Have you completed the 28-day Premama Balance but your period still hasn’t returned? Are you wondering if taking prenatal pills can change your menstrual cycle? While most women will have a period return around 1 to 3 weeks after completing Balance, many factors play a role in its return, including what your cycle is normally like. While not ovulating can be frustrating – especially when you are trying to conceive, it’s important to consider the reasons for a missed period and identify if any of the below are playing a factor to determine your next course of action:
Have you seen fluctuations in your weight?
Gaining or losing weight is a common reason for a missed period. Gaining weight increases body’s fat stores, also known as adipose tissue, leading to a hormonal imbalance that can stop ovulation.
Have you changed or started an exercise routine your body isn’t used to?
Even though it is good for you, exercise can put stress on your body that could interrupt the balance in your hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. The hypothalamus is a structure in your brain that acts as the control center for your menstrual cycle. It sends hormonal messages to your pituitary gland and your ovaries to trigger ovulation. If this communication is interrupted, ovulation may not occur.
Extreme Stress
Stress is often deemed the cause of many ailments in the human body. Stress can be linked to a missed period because hormones involved in the menstrual cycle are controlled by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. These work to release hormones like estrogen from the ovaries, but this is not the only thing the hypothalamus and pituitary gland are responsible for. They’re also responsible for other hormones, like the primary stress hormone cortisol and the immune system and could potentially throw off ovulation and menstruation cycles.
Prior Cycle Irregularity
Birth control can be taken to control hormone levels and regulate your period, masking underlying problems you may have. When you stop, it is common to see your cycles return to an irregular state.
Length of time and type of Hormonal Birth Control
The strength and duration you were taking birth control impacts the time it takes your body back to return to its natural hormonal state. The times below are a rough estimate and every body responds differently:
Pill - hormones are out of your body within a few days and generally speaking, your body should return to balance within three months of stopping the pill.
IUD – time will vary depending on if you were using progestin secreting IUD or a copper containing IUD, but generally speaking, your body should return to balance within four to six months after removal. Factors that can impact this are side effects or complications to the uterine lining associated with removal.
Birth Control Injection – can take up to a year for regular cycles to return, and withdrawal is often associated with daily bleeding.
Without these (in most cases – hormones), your body needs to start again on its own to function. That means it will start producing follicles again, which eventually lead you to ovulate. Many women notice their cycle return after completing one round of Premama’s Balance, but others elect to continue taking it for a second or third month to gently help restore your body’s natural hormone balance.
You might be wondering if it’s OK to take Balance long term. It is recommended that Chasteberry (one of the active ingredients in Balance) be taken regularly for up to 6 months or until the desired results of hormone balance and cycle regularity are achieved.
Every woman’s body is different and ultimately, there is no set time frame for ovulation to return following the use of birth control. Consistency is key and hopefully you will see results soon!
Content and information expressed are intended to be general in nature and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek medical advice from your professional healthcare provider.
