Am off the pill... but just waiting!

[Hyze]

Hi all... am new to the forum and could do with a little advice...

When coming off the pill how long did it take people to get their AF?

I want to start counting the days of my cycle etc... but can't as I haven't had AF for months.

How long should I wait before I realistically start TTC?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

When did you come off the pill exactly?.

The pill leaves your system very qquickly after taking the last tablet.

If you have not had AF at all since stopping the pill a visit to the GP would now be in order.

There is no real evidence to suggest that the pill is responsible for failure to ovulate. What the pill can do though is mask symptoms of any underlying hormonal imbalance already present. This can stop periods and ovulation from happening.

Blood tests can be done to see what your hormone levels are like. Conditions like thyroid imbalance and polycystic ovaries can be determined through blood tests.

[Hyze]

And someone in a similar situation said they had had a 'withdrawal bleed' when they came off the pill, before they got AF. Is that normal?

[moaningminniewhingesagain]

Withdrawal bleed is what you have as 'periods' when on the pill, so the immediate bleed is the withdrawal bleed, then wait for normal cycle/periods to resume.

I got pregnant while waiting for the first 'true' period after stopping the pill, twice so start taking folic acid right away if not already.

[LittleOne76]

I took my last pill in late Nov and had a "withdrawal bleed" which started a few days after taking the last pill. It lasted about 3-4 days. I remember feeling a bit off, tender breasts and having a heavy feeling in my stomach just before christmas. My first "normal" AF arrived yesterday.

If it's been a few months since coming off the pill then maybe check in with your Dr for a checkup. I understand it can sometimes take a few months for the body to regulate but I think if you haven't had an AF as yet it might be worth checking this. If anything just to put your mind at rest.

[Hyze]

Moaningminnie - you've cheered me up a bit! I'll get cracking on the folic acid!

[crumpetsolo]

This happened to me when I came off the pill to conceive DS1, and the GP did blood tests but basically said it's normal not to go back to normal cycles when coming off the pill and anything up to six months is considered within the normal range. My cycles were mental - up to 80 days?! - but got pregnant on the third cycle, so even if they are hugely long you may still be ovulating. Good luck.

[Hyze]

Thank you. Am irrationally worried that I will be in for a long wait. Am not good at waiting for stuff!!!

[queenrollo]

last time i came off the pill in the March, had a withdrawal bleed then nothing happened until the end of that June. After that i was irregular, but blood tests showed i had normal hormone function. I got pregnant in the December.
How long have you been on the pill? I had been on it for 12 years, and never had a regular cycle before that. After my DS was born i eventually settled into a regular as clockwork cycle. Been on the pill 2 years this time, have come off and after withdrawal bleed have just had a normal cycle. I'm hoping it will stay like this but not counting on it.

I did talk to my Practice nurse about whether to wait for a normal cycle this time round and she said just 'get on with it'....take your folic acid/supplement and go for it.

Last time i was taking agnus castus tincture to try and help my body back to a regular cycle.

[Confuzzled09]

I had a similar experience which has been stressing me out no end. Came off the pill in July, had the withdrawl bleed and then nothing for 3 months. Then had a couple of v v light 1 day bleeds, 2 weeks apart in Oct. My first proper AF arrived in all her glory yesterday. I got my hormones checked out and all was 'normal' - the thing that stopped me stressing, whilst waiting for AF to come back, was starting to track my temps and CM. I just felt like I got some control over the situation and also gave me something to do on a daily basis (besides stressing)
Hope that helps x

[Hollyoaks]

Hyze - I came off the pill when ttc dd, it took 6 months exactly for af to arrive but dd was conceived within one month. It was a very frustrating time for dh and I but gp was not worried and said it was completely normal for it to take up to 6 months for your cycle to regulate.

Dh and I began ttc from the moment I came off the pill with the notion that if I got pg a dating scan would let me know how far along I was. Only draw back to this was that a lot of the symptoms I got from coming off the pill were similar to early pg symptoms which resulted in me spending lots of money on pg tests.

Sorry that I can't give you a better scenario but my fertility was not affected, my cycle became very regular after dd was born and we conceived #2 within one month, due in May . I know its a frustrating time and this was one of the reasons I have never gone back onto it and don't plan to.

Good luck

[blondieminx]

Hyze - if your periods haven't come back after a couple of months off the pill ask the doc to do a thyroid function test WITH a thyroid antibodies test and when the results are back make an appointment to discuss them with the gp and ask him to complare the levels on the 2 tests (and don't just take "oh it's normal" from the receptionist!).

Your TSH level should be between 0.4 - 2.0 if you are TTC. official NHS clinical guidance here

As Atilla says also worth getting general hormone levels checked so also ask them to do "day 21" bloods to check your hormones are normal.

I waited months for my periods to come back after being on the pill, my GP kept telling me it was normal and it was only on the advice of Atilla and choccypig here on MN that I got diagnosed with underactive thyroid - cycle came back after 2 weeks on the thyroid tablets and I fell preg not long after!

Good luck!

[Molly79]

Hello All,

I can sympathise! I stopped the pill at the begining of october and am still waiting for AF to arrive. It is very frustrating. We have been trying anyway and testing every couple of weeks just to check. I have been to the docs and she said 3 months isn't long and to go back when it has been 6 months. I am trying really hard not to stress but I must admit I am getting very impatient!! Would be nice to know where I am.

I have got a ovulation microscope which you use to look at your saliva, it changes when you ovulate so I check that every morning and it is good to think I am doing something.

Good luck x

[Hyze]

Thank you for all the advice! Have been on pill for years. Have still had no withdrawal or anything...

Hollyoaks - I can completely relate to the 'symptoms'! I keep having them and thinking I might be just very lucky and pregnant! But sadly, this doesn't seem to be the case...

Looks like I will have to be patient

[Hollyoaks]

Hyze - unfortunately it looks like thats all you can do, however, you may want to think about getting your thyroid function tested as blondie suggested.

I remember the symptoms being really frustrating and quite unpleasant at sometimes. They don't tell you about that at time you go on the pill do they . I found some internet forums with other women who were going through the same thing as me were really useful as they could relate to the frustrations and symptoms, it was the only thing that made me feel as if I was normal. Good luck.