Expert: Ryan Hale - 4/2/2009

Question
Hello, I struggled with an eating disorder for about 5 years. I had been on birth control pills for 10 years and when I stopped taking them, my period never came back. The doctor said it was due to the eating disorder and advised me to gain weight. My lowest weight was 101 lbs at 5'3, which was about 4 years ago. I did end up gaining a litle weight and maintained 107 lbs for a few years. I stopped the birth control pill last feb and I had no periods for 10 months. This is when I went to a doctor. The doctor put me on birth control pills and told me to gain weight. I have put on 10-12 lbs. I weigh 120 lbs now. I have been at this weight since December and have maintained a good diet, eating about 1700-2000 calories per day. I do not exercise vigorously, just some light walking up to an hour a day. I stopped the birth control after being back on it for 4 months. It's been 6 weeks since my last pill, and I didn't get a period. I am hoping it will resume because my husband and I want to start a family. When does it normally come back after this type of situation?

Answer
KC- I'm not a physician but I can say that getting back to "normal" as far as your period goes can take some time.  It also depends on your age.  It sounds like you are doing the right things (getting back to a normal weight and being active).  Once a woman comes off the pill, it can take up to a year to regain a normal cycle.  The same is true for returning to a healthy weight and regaining a normal cycle.  So, in your case it may just be a matter of time for your body to "re-set" itself.  This is also true if you've been on again off again with the birth control pills.  Once again, I'm not a physician, but that much is true.  I also can't say when to expect your cycle to return (it could be up to a year's time).  You may want to see a reproductive specialist who can give you a better idea of what to expect.  

Emotional stress can also play a big role.  If you've been dealing with the trials of disordered eating, or if the disordered eating is a symptom of other emotional issues you've been going through, the stress of that alone could cause irregularity or difficulty conceiving.  You may also want to talk with a counselor as well.  Good luck!