Why has my contraception stopped my periods?

If you miss a period, your first concern might be that you’re pregnant. But if you’ve started taking the pill or using another form of hormonal contraception, you can expect some changes to your menstrual cycle. Find out what to expect and when to be concerned if your periods stop.

I’m on the pill. Why have my periods stopped?

It’s all to do with ovulation, which is when your body releases an egg every month.

If you’re not using hormonal contraception, this is what happens before you get your period:

Around the middle of your cycle, one of your ovaries releases an egg. The egg travels down your fallopian tube to your womb, which has been getting ready for it by growing a thick lining. This is where the egg will settle and grow if it’s fertilised. If the egg is not fertilised (because it doesn’t meet a sperm), your body sheds the thick womb lining. That’s what your period is.

Hormonal contraceptives work by stopping your body from releasing the egg. Without this trigger, your body may stop having a monthly bleed. Most of these contraceptives also stop your body from growing a thick womb lining. So if you do bleed, it will be much lighter than normal.

Which types of contraception can cause my periods to stop?

Any hormonal contraceptive that stops ovulation can result in your periods becoming irregular, light or stopping altogether.

The types of hormonal contraceptive that can affect your periods include:

• The pill (combined contraceptive pill)
• Mini pill (progestogen-only pill)
• Contraceptive patch
• Vaginal ring
• Contraceptive injection
• Contraceptive implant
• Intrauterine device (IUD)

If you use one of these types of contraceptives, you may not have a bleed when you would normally expect to, or the bleeding may be so light that you hardly notice it.

Is not having a period bad for me?

No. If you’re using hormonal contraceptives it’s normal for your periods to stop.

Many women are relieved to avoid the hassle and discomfort of a monthly period, but it can cause some anxiety too.

Some women worry about the impact on their fertility in the long term. It should help to know that your menstrual cycle and fertility will return quickly once you stop using your contraceptive. So you’ll be able to get pregnant when you’re ready to. With most forms of hormonal contraceptive, this happens straight away. If you’re receiving contraceptive injections, it might take several months before your fertility and periods return.

Another common concern is about what happens to the blood that you would normally have lost during your periods. Don’t worry, it’s not building up inside you. Because your contraceptive stops the lining of the womb from getting thicker each month, there is nothing that needs to be shed.

Will my periods stop as soon as I start using hormonal contraception?

Not necessarily.

It can take between three and six months for your body to adjust to a new contraceptive. During that time you might have irregular bleeding or spotting at first. Then your bleeding pattern may settle into a more regular but lighter pattern, or it could stop altogether.

Hormonal contraceptive methods affect everyone’s periods in different ways. So don’t worry if your friend is still getting a regular bleed while on the pill but you’re not. Or if your periods have got light as a result of using the contraceptive implant but your friend has found it’s made her periods last longer.

When should I take a pregnancy test?

No method of contraception is 100% effective.

Methods such as the pill, mini pill, vaginal ring and patch all rely on you using them correctly. If you’ve missed taking your pill, or you’ve forgotten to start a new vaginal ring or patch on time, your contraception won’t be working in the way it should. That will put you at risk of pregnancy.

Some hormonal contraceptives also won’t work as well if you’ve been unwell with vomiting or diarrhoea, or if you’re taking certain medications at the same time.

If you think you might be pregnant, it’s best to take a pregnancy test as soon as possible. If the test is positive, your doctor can offer you confidential support and advice.

Are there any other reasons why my period might have stopped?

Yes, besides pregnancy and taking a hormonal contraceptive, there are a number of other causes of missed or stopped periods.

Reasons you might miss a period include:

• Feeling stressed
• Being overweight
• Not eating enough
• Doing too much exercise
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Menopause

If you have missed several periods, and you’re not pregnant or using a hormonal contraceptive, you should consult a doctor.