Are you trying too? and other coming of the pill tribulations...

[BowBaby]

Hi Girls,

This is my first month of TTC for the first time..

I came of my contraceptive pill at the end of last month (yasmin) after being on it on and off for 12 years . Perhaps it will take a long time for my body to regulate?

I am now thirty, and I was wondering if anyone is in the same boat?

How long did it take you TC after coming off the pill, how old were you and how did it change your life?

Keeping this to myself for now, so would love to hear your stories and opinions... :)

[TequilaMockinBird]

No advice I'm afraid, but will watch with interest as I will be in your position in a couple of months time!

[raspberrytipple]

none here either but me and DP have just had a row because he says I'm a grumpy cow off the pill, i was on it for 12 years too from the age of 15 to control PMT more than as contraception. So beware, your hormones may change!! I've also found my sex drive has gone through the roof but DP just thinks I'm pestering so I can make a baby (Sorry, TMI!). Haven't conceived yet but this is only second cycle of actively trying. There is lots of reading on the 'If carlsberg did threads' thread for people ttc their first baby. Good luck!!!

[suedehead]

Hi BowBaby et al
sorry - not much advice here either, but i think we're in the same boat, so i'll let you know how i'm getting on. i came off the pill in april - was on cerazette (mini pill) after years on dianette (came off it because they issued new advice saying that if you conceived a daughter whilst taking it (not that we were trying, hence the pill!), she might have birth defects).

anyway, i thought i was PG almost immediately. after hours googling why i felt like it, but not BFP, i found that cerazette (and presumably all minipills?) act by tricking your body into thinking you're PG, so when you're no longer taking it, it gets a bit confused and starts sending you symptoms.

it's taken a while to get my cycle back to normal. had a couple of really light AFs then what i would call a 'proper' one at the end of july - starting to feel at last that i'm getting the pill out of my system - been on it for about 13 years in all (i'm 30 too BTW), so i'm not surprised it's taken a good 3 months.

done quite a few tests since i came off the pill in april, and now settled into testing just before i think i'm due. read a horoscope a while ago that said i'd get some news on aug 22nd that would change things, so i'm hoping that means that's when i'll get my BFP!

good luck TTC - let me know how you get on - i'll let you know how it's looking on the 22nd!

[TequilaMockinBird]

Goodluck suedehead!

I too am on Cerazette, have been on it for about 3 years now. Before that I was on the combined pill (cant remember which one) for about 10 years, and conceived DD whilst on it! I'm 31.

Interesting to hear about Cerazette tricking your body into thinking its pg and then getting confused - not looking forward to that much!

[fingerscrossedgirl]

BowBaby, I'm 30 too. I came off the pill in early June, had the usual withdrawal bleed for a few days, then a 31 day cycle. Fell pregnant the very next cycle, getting my BFP last Thursday. No ovulation sticks, temping or over-analysing of mucus, just a fair bit of shagging! I'd been on the pill (Mercilon) non-stop for ten years. Hoping the pregnancy sticks now, after reading all the chemical pregnancy, early miscarraige horror-stories on here. Oh, and the main coming off the pill thing I noticed was a real surge in sex drive especially around the middle of the cycle.

Have fun and good luck everyone!

[Penelope1980]

Same boat here as well! Am 30, been on the pill for 14 years (went on young due to bad skin) and gave it up 2 weeks ago. So I have no advice whatsoever but just wanted to say I'm in the same place as you and really appreciating the advice some of you other ladies are giving

[BowBaby]

Thanks for your stories and replies everyone...

Good luck to us all! :)

Its good to hear other peoples experiences and know others have been through similar, or are in the same boat now...

Should be in my ovulation phase now so fingers crossed...

[TequilaMockinBird]

Oh do keep us updated Bowbaby, and all of you! Will keep an eye on this thread with interest!

I'll be stopping taking the pill probably in December by which time you ladies will hopefully be nursing neat little bumps

[meggles]

afternoon ladies - i was on the pill for 16 years. went off in sep-09. it took ages for my cycle to regulate, and even at its best it was only down to 32 day cycle. (more often 40 - 50). hence, in the 12 months we've been TTC, i've only had 8 cycles. in june we got our first BFP, but it ended in a early miscarriage. now on second cycle since that miscarriage....

my advice to people coming off the pill would be to be patient. yes, some women/couples are lucky and get BFP within weeks/months. unfortunatly, sometimes it doesn't work so smoothly. whether its because the pill 'messed' up your system, or was hiding an underlying ssue, sometimes its the way.

much easier to 'preach patience' than to follow it... let me tell you!

[suedehead]

thanks meggles - i think that's pretty good advice. patience is definitely the way forward.

sorry to hear about your early miscarriage, but i think you're right that maybe we're all blaming the pill 'messing up our systems' for any underlying problems there might be. keeping my fingers crossed for a BFP in the future for you and all the ladies on here x

[Miffles]

I agree with Meggles and suedehead - have patience! Our bodies do funny things with all these artificial chemical hormones.

I came off the pill in Jan this year and had one "proper" period (after the normal withdrawal bleed) then have not had a proper one since - only very light. Now been diagnosed with PCOS - the pill had been masking it for years. I had decided to let my body settle down, have a proper period before starting to try properly.

My advice - DON'T WAIT!!!! Get to it straight away!!!!

A number of people have said there is increased chance of conception as soon as you're off the pill. Must've been what happened to fingerscorssed! The docs can date the baby from scans, I'm sure. I wished I had done that - reckon I ovulated once and not since!

Good luck girls.

[TequilaMockinBird]

I'd love to get to it straight away! But, my wedding is booked for the Carribbean in May 2011 and knowing my luck I'd fall pg straight away and then not be able to go!!

Very good advice though, thank you. And sorry to hear about your PCOS

[Miffles]

Ah, yes, I see your problem Tequila! Best not do that then!

The PCOS does suck, but I know we'll have a baby - might just take a bit longer and be a bit more involved than initially we thought. Ho hum....

[TequilaMockinBird]

Fingers crossed for you Miffles x

[suedehead]

bump

[suedehead]

Hi Ladies

Just to let you know I took a test this morning and it was a BFN. Think I got excited about my horoscope (for the first time in about 15 years?!) and got carried away - hope there are no more virgos out there doing the same! Just shows you can make them say whatever you want them to!

Think I probably tested too early actually, and the date doesn't fit in with my cycle. Maybe in another week or so...

Fingers crossed for everyone else x

[Baileysismyfriend]

I am ttc this month too, trying for our third and final one.

I had DS a year ago and was on the pill for ten years before that and fell pregnant straight away so in my experience being on the pill for a long time didn't make a difference. Was 29 when had DS so about the same age as you too.

Had DD 11 years ago, so we have a bit of an age gap between our first and second, I felt like a new mum all over again!

This is our first month of trying again but not had much action as the baby has been unwell so been in our room which is a bit of a passion killer, so not holding out much hope - but secretly am just a little!

[raspberrytipple]

sorry to hear that Suedehead, so frustrating! Fingers crossed it was just a bit too early for you to test.

I know I wont be getting a BFP this month as I've not been well so no babydancing here for the last week or so.

Baileyismyfriend - I was 13 when my little brother was born, mum found it a nice age gap because I was all keen to help with the new baby, anything from nappies to washing up, hope your DD is the same for you!

How is everyone else getting on?

[Baileysismyfriend]

Its nice to hear that having such a gap didnt traumitise you raspberrytipple, I was so worried that she would resent him but it all seems to have worked out so far, hopefully I will be able to say the same when she hits the dreaded teens!

[raspberrytipple]

I'm sure their relationship will go from strength to strength, I still adore my little brother even though he is now a very temperamental, stroppy 15 year who swears by far too much!!!

[MiniH]

I think we're officially ttc now! Came off the pill in may and was npp since then but think we may be moving up to ttc now. Not sure there's much difference but I get to obsess think about it a lot more now!