer to BMI as an indicator of health, although my hunch is this isn’t needed here. Third, I personally find it interesting to hear about problems stemming from the hypothalamus. I work in a reproductive neuroendocrinology lab that studies the hypothalamus (please note: I am not a medical doctor, I am a scientist). Although our work is focusing more on non-hormonal therapeutic approaches to treating hot flashes and understanding the neurocircuitry underlying them, we deal with the whole HPG axis and study sexual differentiation. The brain is fascinating and complicated. As mentioned above/in comments, stress is a really big factor. You recently bought a home, made a career change, completely changed the hormones in your body by removing the pill, are worried about a brain tumor/wondering what the heck is going on with your body — that’s a lot of stress! Your hypothalamus (which deals with all of this stress) is receiving a lot of signals saying ‘don’t get pregnant now — life is too hard’. If you have external/emotional stress (good or bad) and are lower than your body’s caloric ‘happy point’, than it’s natural to shut the system down, since ovulation indicates pregnancy, and pregnancy is a TON of stress. Maybe your activity level and food intake would be fine if the system was running normal and your external stress factors were lower, but for now, it doesn’t appear to be the case. I could say more on this side of things but will stay away from actual medical advise, since that’s not my area. The only additional thing I will mention is — are you vitamin D deficient? (I guess this is sort of medical advise…) A lab we collaborate with that does both basic science and clinical research has seen a correlation between infertility and vitamin D deficiency. I also continue to hear more and more about medical issues that correlate with vitamin D deficiency. I don’t have all of the literature off the top of my head, but I am conscious of vitamin D intake and think it’s at least worth looking into if you are having issues with hormone regulation, seeing as the hypothalamus has vitamin D receptors and related enzyme for activating it. Something to think about and discuss with your health care team, at the very least. Best of luck!

    1. Wow! Thank you so much for sharing your research and suggestions. I totally agree about BMI. I’ve read (and learned while studying for my personal training cert) that BMI is not always a good indicator for health.

      I think your point about external stress is an important one. I have the tendency to worry and stress about things and as you mention this year has been filled with stress inducing events. I’m definitely working on this aspect!

      Lastly, my vitamin D levels weren’t low according to the medical reference guide, but I should talk to my functional medicine doctor about whether or not he feels I could use a boost. Being out in the sun more this summer should help too!

      Thank you again for sharing your scientific point of view. I find it really interesting!

  19. Keep it up! I had to do the same thing to be regular again. Don’t get discouraged, it still took some time, but eating more/exercising less I think is the reason I’m regular again after experiencing close to the same story….!!!! My husband knew how I felt with changing lifestyle habits so he did a great job of being uplifting on the days he could tell i was really struggling with it!

    1. Thanks for sharing, Melissa. I’m so glad to hear that eating more and exercising less helped you! It makes me feel like it could possibly help me as well. Thank goodness for sweet and encouraging husbands!

  20. Thank you so much for this post. I’ve been thinking about going off my birth control as well. Even though I am in a committed relationship of 6 years I’m not ready to have a child. I have been on birth control for 10 years non-stop and for the past 8 or so years have had very irregular period and long spans of not getting my period. The longest being almost 2 years (I was very thin back then). My gyno has always told me ” this is normal” but I worry so much about not being able to have a child when I am ready. It is comforting to know other women are facing these same issues and I feel inspired to seek out another doctor and more information. Thank you so much for sharing.

    1. Thanks for sharing your story, Melissa. I don’t understand why a doctor would tell someone it’s normal not to have a period for two years!! :/

  21. I’ve been taking birth control for about 10 years now. I thought about going off of it because I don’t want to take the hormones anymore. Plus, I have extreme hot flashes and my moods were beginning to become more irritable. I went off the pill for a few weeks before going to a new doctor. I didn’t have a period after going off of them and I hadn’t had one in the prior 6 months. Long story short, I went to a new doctor. She gave me a sample of something else to try. It works better but after the first couple of weeks, I had a period that was basically nonstop for 2 weeks. NOT FUN! Now I’m back to not having a period at all. I still consider going off the pills as I don’t want to take the hormones. But I’m kind of scared to get an IUD (Paragard contains no hormones) due to the extreme pain I hear they cause. Gah!

    Good luck! I hope everything gets back to normal for you soon.

    Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Brittany! And thank you for allowing me to ramble about my issue in response to your post. 🙂

    1. Ugh! I’m so sorry your dealing with this, Julie! Having a non stop period for two weeks sounds awful!! :/ I hope you figure out what’s best for your body and everything gets regulated. Sending positive, healing vibes your way. xoxo

  22. Thank you for opening up! Posts like this are SO helpful and informative for others that are going through the same thing. I’ve been so skeptical of the pill and I don’t know how I feel about it. I hope you’re able to get things back to normal with eating more and exercising less. (The less stress thing is probably super hard!) Good luck, Brittany!!

    1. Thanks so much, Liz. Had I known what I know now I probably would have avoided the pill, but all I can do now is work on healing my body. Hindsight is always 20/20.

  23. Thank you for sharing your story. I have been going through the exact same thing. I came to the conclusion myself that I was putting too much stress on my body by working out too much so I am trying to break that habit. I have gone through a few rounds of medications to get my cycle going again. Keep us updated on what works for you because I think many people out there are having this issue and nobody can tell them why!

    1. Hi Sonya! Thank you for sharing your experience. Sending you positive healing vibes as you work through what’s going with your body as well. And, I’ll definitely keep you updated!

  24. Thank you for being brave and posting about a very difficult subject. I was in the same position three years ago. I am a marathon runner and cut back tremendously on exercising after my doctor’s advice. After several blood tests I finally had an ultrasound and was diagnosed with PCOS and referred to a fertility doctor. I do not fit the typical description of someone with PCOS at all. Hopefully, you find answers and peace with whatever answers are given. I know it is an emotional roller coaster ride. My thoughts are with you.

    1. Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Erin. I’m going to be getting an ultrasound soon to check for PCOS as well.

  25. Thank you for sharing. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for the past year, and although I was never on birth control I am also dealing with hypothalamic amenorrhea. It has been a very frustrating experience, and as a marathon runner it has been HARD to accept the lifestyle changes I need to make. Thank you for being so honest 🙂

    1. I totally get where you’re coming from! It’s so hard especially when you have to “give-up” something you love. Everything I’ve read has mentioned that running is one of the most stressful exercises we can do and often raises our cortisol levels so it could definitely be helpful to cut back. Sending you a big virtual hug and positive pregnancy vibes. <3

  26. Thank you for sharing, Brittany. I went through a similar thing after going of the pill and didn’t get my cycle back for about a year. You are doing all the right things (eating and exercising a healthy amount, yoga, etc.), but my advice to you is this: another cause of stress is adding a whole bunch of knew things to your life. Maybe try changing one or two habits over 2-3 weeks, and then add the seed cycling, strength training, etc. Its all about baby steps and taking in too much at once can also throw off your cycle. Also, I’d love to know more about seed cycling! I’ve always wanted to try it, but don’t know much about it. Thanks!! Kathy

    1. Great advice, Kathy! I’m trying not to overwhelm myself with different healing methods and advice. I know stress is a huge factor so I definitely want to keep myself as stress-free as possible! The seed cycling is really interesting. Here’s a great post I read about it.

  27. I went about 5 years without a period in my early 20s with no explanation. I did eat healthy and exercise daily though. My period retuned once I gained a few pounds and increased my fat intake. I wasn’t underweight but my body just needed more. My husband and I got pregnant in 2013 on our first try and we have a 13 month old. It’s very possible to conceive after years of no period.

    1. Thank you so much for sharing, Nikki. Hearing from others who have faced a similar experience (and had children!) is really encouraging.

  28. I went off the pill in January of this year and, like so many others, did not get my period right away. I took the entire spring off from exercising (I just did an afternoon walk everyday), gave my body the rest it needed and ate all the foods. I put on about 8 pounds, which would have been mentally hard for me to do even a year ago. But now I know it was what my body needed and I accepted that going into this journey. I got my period in May and have 2 cycles since then. Keep relaxing and listening to your body.

    1. Hi Anna. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s really encouraging to hear how others have worked through amenorrhea. Here’s hoping I can do the same!

  29. I’m so glad you posted this! I’m sorry you’re going through all of this, but at least you have some answers and hopefully will be on your way to normalcy soon. I have been on the pill for over 10 years because I tested positive for PCOS and they say it helps limit the cysts, or at least the painful effects of them for me. Its crazy to think its been so long and I personally hate that I’ve been feeding my body these hormones for so long, and I know for sure that my body is reacting negatively, but its always been a fear of mine to come off of them (kind of like, I’d rather not face reality right now) but I know will need to soon.

    1. Gosh, I know how you feel! I’ve heard from several women that doctors prescribe birth control to help with PCOS. I don’t know much about it so I can’t offer my personal experience or advice, but I hope you figure out a good solution that works for you.

  30. Thank you for sharing this! I am going through the same thing, and didn’t even realize there was a term for this. Thank you for sharing your exploration, it is giving me ideas on what my next steps should be. Thank you!

  31. I’m sorry you’re going through this, but I think you should be more careful about promoting this kind of misinformation about the pill. Women have safely taken oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) since the 1960s and today the hormone levels in the pills are at the lowest they have ever been. I have an advanced degree and work in public health family planning and regularly have to shoot down these fears about hormonal contraceptives. Do OCPs have side effects – undoubtedly. So does caffeine and many other compounds we put in our bodies, but most women safely use the pill and other contraceptive methods for many years without problems. Based on what you’ve described, I think it’s very possible that you have had hormonal imbalances for years that the pill may have been correcting, but I think it’s irresponsible to say that it was CAUSING the amenorrhea you’re experiencing now. Furthermore, the person you cite as giving information about this causal factor (Nicole Jardim) is NOT any kind of health expert from what I could see from her website (she doesn’t have an MD, PHD, or MPH of any kind). She also seems to be selling her video series about the “TOP secrets doctors won’t tell you about your hormones.” As someone who works with experienced medical professionals in the OB-GYN field, I can assure you that doctors have no desire to withhold information from their patients about about health risks and benefits. I sincerely hope your health condition improves, but I would beg you to please not circulate this kind of pseudo-science.

    1. Hi Heather. I’m not saying that the pill is causing my situation. At this point I don’t know exactly what is causing it. That said, hormonal OCPs have only been around since the 1960s so they are relatively new in the grand scheme of things and although there is no research to prove that OCPs cause hormonal imbalances or issues with regularity after extended use, there’s no research saying it doesn’t either!

  32. Thank you so much for sharing this. I was off the pill for 4 months last year and my period never came, my doctor told me to go back on and I reluctantly did but have regretted the decision ever since. I’ve been scared to go off it ever since but it has been on my mind a lot lately. It’s comforting to know I’m not the only dealing with this. I hope it all works our for you, best of luck!!!

  33. Have you tried natural progesterone cream? I was prescribed synthetic progestin, which did not help, but natural progesterone cream did. I use Emerita. It restores balance without side effects. It’s worth a try! Best wishes to you. I know it’s frustrating, especially when you devote so much of your time/life to living a healthy life. You’ll get this figured out!!

  34. I had this for a year after coming off the pill, but I was also on the road to ‘recovery’ (ick) for my eating disorder, which, unbeknown to me at the time considering I was on the pill, would have stopped my periods.
    I also discovered about 8 months after I eventually got my periods back that I had PCOS (yay!) which certainly explained a lot of things.
    All I can say is firstly, I TOTALLY sympathise with how frustrating it must be right now. It’s weird not having your periods, especially after more than several months and you can sometimes get wound up thinking about when it’ll come and almost tricking your body into thinking you can feel it coming.
    It will come. I promise. One day you’ll just know it’s decided to finally happen and it’ll be such a relief of your shoulders! I think your doctor is right in advising you to just ‘calm down’ a little, and listen to your body as much as you can.
    Whatever you can do to just keep your hormones balanced is best too – hey Maca Powder!

    All the best of luck with it, your body will work itself out, promise.

    She’s So Lucy

  35. Hang in there! I had been on the pill for 9 years when I stopped and it took 13 months before I got my period again. It’s been very irregular ever since. Sometimes every month but sometimes it can me months before I get another one. Pretty scary stuff since I don’t trust condom completely (everyone who has seen Friends has been traumatized :P) but it’s still better than the pill for me. I’m sure you’ll get yours back soon!

    1. Thank you for the support!! I’ve heard from so many women that it’s taken 10 months or more to get their period again. It’s so crazy! Oh man, I just googled the scene from Friends and had a good laugh! 🙂

  36. As a person who has had an eating disorder which resulted in amenorrhea these words rang alarm bells in me “Maybe I am being too restrictive with what I eat or exercising too much? Maybe working out six days a week is too much for MY body. ” and “cut back to exercising 3-4 days a week, only when I’m feeling up to it” and “I’ve stopped tracking what I eat”
    Six days a week is A LOT, you shouldn’t have to track your food intake if you’re not “dieting” and “only when I feel up to it” sound slick you’ve been pushing your body way too far. You shouldn’t be exhausted. When I was at my worst I would walk and excercise so much I was exhausted but would push myself. And I would have that detached feeling, it really sounds like you’ve been to harsh.
    If you’re happy with your fitness, weight and how you feel you don’t need to push.
    My periods came back all of a sudden when I entered a relationship and my hormones clicked in. I’m still quite irregular though. Best o flick and take it easy on your body and yourself.

  37. Thank you so much for this post. It sounds like you are going through a challenging time but are now feeling positive and thoughtfully taking care of yourself. I especially appreciate your going public with this reflection. I personally have been struggling with finding my healthy balance as a mom and accepting that my postpartum body is and always will be different. Your approach to health and wellness is so refreshing and balanced and it really inspires me in a way that almost no other health/fitness blog does. Thank you.

  38. What an open, honest and brave post, Brittany. I can tell by the number of comments from women who’ve gone or are going through similar situations that posts like this are so appreciated. I myself have experienced Amenorrhea twice (once in high school and once in college) and it is SO frustrating. The second time was after going off the pill and it probably took 2 full years for my period to come back. I was in the same boat as you, wondering if the amount I was exercising/eating was wrong even though I felt like I was FAR from going to the extreme in either category. Honestly, I feel like the small cut back on exercise (we’re talking 5-6 days of working cut to 3-4) and the small increase of eating was what did the trick. I’m crossing my fingers that it’s the same for you! Hang in there, girl!

  39. this is a super brave post, and i’ll be honest, i’ve never been a consistent reader because i felt like this blog was about how to just stay super skinny. (i apologize- i don’t mean to offend!). i am sorry things are rough healthwise. i am sure you are savvy enough in the kitchen to up the calories a bit and also keeping it healthy-adding a whole avocado a day, switching to full fat yogurts for a while, etc. good luck!

    1. Hi Tassy! Thanks for the comment — I hope you’ll continue to read EBF. And oh my goodness, I’ve been eating avocado like crazy lately!! 🙂

  40. Thanks so much for sharing this, Brittany! I have a very similar condition as you (endometriosis and possibly lean PCOS but whatever it is is due to low estrogen and progesterone levels) and have been on the pill to treat it for 8 years now. It scares me a bit to go off the pill because they essentially had to force ovulation with progesterone pills before putting me on the pill, so the chances of natural ovulation are low when I go off. While I’m not ready for that yet, I really appreciate your honesty in your experience. It’s inspiring to so many other women out there who are going through the same things and you are dealing with it with such dignity, patience, and intelligence. Best of luck as you continue to work through this!

  41. So interesting reading this- I had the exact same situation. I’m also in Richmond and I’ll bet you we saw the same endocrinologist because he told me the EXACT same thing- MRI, eat more, work out less, less stress (even though I ate plenty, my bmi was normal, etc etc). Because my husband and I were trying to conceive I didn’t accept this “plan” which really wasn’t a plan at all and I got a second opinion. I’m SO glad I did because it changed everything and basically everything that first endo told me was crap. Long story short, my period never came back, we ended up having to do ivf, and I’m now 9 months pregnant 🙂 I just wanted to let you know and feel free to email me if you want more info 🙂

  42. Hi Brittany! I’m currently in the same situation as you, except that I haven’t gotten a period, for more than 4 months, in about 5 years due to being on the pill for quite some time. I’ve tried everything as well, and just had a pelvic ultrasound and an MRI scan of my pituitary gland to rule out cysts. I would recommend it! It may seem unnecessary, but my ND told me that she’s seen many people my age trying all of these lifestyle changes, and not making progress because it’s a greater issue inhibiting hormones like a (benign) cyst. Mine came bak normal, so I’m working with her on homeopothy and herbs to try to stimulate my hormones naturally. Anyways, I just wanted to share my experience and let you know that I think it’s worth getting those tests done!

    1. Hi there! Thank you for the advice! The only reason I’m reluctant to get the MRI is the cost, but I agree it’s probably worth it just to rule out a tumor or cyst.

  43. I can totally relate to this! I got off the pill in October 2014 and haven’t had a period since. This is probably due to too much exercising and not enough calories (I was restrictive for a brief time in the past). Since October though I’ve cut back on my exercising, still running but not as much as before, and I’m trying to increase the food I’m eating. The hardest thing for me is, although I have accepted that I need to gain some weight, I feel that it is all going to my stomach. This is making it harder for me to really want to eat more. Hoping I can overcome this soon. Thanks for sharing your story.

  44. Thank you for sharing this Brittany. I had a very similar experience – after being on the pill for about 13 years, I went off of it and didn’t get my period for another 2.5 years. I took the same steps you did, minus the acupuncturist. I saw an endocrinologist who after looking at the results of my blood work diagnosed me with PCOS – despite that I had zero of the typical symptoms except not menstruating. (I think a more accurate diagnosis would have been hypothalamic amenorrhea.) I saw a naturopath and was told the my body was in perpetual fight or flight mode which meant I wasn’t digesting the food I was eating and thus not getting enough energy to perform basic functions, like menstruating. I started taking a food enzyme, to help me digest the food I was eating and focused on eating more protein, really just eating more in general. I didn’t stop working out but did reduce the amount of stress I was under. I ended up gaining about 20 pounds (of muscle and some fat) between the time I went off the pill in May 2013 and now. Like you, I wasn’t at an unhealthy weight for my height and my BMI was normal. [Some of the research I’ve done indicates that after being on the pill/ developing hypothalamic amenorrhea a woman may need to gain more weight than someone else of their build to jump start the hormones.] I did a lot of research about healing your hormones naturally and started to apply some of them, like eating liver, taking Fermented Cod Liver Oil and drinking bone broth. I started this journey to actively try to heal my hormones in December 2014. I started ovulating in April 2015 and got pregnant that very month. (Surprise!)

    I just wanted to encourage you on your journey towards health – it takes time but it’s likely you can heal your body using a more natural approach. I just heard a very help podcast on the subject of getting your period back. Perhaps you’ll find it helpful as well. Paleo for Women Episode 23 (http://paleoforwomen.com/episode23/)

  45. Hi Brittany, thanks so much for sharing this. It really is important to shed light on woman’s issues! I’m in the middle of a book called Woman Code and it talks about balancing our hormones to optimize our health and our cycle. I’m not all the way through it yet, so I can’t say for sure where I stand on the tactics in the book, but it might be worth a look for you. The general idea is to use food to heal our bodies from fertility/mood/libido issues, choosing specific types of foods at different points in our cycle. Wishing you the best!

  46. Thank you so much for posting this Brittany! My husband and I are not quite ready to have children but at the advice of my friends (who are recently pregnant or trying to get pregnant soon) I got off birth control bc they said even though I wasn’t trying to have kids soon I had been on birth control for so long (11 years) I would have no idea how my body would react without it. I’m so glad I listened to them because 5 months later I still am without a period. After 4 months I went to my gynecologist to have blood work done and everything came back normal expect my estrogen levels are low. She wants me to get back on birth control but since I am not in a rush to have children I really want to try and get my period back on my own. I too workout about 6 days a week but not anything super strenuous (running a bit, barre and stationary biking) and I don’t eat a super restrictive diet but do eat as healthy as possible. I’m at a healthy weight (20 BMI) but am wondering if I need to cut my workouts back and be more lax on eating. I’m going to try incorporate more yoga, walking and relaxed eating and see if that helps. Please keep us posted on your journey, it is so helpful!

  47. I am amenhorreic most of the time since I came off the pill a couple of years ago. I have a normal BMI, but I train for marathons – so I assumed it was because I run too much. But, I have discovered that if I consciously try to eat more/increase calories, I get my period back. In my case, it was due to low energy availability! You can still be a healthy weight and have amenorrhea

  48. I am currently going through the same thing- haven’t had a consistent period since I went off the pill in late 2013! I am seed cycling and seeing a naturopath, since every MD has recommended I just go back on the pill- no thank you. I’m a bit discouraged at this point, since it’s been almost two years without a regular cycle (I’ve had 2 or 3 random periods, but nothing more than that), and I’ve been trying the same things: exercising a bit less, changing my diet a bit, etc, although old habits die hard. I’d love to know how it goes for you going forward!

    1. Hi Emmy. Thanks so much for sharing! I say just keep at it and your body will figure things out. I’ll be sure to post an update here soon.

  49. Hey Brittany! Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Last year my period stopped for 8 months and ultimately is was all stress related. Who knew? I wanted to share with you that taking 2 Black Current Seed Oil supplements (a GLA fatty acid) has really helped regulate things, including PMS. Have you heard of this or have you been recommended to take a GLA supplement at all?

  50. Oh girlie! I hear you. I went off the pill twice (had to go back on a second time because the acne got horrendous, and period wasn’t coming back). The second time around it did end up coming back, no crazy acne, but it took awhile.

    Honestly, I appreciate every single time I get my period now lol, after not having been able to have one of my own for 6 years (hence the pill).

    Someone’s work to look into regarding hormones (interesting reads about progesterone and estrogen) is Dr. Raymond Peat. Have you heard of him?

    I hope it all balances out for you! It will 🙂

    1. Thanks for sharing, Katharina. I’m still working to balance everything out! I haven’t heard of Dr. Raymond Peat but I’m going to Google him right now. Thank you for the suggestion and the encouragement.

      Miss you and hope you’re well.

  51. Just came across your post and it really resonates. After 15 years on the pill I came off it in May so that we could try for a baby, at first I wasn’t worried when my period didn’t arrive but as it approached the 3 month mark I got more worried and visited my GP. I was sent for hormone blood tests but basically told not to worry and to cut back on exercising (to be fair I was doing 8 – 13 hours a week of cycling, running & swimming which I know seems a lot to a normal person!). Blood tests came back ok, and actually FSH was 8.6 and LH 12 which to me doesn’t suggest a HA problem due to over exercise but I’m just an avid googler not a Doctor! I reduced my exercise to around 4 hours a week which made me pretty miserable as I basically gave up cycling with my club and cycling events. I also pestered my GP to refer me to the fertility clinic which I’ve since had a scan and further blood tests through. All tests so far are ok (other than showing that I’m not ovulating). I was most relieved to get a good AMH test result of 45 as this shows my egg reserve is good (so they are in there – they just need to get moving please!) I’m being told to reduce exercise further and put on weight. I’ve finally got to a stage where I’m ready to accept this (even in reducing my exercise I was still training for a half marathon which I have now completed) and I am trying to put on a few pounds but it’s making me pretty miserable, I’m not ‘skinny’ (my bmi is 20) but it’s made me realise how much I cared about having a super toned body. Exercise for me is my social life and my passion and I feel so lost without it but the more I read posts like these the more I realise that it could just be that my body has different limits to other people and it won’t ovulate at this weight and level of exercise.

    I have an appointment tomorrow to be prescribed clomid but I’m in two minds whether to wait a bit longer and try and get my body to start ovulating again by itself. I have had one ‘period’ about 3.5 months after stopping the pill but I’m pretty sure I didn’t ovulate as I’ve been peeing on OPK’s religiously and never got a positive!

    I will follow your progress and would be interested to hear from anyone else in a similar situation.

    It’s so hard to talk to anyone, especially as all my friends have started announcing pregnancies, I am happy for them but I’m also more and more heartbroken every time!

  52. I just came across your blog looking for pumpkin recipes. Saw this article and was in disbelief as I kept reading. You have the exact issue I have. Like to a T. I was on birth control forever and when I got off of it to start a family, I never regained it back. My estradiol is super low due to the same issues. We ended up going the IvF route and I have a gorgeous boy as a result. 🙂 still trying to get my cycle back by working with an acupuncturist and homeopathic medicine. I just want you to know you aren’t alone. It is tough and frustrating! Good luck!

  53. I just came across this post and I am going rhrough the exact same thing. I have just been recommended to eat more and exercise less like you. I notice this post was writen in JUly and it is now mid october and I was wondering how you have progressed with these lifestyle recommendations? Im hoping to know how its been working for you so far. Thanks!!

    1. Hi Tanya. I’m so sorry to hear you’re experiencing the same issues. I’ve been implementing the lifestyle changes but I still haven’t regained my cycle yet. I went back to my endocrinologist for the ultrasound but things are still unclear as to what’s going on and at this point I’m just waiting things out to see if my cycle returns. That said, I need to do a full post with all the updates. Thanks for the reminder. Best of luck to you — I hope the lifestyle changes work for you!

  54. Hi Brittany
    Thank you so much for posting this!
    Your story is very similar to mine.
    Just wondered if you have an update?
    Xx

  55. You don’t even realize how alone and confused I was feeling on the couch a few minutes ago before I read this. I am going through the exact same thing and have been hoping and praying to hear someone else who was experiencing what I am going through. I was on the pill for 3 years after I had my son, they immediately put me on it when I was only 4 weeks post pardom. After 3 years we decided to try again for a 2nd child. I had a feeling I wasnt going to immediately get my period but I knew I was only 29 and I was healthy and fit. I worked out 5-6 times a week and ate low fat, low carb diet. When my period did not return after 4 months I went to my obgyn and she too put me on estrogen and progesterone. It did force me to have one period but nothing after that. I went back to my follow up and she too put me on the progesterone challenge. I did it for one month, didn’t get a period and I decided I was not going to continue putting artificial hormones in my body when I knew that’s what got me here in the first place. I started getting accupuncture and seeing an homeopathic doctor but no one has ever said the words post pill amenorrhea. I was diagnosed with a “blood flow deficiency ” and inflammation. It’s been 3 months of doing accupuncture and taking supplements and 9 months of no period. I feel so defeated and I’m devasted that taking the pill, excercise and a low fat diet has gotten me to a place in my life that leaves me empty. My husband and I desperately want another child and my son would be an amazing big brother. I feel like he’s just getting older and I’m just getting older and I have no clue when my body is going to go back to a regular cycle. I’ve cut back on working out, I’m eating more and ‘I’ve gained 7lbs but nothing yet. I go back and forth on days of feeling hopeful and other days when I’m scared to death I’m still only at the beginning of a long journey. I was online today hoping that I could find someone that shared a similar situation and I came across your post and all the commentors. You all don’t even understand what your words have meant to be today thank you so much.

  56. Hi Brittany, I feel your pain and frustration. I wish I could offer some encouragement but I’m in a similar situation and feel like I’m losing my willpower to fight. I was diagnosed with PCOS as a teenager and put on the pill. I stopped taking it in May, 2015 as I got married and I have not had a period since. I have been on the pill for 13 years. For me it is not just waiting for my period to return. I am experiencing a plethora of unbearable symptoms. I have severe hot flashes, insomnia and awful headaches. I had lost some weight in an attempt to control my PCOS but when I went to see the RE, they diagnosed me with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea. I was exercising 4-5 a week and was on a low carb low glycemic diet. I have very low estrogen and my eggs are not growing. The hot flashes and insomnia are killing me. I gained 18 pounds in a 3 month period and stopped exercising completely. I just take long walks. I have been doing acupuncture for 2 months now, tried the herbs as well but still no relief from the hot flashes and insomnia. I think I am getting crazy. I have seen so many doctors already. There is no cure for HA so they don’t have anything to prescribe. I had an MRI scan and it came back negative. I feel so miserable and exhausted. I just don’t know what to do.

  57. Thank you for sharing Brittany. I’m at stage 1 of all of this, 13 years on the pill and stopped and now no mrnstruation. Wavering between being really concerned, and looking for a gynecologist (I just moved). Pardon the cliche, but it’s so nice to know I’m not alone. Best of luck!

  58. Brittany. Do you have an update on this issue. I have been suffering the same problem. I have taken amh exam and pretty scare to see if I an fertile, waiting results. I have read about pituitary gland and thinking about MRI after reading your case. What was your results on this test? Did your period came back already? Thank you for sharing.

  59. Thank you for sharing this! I’m also going through a similar situation. 18 months since going off the pill and still no period. I was also diagnosed with HA. Any luck with getting your period yet?

    1. Hi Brooke,
      Similar situation here, except I don’t exercise at all – BMI 18 is surely low but I have no muscle mass.
      Did/do you also exercise? How is your AMH/LH/FSH/Testo/Prolactin?

      Ladies we should stick together, it might be quicker this way to find a solution

  60. THIS HAS BEEN SO SO SO SO INTERESTING AND HELPFUL TO READ.
    I started on the pill at the age of 14. I changed pills so many times I can’t even tell you, the pill made me spotty, fat, moody, everything. I probably went on about 20 different pills between 14-18. Then I broke up with my long term boyfriend and came off the pill.
    Im now 22, and I havent had a period since I came off the pill at the age of 18.
    I have very low oestrogen, LH and FSH. My bone health is verging on brittle bones. My skin is bad. My energy is rock bottom.
    Im pausing my job to take time off to sort my health out.
    I am seeing so many specialists. Ive seen a homeopath, acupuncturist, NHS doctor, Private doctor, endocrinologist, reflexologist, therapists, and NOTHING HAS WORKED.
    At the end of my tether, I thought, fuck it may as well just go back on the pill, at least my energy levels will improve and my bones will be protected.
    So Ive taken three pills of Loestrin20 so far, but Im going to stop as this is just masking the problem as we can see!
    I dont want to put on weight! I am a model! I have a BMI of 19, its on the low side but I was this weight when I started my period.
    I wish they would just return.
    I am thinking of paying for this;
    http://nicolejardim.com/bringbackyourperiodmasterclass/orderform.html
    ^what are your thoughts?
    I am so comforted to know I am not alone.
    Claudia, London.

  61. Hi Brittany,
    I have just come across your blog and your post reminds me of myself. I was taking BCP for 15 years… Before them I was healthy teenager with regular periods and low PMS. Few years after I started taking the pills I went under extreme stress for over a year, I lost a lot of weight (I was slim from the get go, so during the rough time I was definitely anorectic) but I was taking BCP so I was having periods. From anorexia to bulimia… But I have been in good health for around 7 years now. But still after quiting BCP no periods. Three rounds of Provera didn’t help. 3 months of acupuncture didn’t help. Three rounds of Clomid did not make me ovulate. Variety of herbs did not make a difference. I finally dicided to do Follistim injections and boom I ovulated and got pregnant on the first time. I have a healthy one year old son ???? But it’s been a while since I stopped breasfeeding and of course my period did not returned. I’m determined to restore my cycles! And do not want to go through fertility tx again. Have you found a treatment path that works for you? Any updates? I’ve been reading a bunch and decided to start something new additionally to the healthy diet that has been really good for about 2 years, with planty of healthy fats, veggies, fruits, proteins, and whole grains, no processed food at all. My BMI is 20 and I exercise 3-4 times a week. I plan to take hypothalamus/pituitary glandular pills, alfalfa, along with seed cycling appropriately to the moon phase.. I know it sounds weird but I have tried everything else before my pregnancy and nothing worked. Hard to say what my stress level is, I sleep well but have a tendency to overthink stuff. Let us know how you are doing!

  62. Hi Brittany!

    Any updates with your progress? I would love to hear how you are doing! I really appreciate you sharing about your experiences for us – I know a lot of women can not only relate, but also find them very helpful for their own journeys!

    1. Hi Emily! I haven’t had any good news to share so that’s why I haven’t don’t any updates. :/ That said, I am getting updated blood work done so I should have an update posted in the next couple weeks. Thanks for your interest.

  63. I went off the pill after about 10 years. At first I wasn’t too phased about not getting my period back straight away. After 3 months on no period and a number of negative pregnancy tests, I started to panic. I started researching all of the food that is supposedly meant to bring your period back but nothing worked. I began to stress that maybe the reason was that I was too thin (I am 5’7 and only 54kg). I heard that TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) had proven effective in brining a woman’s menstrual cycle back to regularity so I began treatment which consisted of a combination of acupuncture twice a week and terrible tasting herbal tea that I need to drink every morning and night. After 6 weeks of treatment, finally my period returned. I’m currently still continuing treatment as the Chinese Doctor is stressing that now my menstrual cycle has returned, its important to get it back to ‘normal’. My period should be due in 11 days. Im hoping the TCM is doing its thing and its not another 4.5 months before I see another period! I will never go back on the pill again!

  64. I am surprised to see that so many of us are goo g through the same thing. I was on the pill for 14 years and went off it in June 2016. Still no period to this day. My cousin had the same problem, did not have her period for 10 months, then had irregular periods for a couple of cycles. But she now has two healthy kids. I keep thining that I just have to be patient and wait it out! In the mean time, I got bloodwork done, all normal and ultrasound (waiting for results). I read on another blog that Vitex works miracles to regulate periods. I have been taken one pill in the morning everyday before breakfast for two weeks now. Will keep you posted! Good luck to everyone and hoping we all get pregnant soon ☺

  65. I am so glad I have found this article! I had gastroentiris in February and due to being in hospital I ended up not being able to get another set of my usual Pill. I therefore took it as an oppomurtity to come off the pill for a while (I have been on it since the age of 17 and am now 31).

    My partner and I are not looking to get pregnant yet so we have used protection but 3 months after stopping the pill I am still yet to have a period…..

    I have lost about 2 stone in a year and half through exercise and healthy eating and am glad to see that this may be a contributing factor. I also suffer with anxiety/stress which may also be affecting my cycle.

    I have an appointment with my clinic in just over a week but are there any supplements/treatments I could try in the mean time to get me back on track…I might try upping my calories/reducing my gym visits!

    Thank you

    Hayley

  66. Hi Brittany,

    I found your blog post after furiously googling ‘how long does it take to get your period back after coming off the pill’…

    I was so relieved to read your blog post, as its exactly what I’m going through. I came off the pill 4 1/2 months ago and still haven’t had a period. I had a healthy BMI of 21 and ran about 20 miles a week over 4 days. I had a scan which has ruled out PCOS, so my advice from the doctor was just to put on some weight, cut out the running and stress less. I’m finding it very difficult emotionally, I hate to admit my life has probably ruled by watching what I eat and making sure I ran off any food guilt from the weekend.

    I just wondered what happened with your period in the end? Did it come back naturally? And if so, how long did it take?

    Thank you,

    Caroline

  67. Hello everyone
    I’m glad I found this forum, as I’m going through something similar.
    I went off the pill recently, after being on it for approximately 12 years, just because I didn’t want the hormones anymore, and so when I am ready to start trying to get pregnant, I could easily as I thought since I was on the pill so long, it may be more difficult.
    It’s been over 4 weeks, and I’ve had no withdrawal bleeding what so ever, so I was a little concerned I actually got pregnant right away as I guess there is a chance.. but now I have a little more information to keep in mind. I hope I return to normal soon, I may have to start exercising a bit more though after reading how some people had to slack off. I definitely eat enough though ?. Happy healing everyone! If you have any advice for me at this point, I’m open to hear it.

  68. Hi Brittany,

    Thank you so much for posting this. It’s really nice to know I’m not in my own. It’s been just over a year and still no period. I was wondering if you got your period and what you did?

  69. Hi Brittany!
    I’m Lou. I found your post about post pill amenorrhea because I think that’s what I maybe going though too.
    Thank you for sharing your story.
    Did you write a follow up to that?
    I sincerely hope that you’re living the life you want- whatever that looks like.
    Best wishes

    Lou

  70. Hi:)
    I’ve been on the pill for 3 years. I came off it after my first year abs and didn’t see my period for 6 weeks. 2 years later I have just come off of the pill again 5 weeks ago. I am still to see my period but I have been getting quite bad ovary pain which is worrying me. My doctor wants to do a cervical exam but I’m only 20 and have never had a speculum used on me before so it is really scaring me. I told him I wanted to wait until my first period to see if the pain goes away (maybe this pain is due to my ovaries firing up and starting to work again). Anyway, I’m googling other women’s stories to try and put my mind at ease and feel like I can relate to someone else. Thanks for sharing your story 🙂 I’m just going to wait it out for a while and hope for the best. I never thought I’d say this but god! I miss my period !

    1. Hey Caitlin – So sorry to hear you’re going through this, but I’m glad my story was helpful and hopefully gave you some comfort knowing you’re not alone. Sending you lots of love and positive vibes! <3

  71. This article is SO helpful!
    I have been off the pill now for 7 months and no period (after being on it for 17 years). It is really great to read through this and hear some of your strategies for recovery as I would also like a baby. Thank you for sharing x

  72. This is incredibly reassuring to hear. I stopped the pill last September and have not had a period since. I also got all the testing done (hormones were fine), did the progesterone challenge (failed – nothing happened), got more blood work, introduced adaptogens into my diet, started zinc and vitamin b supplements, everything, and nothing has changed. I am curious what you did that finally restored your menstrual cycles?

  73. What a happy ending! Did you continue working with the fertility doctor? Or did you get pregnant on your own? I’m currently 12 months post pill with a very very similar story. My insurance doesn’t cover fertility though!

    1. Thanks so much, Karen. I didn’t continue working with a fertility doctor as we were able to get pregnant without any interventions. Sending you lots of postive vibes on this journey!

  74. I’m so excited for your happy ending! I am also relieved to know I’m not alone in my post-pill amenorrhea. I got off the pill this past July and still haven’t gotten a period. I passed the progesterone test, and just recently had bloodwork done. I’m curious – you said your LH and FSH levels were low. Were they not in the normal range, or were they in the lower part of the normal range? Mine are in a normal range, but still low. Just curious! Thanks for being brave and sharing your story!

  75. Hey Brittany. I suffered from amenorrhea for years when I was in HS. I wasn’t intentionally restricting anything, I was just tall and thin naturally which made my body fat percentage low. The doctor never told me that though. I figured it out myself, gained weight. I was put on birth control pills for several years. After gaining weight and being on them for longer than I had liked, I just stopped at age 25. I quit in March and my period returned in December of that year. 3 years later I am married and my husband and I get pregnant the first time trying. I have a 16 month old son. It’s been 5 years since my period disappeared (for reason’s other than pregnancy) so I thought I was in the clear. Well, I went on birth control pills again this spring and all of a sudden my period goes away. Poof. I mean who has a normal period and than loses it on the pill? I was so frustrated with months of no period that i went off the pill beginning of October. Now no period off birth control now either. I hope I don’t have to wait 9 months again like last time. I would avoid going back on the pill if you can. Have you tried taking Vitex? I read several positive reviews online. Let’s hope our cycles return soon!