Menstruation is a normal phase that will be experienced by all women. Although every woman has a different cycle, there are those who regularly menstruate every 21 to 35 days, and some women’s cycles are shorter or longer than that.

However, there are some conditions where women experience irregular menstruation. As you get older, chances are that your menstrual cycle is not the same as when you were younger. There are several causes of irregular menstruation, one of which is hormonal disorders caused by unideal body weight, stress, unhealthy eating patterns, lack of exercise, extreme diets, and consumption of birth control pills.

Birth control pills are drugs that contain synthetic hormones, where these hormones can correct hormonal imbalances, so that menstruation will be regular.

Read more on Menstrual phase, Causes, and Symptoms

However, what happens when you stop taking birth control pills?

Some women complain of conditions where their menstrual cycles become irregular after stopping birth control pills. As previously explained, birth control pills contain synthetic hormones that aim to regulate hormones. So, when you stop taking it, it can also affect hormones and the menstrual cycle.

Before we talk about these changes in the menstrual cycle, we need to know how birth control pills work in the body.

How Birth Control Pills Work

Birth control pills are a type of drug that is often used to prevent pregnancy. Birth control pills work by affecting the ovaries and uterus. Thus, the fertilization process where the sperm cell meets the egg cell can be prevented. In addition, birth control pills can also trigger the thickening of cervical mucus, so that the walls of the uterine cavity are not ready to receive fertilization.

One of the obstacles that women often face is the rules for taking birth control pills themselves. The birth control pill itself requires the patient to take it at the same time and for a predetermined period of time. The birth control pill itself has two versions, namely the hormones estrogen and progestin. This hormone will regulate the menstrual cycle in women and the rise and fall of hormones.

There are two types of birth control pills, namely the combination pill (containing estrogen and progestin), and the mini pill (containing progestin). The way the birth control pill works is that first, it prevents the fertilization process, where the egg cell meets the sperm cell. Second, changing the thickness of the uterine mucus with the aim of making it difficult for sperm to move into the uterus. The latter, changes the lining of the uterine wall and makes a fertilized egg unable to implant in the uterus.

Stopping The Pill and the Menstrual Cycle

As previously explained, when a person stops taking birth control pills, it can also cause irregular menstruation. This irregular menstrual cycle can occur for a long period of time and a short period of time.

When a person stops taking birth control pills, the chances of getting pregnant also increase. According to research, it can take about 1-3 months to get pregnant after you stop taking birth control pills. For this reason, if you are up to 1-2 weeks late for your period, you can try to do a pregnancy test to find out if you are pregnant or not.

In addition, other factors that can affect the menstrual cycle are unideal body weight, thyroid gland disorders, stress, fatigue, extreme diets, lack of exercise, and unhealthy eating patterns. If your period is late for more than 1 to 3 months, then you should see a doctor for consultation and treatment.

Download our Nona Woman period tracker app for IOS & Android to understand more about your menstrual cycle.

How to Regulate the Menstrual Cycle

When you feel that your menstrual cycle is irregular, you can do several things to help regulate your hormones so they can function normally:

• Avoid Stress
  When women are under mental stress, it can affect the production of estrogen and progesterone. This imbalance can also affect the menstrual cycle.Thus, you can do positive and fun activities that can reduce the stress that you experience.

• Follow a Healthy Diet
  One of the causes of irregular menstrual cycles is an unhealthy diet. Nowadays, many people choose to eat fast food instead of homemade food.
  
  For that, you need to change your unhealthy eating pattern. You can regularly eat fruits and vegetables or other nutritious foods. Also, avoid drinking sugary drinks. It is best to drink plenty of plain water. That way, the body will become healthy and your hormones can function normally.

• Avoid Strenuous Activities
  Fatigue can also disrupt the menstrual cycle. This is because the body needs energy to continue the menstrual process regularly. When the body runs out of energy, menstruation cannot come regularly.
  
  Everyone has a different stamina and fatigue threshold, so avoid doing strenuous things that can make you tired. For that, you can do some exercises to increase stamina and body energy such as jogging or other sports.
  
  Well, those are some explanations about irregular menstrual cycles due to stopping birth control pills. Basically, irregular menstruation can be caused by many factors that disrupt hormonal balance. Thus, you need to do some things that can make your hormones go back in balance so the menstrual cycle will also become regular.