Dealing with Post Pill Amenorrhea
This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
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!
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!
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
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?
Hi Ediola. I’m so sorry to hear that you’re struggling with this as well. Yes, I did get my period back. See my blog post about it here: Healing Hypothalamic Amenorrhea. Best of luck with your journey.
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.
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
Hi Caroline! I can totally relate to your story and yes, my period did come back naturally but it took a little self-reflection, some changes to my routine and some weight gain. You can read the full story here: https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/healing-hypothalamic-amenorrhea/
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
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 ☺
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!
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!
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.
Hi Claudia,
Thanks for sharing! Any progress? How high is your AMH?
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!