LATE!!!

  i have been on the pill for 6 months.  i have been spotting alot.  the doctor changed my pill last month.  the new pills still cause me to spot.  i quit taking them, because i did not like the fact that i was spotting, so now my period is late, could this be caused by the fact that i quit taking the  pill?  i took a home pregnancy test, and it was negative. so am i late because i quit taking the pill?
Dear Lori:
When a woman stops oral contraceptives, it is, on average, 6 weeks from her last "pill-induced bleeding" until she has her first "spontaneous menstrual period". Thus, it is normal to be "late" in the first cycle off birth control pills.
A home pregnancy test becomes reliable when one is 3 days beyond the missed period: the provision is always that one is having regular menstrual cycles. What this is really saying is that the test is reliable 17 days after ovulation.
This information is provided for general purposes only and is not a formal medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician.
Keyword: late for period