OK so I came off the pill last March. I came off it mid-pack so I kind of expected things might be out of sync for my first couple of periods maybe.

After stopping the pill I got a slightly shorter than usual period almost straight away.
Then my second period was 2 weeks late.
My third period arrived exactly on time.

All my periods were a little shorter than usual. But I expected everything to be pretty smooth and more regular from here. BUT my fourth period is now 7 weeks late! (my last period ended on the 26th May)

Is this normal or has it happened to anyone else? My periods had always been very regular, even before I went on the pill. I have already done 2 pregnancy tests that were negative. I hadn't been on the pill that long either - maybe 2 years? (I'm 22). Oh and the pill I used was ovranette.

I’ve gained a lot of weight since coming off the pill aswel (20lbs) but I don’t know if that was because I quit smoking around the same time as coming off the pill. My hormones are all over the place, I get emotional a lot and it doesn’t help that I’ve gained all this weight. I’ve tried for months counting calories/exercising 45 minutes a day/5 days a week etc but I can't seem to lose weight and that makes me sad and I just end up eating more. And no, it wasn’t muscle I put on, because my clothes were getting tighter not looser.

Sorry this is so long, just hoped someone might have had a similar experience.. is it normal for my period to be so late?

The first question that needs answering is "any possibility that you are pregnant?"

Sorry, I should have said.. I haven't been using condoms very often but my boyfriend has been pulling out. I know this isn't a safe method. But I've done 2 pregnancy tests and both were negative.

Sorry, I should have said.. I havn't been using condoms very often but my boyfriend has been pulling out. I know this isn't a safe method. But I've done 2 pregnancy tests and both were negative.

Know what they call a guy that uses the pull out method of contraception?

Dad.

Best bet is to talk to your OB/GYN. While its possible that you are pregnant, its very possible that you aren't also and your body is doing something odd. Only someone with a proper examination can tell you for sure.

Yeah, we really need to start taking more responsibility. I also want to go back on the pill asap. Thanks for the answer anyhow.

yeah, we really need to start taking more responsibility. I also want to go back on the pill asap. Thanks for the answer anyhow.

Fwiw, we've been using a Merana (IUD) since our daughter was born. My wife loves it... no worries, no hassles.

Hiya I was also on ovranette,stopped taking it on the 13th of may 2009 had a period on the 17th and haven't had 1 since so now I'm 12 weeks late and there's no way I can be pregnant so I'm thinking early menopause? I'm 33, I've also been putting on weight when I shouldn't have been because I've been watching what I'm eating ,have u been docs ?

Hey... I haven't been to the doctor yet.. I planned on waiting for this period to come and then going straight back on the pill. But that didn't happen. I keep hoping it will come so I don't need to see a doc but I'm still waiting!

I think you worked your dates out a little wrong there though... It's been 12 weeks since your last period so you're not 12 weeks late... you're about 8 weeks late. Actually my last period started just 5 days after yours so our dates are very similar!

Maybe its something to do with ovranette... I couldn't get much info about it online.

Its comforting to hear I'm not the only one in this position though. I'm very confused and the weight gain has really gotten me down. I didn't know if I was just making excuses for myself but I really thought I should be losing weight not gaining it!

Have you had any other side effects and have you been to the doctor?

Also, how much weight have you put on? I gained a few pound initially when I quit smoking in February but had gotten back to 120lbs by the time of my last period in may. From there its just gone up and up...

I gained about a stone when I gave up smoking last September but lost that early this year,I also had swelling in my upper stomach which doctors are putting down to ibs,the nurse did say it will take a while for the ovranette to leave my body which I don't believe because I've already had the one period,I don't eat after 7 no more don't drink alcohol do excercising and still lose no weight,something's not right just don't know what

I can't believe how similar your story is to mine! I also have swelling in my stomach. It started at my upper stomach but now my lower stomach is worse. Its like the way your stomach might be if you'd eaten A LOT for a few days but I haven't been! My belly is just kind of sitting there! My skin has also been bad for months now - especially along my jawline. I never used to get spots, well the very odd one but never like this.

I actually never had any problems with ovranette when I was on it but it's the only pill I'd tried and had been on it 3 years so I thought it was a good idea to take a little break. If only I'd known the trouble I'd have coming off it I'd never have came off it at all!

From the date I finished my last period in May I;ve gone from 8 and a half stone to 10 stone. Even at christmas etc I'd never even reach 9 stone so this is just crazy for me when I'm eating less.

How much weight have you actually gained since coming off the pill? Sorry this is long again, its just such a relief to find someone in the same situation, was questioning myself for far too long!

Well I had been on ovranette for 11 years that's why I stopped,I think about a stone and like you say its all in your stomach,and I've really cut down on eating and can't loose and ounce so god knows what's going on,I don't know whether it's the menopause with me I do get hot flushes,il have to visit the doc

I had an appointment at my family planning clinic on Wednesday. The doctor wasn't really any help, don't think she really took the weight gain seriously or thought it was related to the pill. Its frustrating. But I've found loads of other forums with women having the same problem where the only thing they've changed is that they've come off the pill. The doctor did say that if I don't have an improvement in a few weeks she'd do a blood test for a thyroid problem. It tends to run in families and my mum had an overactive thyroid before. But I really don't think that's my problem.

My period will be 9 weeks late on Tuesday. I've decided to go back on ovranette when it does come.. eventually! So I have a pack of pills ready and waiting! I hope that starting the pill again will make things go back to normal. I also started taking herbal water retention tablets on Wednesday. I haven't seen an improvement yet but I do reckon I'm retaining some water because my ankles and knees look swollen.. this would also explain the big belly!

I think maybe coming off the pill caused a hormone imbalance when my body had to start making its own hormones again. Rapid weight gain, inability to lose weight and water retention are signs of a hormone imbalance.

Good luck with the doc and let me know how you get on. I'll let you know how I do as well. Hopefully it will be good news for us next time..

Also, I just checked and hot flushes are a sign of a hormone imbalance aswell:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/294162/symptoms_of_hormone_imbalance_for_women.html


This is the main forum I was talking about with women going through the same thing as us, gaining weight since coming off the pill:
http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=74564#Post74564

Hi I had problems of my periods starting up again when I came off the pill you haven't had a real period since you have been on it and it can take a while for your body to get back to normal pattern of mestruation once your period comes you may get another a couple of weeks later and then this same problem it can take a good 6month to a year to get your period back to a normal pattern. I would use other contraception for the moment until your period arrives and make sure you keep a record of when you get your period and when it ends so you will notice when you become more regular.
Hope that helps sorry for the essay x

Hi Jane.
I've been keeping records of all my periods/dates.

I think you misread my post because I've already had 3 periods since I came off the pill in March, of which none were more than 2 weeks lates. BUT my fourth period is nearly 9 weeks late now.

Thanks anyway though :)

OK sooo... I still haven't got my period but I went back on the pill (ovranette again) 2 weeks ago to see if that'd make me have one. Then a week ago I had the blood test to check my thyroid. Got my results today and it turns out I've a underactive thyroid. Which would explain the missing periods and weight gain. I'm just glad I'm finally getting some answers!

OK sooo... I still havnt got my period but I went back on the pill (ovranette again) 2 weeks ago to see if that'd make me have one. Then a week ago I had the blood test to check my thyroid. Got my results today and it turns out I've a underactive thyroid. Which would explain the missing periods and weight gain. I'm just glad I'm finally getting some answers!

Well nothing this end,had hormone test that came back normal,had thyroid test done that's also clear had ultrasound scan as well of my ovaries and fallopian tubes and that's clear as well , I'm a mystery lol x