Came off the pill 6 mths ago and still no AF! Anyone else in the same boat?

[Newbie2]

Hello,

As the title suggests I came off the Yasmin pill 6 months ago thinking that I would fall pregnant straight away (partly because that is what the nurse hinted). Forward 6 months and not only am I not pregnant I also haven't had AF! I am very stressed about AF not arriving, especially as most of the ladies on MN talk about AF arriving. I had a blood test two weeks ago and results came back normal. I've also had a swab test, again results came back normal. I've got an internal scan booked in for September...cannot wait for that. Anyway if anyone else would like to share your experience it would be nice to hear from you!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Unfortunately this nurse was ignorant.

With regards to the blood test you had done, what hormone levels were tested and on which day?. If you did not have a day 2 test done (and as your cycle is non existant at present a blood test can be done according to the calendar day) the test result is meaningless. How could they say it was normal if you have not had a period for six months?. No, they have likely missed something. Also blood tests are usually carried out around day 2/3 and day 21; anything like a "day 73" test for example is not worth having done.

They should be trying to properly determine why this is, if they are not sure then you should be referred to a gynae at a subfertility unit at hospital for further evaluation. BTW conditions like polycystic ovaries (I did wonder that seeing as you were prescribed Yasmin previously) or problems with the thyroid gland can cause such problems to arise.

Be persistant, go back and insist that you are now referred. The internal scan is likely being done to see if your ovaries are indeed polycystic.

It is too easy to be fobbed off in such matters, do not let yourself be fobbed off.

[Newbie2]

Hello Attila have you also not had a period for 6 months after coming off the pill then?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Oh yes, my periods post pill were pretty much like yours i.e non existant. I was eventually diagnosed with PCOS.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

BTW there is no real evidence to suggest that the pill is responsible for failure to ovulate. What it can do though is mask symptoms of any underlying hormonal problem.

[FrankelSaysRelax]

I went 7 months without a period when I came off the Pill in May 2010. I was told that my NHS Authority did nothing until you have been 6 months without a period.

I had blood tests taken which, as Attila says, showed nothing. It was only when I had an ultrasound that they identified PCOS. After that I was referred on to a fertility specialist at my local hospital. I've been under her for just over a year, in that time I've had an HSG (inject dye into the uterus and Fallopian tubes to check for blockages), a laparoscopy (under general anaesthetic, a little camera is inserted to check tubes/ovaries), 5 cycles of Clomid and am about to start Ovulation Induction.

Don't always assume the worst, even if PCOS is the answer, it is not the end of the world. 1 in 10 women have PCOS of varying degrees.

[lalexander]

Hey - just thought I would share my story.

I came off the pill, Yasmin in October 2011 and still no AF!!!!!!!!!! I have had bloods done which were reported to be 'normal' eventually I have been referred to Gynae, however I have been informed that there is at least a 9 week waiting list.

Has anyone gone private to be scanned or investigated?? I'm getting very frustrated.

L

[CritterPants]

I had this. 8 months without a period after coming off Yasmin. I did have regular periods before going on the pill, albeit every 6 weeks, not every 4. My blood tests were fine, but a scan showed cysts on my ovaries. You probably have PCOS, like me. Push for a scan so you can get a clear diagnosis. The next step is usually a drug called clomid which encourages you to ovulate - if the doctor suggests this, make sure that you get regular scans and monitoring while you're on it. I did it for 3 months without and it was very frustrating. The good news is that apparently ovulation problems are the easiest fertility problem to fix.

[GraceGrape]

This "post-pill amenorrhea" (as I understand it is known) is not always indicative of an underlying problem. I had the same thing when I came off the pill (after 11 years) - no period for nearly 6 months. My periods then started normally and I conceived my daughter on the second cycle. I had irregular cycles for some time after her birth, but they then became regular and I am now expecting my second. I did have some blood tests done by my GP, which showed nothing. I don't know if it helped, but I did take a herbal product called Agnus Castus (available from health food shops) for a coupe of months, which is supposed to regulate your periods (use with caution if actively TTC though). I do think it's worth getting checked out by your GP as well. Mine tested me after 5 months so you should at least get some initial tests after 6 months.

[peardrop2]

Critter thanks for your advice. I will make sure I have regular scans if I'm given Clomid

Grace how did you get your periods to return? Did you take provera?

[CritterPants]

Pleasure - please don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions and good luck! It is a very frustrating situation to want to start TTC but not be able to because your body won't cooperate - I feel your pain.

[peardrop2]

Critter while you didn't have a period did you use ovulation sticks? I've been using clear blue OV sticks and have had 3 smiley faces over a 3 month period. I know this doesn't confirm that I am actually ovulating. I'm having my second (21 days) blood test next week. I hope it will tell me if I'm ovulating or not.

[CritterPants]

No, I didn't - but I did use them when I was on my unmonitored clomid rounds (which I didn't ovulate on), and got smiley faces even when I didn't end up ovulating - so it was just showing an LH surge, not an actual ovulation. Apparently LH fluctuations are common in women with PCOS, so ovulation sticks can be misleading. I'm glad you're getting the tests - good luck! I have only ovulated since coming off pill with a combination of clomid and a trigger shot, so that's something to perhaps ask about if the tests suggest that you aren't ovulating.

[peardrop2]

Oh goodness I didn't realise that LH fluctuations were common with PCOS. I was clinging onto some hope there! Thanks for your advice, much appreciated :)

[peardrop2]

Oh wow :( I've just learned that LH fluctuations are common in women with PCOS, so ovulation sticks can be misleading!! Would explain why I've been getting smiley faces without AF following. Please someone wipe time next week so that my scan is tomorrow instead of 11 days to wait :(

[FrankelSaysRelax]

Yup, LH fluctuations are pretty standard for PCOS, that is why OPKs (be they Internet cheapies or CBFM) don't work for women with PCOS. You get lots of false peaks due to the high levels of the hormone in your blood.

[peardrop2]

That's depressing news :(

[peardrop2]

If I only get one smiley face a month, that's not loads of peaks?

[FrankelSaysRelax]

No it's not lots of peaks, but if you've had several peaks since coming off the pill and no AF it is most likely that they were false peaks. If you ovulate only one of two things can happen - pregnancy or AF.

[peardrop2]

Oh ok. I guess that makes sense. Especially as last month I got a smiley face and then a peak on the CBFM the following week. I guess this is my punishment for using these tool without the appearance of AF.

[FrankelSaysRelax]

Don't think of it as punishment, fertility problems are very common. My nurse said at my appointment today that PCOS is one of the easiest problems to fix.

Though you shouldn't really be using a CBFM unless you can start it from the first day of your bleed, otherwise it will get confused and give you misleading results.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

PCOS is a PITA of a condition to deal with and it should not in my view be messed around with by GPs.

If PCOS is present usage of the fertility monitors is a waste of both your time and effort. These kits measure LH and they work on the misleading principles that there is only one rise in LH every month and that such a rise is followed by ovulation. Many women with PCOSers have an excess of LH so the kit reads that therefore giving the person a false positive or multiple positive result.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

PCOS can be controlled to an extent but there is no one therapy or treatment that will completely eradicate the cystic follicles on the ovaries. The causes of PCOS are still not fully understood but knowledge has increased over the years.

I would suggest that you try to stay within the correct weight range for your height as excess pounds can exacerbate symptoms. Also many PCOSers do find it very difficult indeed to shed excess weight.

[peardrop2]

I have just checked the NHS website as that last comment about weight slightly worried me. For my height and weight I'm in the healthy zone so I don't need to loose weight. I am not hairy and I don't have any other typical PCOS symptoms. I also had a regular period before going on the pill. So really it's just the mystery missing AF that is a concern. FX the scan reveals why or I get a clearer answer from the doctor. Perhaps it is just provera drug that I need to kick start AF.

[FrankelSaysRelax]

Until you've had a consultation with a fertility specialist please don't stress yourself. Google is the root if all evil when it comes to self-diagnosis and you will always find some random problem to fit what you are experiencing.

A lot of us have been in a similar position to you, but that doesn't mean we all have the same problems. It's hard I know, but until you have the say so of a fertility expert, you can't be sure if there is a problem at all.

[CritterPants]

pear - for what it's worth, I'm a healthy weight and don't have extra hair either. Frankel has excellent advice - we're all different and you won't know for sure what's going on until you've seen a specialist and had a scan. In the meantime, try not to worry!