Four Signs of Ovulation After Stopping the Pill
There are a lot of reasons women decide to come off hormonal birth control. Maybe you’re hoping to start a family. Maybe you’ve been experiencing negative side effects. Either way, the transition can bring up a lot of questions — especially when it comes to your cycle.
Whether you’re looking to conceive or not, it’s important to know when you can.
The truth is, for many of us who started taking the pill when we were young, we may not be very familiar with the natural rhythms of our menstrual cycle. And it’s totally normal to feel unsure about what’s happening internally.
But the good news is that our bodies offer signs. Learning to recognize them can help us feel more in tune, more empowered, and more confident in navigating life post-pill.
How Does the Pill Affect Ovulation?
Hormonal birth control works to prevent pregnancy by tricking your body into suppressing ovulation (a.k.a. the release of an egg for potential fertilization).
Under normal circumstances, when estrogen and progesterone levels drop during menstruation, your brain produces a hormone called LH (luteinizing hormone), which signals your ovaries to release an egg. The pill releases synthetic hormones that interrupt this natural feedback loop.
In short: No egg, no chance of pregnancy.
Potential Side Effects of The Pill
Hormonal birth control has some clear benefits — pregnancy prevention, improved acne, and reduced period pain—but the side effects and potential long-term impacts are often under-discussed in traditional medicine.
Some potential downsides include:
Nutrient depletion (especially B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc)
Mood changes
Weight fluctuations
Irregular bleeding
High blood pressure
Blood clots
In my eBook The Effects of Birth Control — & How to Get Off It, I dive deeper into these impacts, along with a detailed guide on how to support your body while transitioning off the pill.
How Long Will It Take for Your Period to Return After Stopping the Pill?
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. For some women, their period may return almost immediately after stopping the pill. For others, it could take several months—or even up to a year—for their cycle to return to its natural rhythm.
Your timeline may depend on:
How long you’ve been on the pill.
Your age.
Your baseline hormone levels before starting birth control.
Lifestyle factors like stress, sleep, nutrition, and activity.
Waiting for your period to return can feel frustrating, but remember: your body and hormones are recalibrating after months or years of a synthetically managed cycle. Support yourself through nutrition, rest, and stress reduction.
And if you’d like additional support, I offer a full six-week meal plan and hormone support guide to help you through the process.
Four Signs of Ovulation after Stopping the Pill
If predicting your period is difficult, how can you tell if you’re ovulating again? Here are four reliable, physical signs that your cycle is coming back online:
1) Breast Tenderness
While normally associated with PMS, breast tenderness can also occur mid-cycle, around ovulation. If your breasts feel swollen or sensitive — and it’s not related to your period — it could be a sign that ovulation has resumed.
2) Cervical Mucus Changes
One of the more noticeable signs of ovulation is a shift in cervical mucus. As ovulation nears, you may notice your discharge becoming:
More slippery
Stretchy
Clear or slightly cloudy
Similar to raw egg whites
Known as “egg white cervical mucus” (EWCM), this fluid helps sperm survive and travel more easily. It’s a strong indicator that ovulation is approaching.
3) An Increase in Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
After ovulation, your progesterone levels rise, causing a slight but measurable increase in your body’s resting temperature — typically around 0.5 to 1°F.
While it’s possible to track BBT manually each morning, wearable devices like the Oura Ring or Daysy automatically track your temperature trends over time, offering a more accurate view of your cycle.
4) Increase in Energy and Libido
Right before ovulation, estrogen levels peak, often making you feel:
More out going
Extra energetic
Flirtatious
Excited and inspired
Think of it as nature’s way of encouraging reproduction — and a sure sign that your natural hormonal rhythm is back online!
How Quickly Can You Get Pregnant After Stopping the Pill?
Of all the questions I get from clients and friends, this is often the first — and it’s an important one, whether you’re hoping for a baby or trying to avoid a surprise.
The answer is simple: As soon as you begin ovulating, you can get pregnant — even if you haven’t had your period yet.
As discussed earlier, this timeline is different for everyone. But studies show that about 80% of women who try to conceive after stopping hormonal birth control are successful within the first year.
What Happens if Your Period Doesn’t Come Back?
If it’s been three months since stopping the pill and your period hasn’t returned, it’s a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider. You may be experiencing post-pill amenorrhea, a fairly common condition signaling that your body needs additional support.
Possible reasons your period may not be returning include:
An underlying hormone imbalance (like PCOS or thyroid dysfunction)
Low body weight over overexercise
Chronic stress
Nutrient deficiencies
Gut imbalances
This is why nutrition and lifestyle support are so important during this time. Your body is in the process of finding hormonal balance now that it’s no longer under the influence of synthetic hormones—give it the tools it needs to do so.
How to Support Yourself and Your Hormones When Coming Off the Pill
Transitioning off of hormonal birth control and back into your natural cycle can feel like a slow process. Your body not only has to eliminate the synthetic hormones but also restart a production system that may have been dormant for years.
This can sometimes lead to hormonal imbalances and symptoms like:
Mood swings
Hair loss
Acne
Digestive Troubles
Spotting
These don’t necessarily mean something is wrong—they just indicate your body is still recalibrating. Fortunately, nutrition can play a powerful role in supporting that recalibration.
Nutrients especially important post-pill include:
B vitamins (especially B6, B9/folate, and B12) for hormone synthesis and detox
Magnesium to calm the nervous system and regulate the HPA axis
Zinc for ovary health and skin
Vitamin C to support progesterone production
Cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, kale, and cauliflower) to help your liver clear excess estrogen
For a step-by-step guide on how to transition off of birth control effectively through diet and nutrition, consider my eBook!
Hormonal birth control does a great job of preventing pregnancy, but too many women are unaware of the toll it takes on their bodies. From irregular bleeding mood swings, weight gain, and nutritional imbalances, the side effects are real — and often ignored.
If you’re considering getting off birth control, it’s important to know that it’s not as simple as just stopping. Without the right support, your hormones can become imbalanced, causing acne, hair loss, anxiety, and more. This is what’s known as Post Birth Control Syndrome (PBCS), and it’s completely avoidable with the right approach.
I’ve been there, and I know how overwhelming it can feel. That’s why I created The Effects of Birth Control — & How to Transition Off It. It’s the guide I wish I’d had: a deep dive into how birth control affects your body, what happens when you stop, and a step-by-step plan to help you transition safely and comfortably.
You don’t have to navigate this alone. With the right guidance, you can restore your body’s natural balance and feel amazing again — safe, supported, and confident every step of the way.
Non-Hormonal Contraceptive Methods
For those coming off the pill and not yet ready for pregnancy, it’s important that you’re aware of your non-hormonal contraception options — ones that fits your lifestyle and comfort levels.
Some women choose to track their own cycles through apps like Natural Cycles to avoid sex during fertile windows. Others prefer simpler barrier methods like condoms or diaphragms. And some combine strategies for added piece of mind.
Here’s a quick comparison of some of the most common options:
| Method | Description | Effectiveness (Typical Use) |
|---|---|---|
| Condoms | Barrier placed over penis to block sperm | ~87% |
| Copper IUD (Paragard) | T-shaped device placed in uterus; copper repels sperm | ~99% |
| Fertility Awareness | Tracking fertile days via temperature, mucus, apps | ~76–88% |
| Diaphragm | Silicone cup inserted to cover cervix during sex | ~83% |
| Spermicide | Chemical that kills sperm, often used with barriers | ~72% |