Expert: Ramona Quilter - 8/25/2006

Question
I just got off birth control about 6 days ago because my husband and i want a child.  My ovulation date was supposed to be wednesday the 23rd and i had all the signs of ovulation. The next day i started some light brown spotting. I have always been on an exact 28 day cycle ( it even starts on the same hour including the last 5 months iv been on birth control) I am now still spotting about 24 hours later. My question is this : is this my period or just spotting? What is it caused by when i have been regular for the last 6 years? how will this throw off ovulation? how should i predict my next ovulation cycle? i am quite confused.

Answer
Your period while you were on the pill wasn't a true period.  Your body has to get used to just your natural hormones so it will take a while to get back to your normal pattern.  It would be unusual for a normal pattern to be there as soon as you quit the pill.  I can't predict what will happen or what is going on now.  My recommendation is that you just wait and watch for a few months until you see what normal is.