Birth control pills utilize hormones to regulate ovulation and therefore may change the menstrual cycle.

After using one birth control prescription for a while your body adjusts to the hormones and you establish a more regular menstrual cycle.

When changing to a new birth control pill, or even from a generic to name brand or vice versa, your menstrual cycle is likely to hiccup along the way. There is a good chance your period could be delayed or come sooner than expected. Some women even experience cessation of the menstruation for one or two cycles while the body adjusts.

Here are some changes you could expect when switching from one type of pill to another:

• Delayed periods
• Absent periods
• Heavier periods
• Lighter periods
• Longer periods
• Shorter periods
• Spotting in between periods