Expert: Norman Solberg - 4/22/2010

Question
I have been on the birth control pill for five years, in July of 2009 I stopped taking it.  I am sexually active with my boyfriend.  I have gotten my period around every 36 days since then.  It has come a little earlier or later some months but always within that range.  My last period was February 13th, and I've been waiting for it since.  I'm not on antibiotics, I haven't gained or lost any weight, and I do not take any daily medication.  I took a home pregnancy test last week and it came back negative.  I'm really unsure why my period is so late? and if it is possible that I am pregnant?  If you could get back to me with some advice that would be great!

Answer
Lots of things can throw off periods, stress being one of the main ones.  When your period doesn't come and you're not pregnant, it means you didn't ovulate.  Since your pregnancy test last week was negative, you're probably not pregnant (assuming it was a first morning urine).  Often not ovulating takes care of itself with time, but since it's been 2 months, and it sounds like you may want to be pregnant, I would see your doctor.  He/she can try to figure out why you haven't ovulated, and help bring on a period so you don't end up with heavy bleeding.  Then, if there's no reason found and you want to get pregnant, there are pills called Clomid that you can take each month to induce ovulation.  Best wishes.