Hey guys so I just got my first period after stopping birth control and I’m a little bit confused from some things I’ve read. Is this an actual period? Or is this still a withdrawal bleed? I’ve read things like this is just a withdrawal bleed and then after this my normal period will come back? I’m not sure how it is a withdrawal bleed if I’m not on the pill anymore? I hope this makes sense omg.

If you have just started your break week, it is still considered a withdrawal bleed. A withdrawal bleed occurs as a side effect due to a drop in hormones. However, if it has been awhile since you’ve taken your pill, I think it could just be a regular period.

^ how long has it been since you stopped using BC?

The way the combo pill works is by keeping you at an even level of hormones every day, and then causing a drop during your break week that makes you bleed. On a natural cycle it’s more complicated, but your hormones still drop to a low level during your period. So it has more to do with what’s been happening in the weeks before the period—if you were on the pill and this is your last break week, this is withdrawal from the synthetic hormones, if it’s been longer than that it’s a sign that your body has started getting back on a cycle and you can count it as a period (though remember you might not be regular immediately).

@bluerose9 It’s been about four weeks or so since my last period on hormonal birth control so maybe three weeks since I’ve stopped

@JustPeachyy then it could be an actual period!

@mIzzy_ @Bluerose9 @Schwa Thank you all for answering my question. I usually don’t ask them because most things typically make sense but this source from where I read this was really misleading 😂