First Day in 10 Years Without Hormonal Contraception... Help!

[plutoisnotaplanet]

I had my implant taken out last night so I am without contraception for the first time in 10 years, having been on the pill before that and I am shit scared Am i going to have a second puberty??

I want to stay off hormonal contraception for a while just to give myself a break. I haven't had a period for 3 years so it would be nice to get those back for a while.

I've communicated all this to DP and he's happy for me to come off contraception. If we got pregnant it wouldn't be the end of the world but we dont want to actively TTC if that makes sense? We can't use condoms because I'm allergic to latex and the latex free ones also give me a rash (delightful!).. we've decided to track my cycle and just avoid ovulation and the days leading up to it, then use the withdrawal method the rest of the time...

Oh god. How likely is it I'm going to end up up-duffed??

[Calmisthemantra]

I've been using the rhythm method for 3 years with no pregnancy. But I have a very regular 28 day cycle, and use protection during my fertile week. This worked for us because if I did get pg that would've been fine. I wouldn't recommend it if you really don't want to conceive though

[plutoisnotaplanet]

Thanks calm

We are at that awkward stage where a pregnancy would be very much wanted (been together 8 years, own a house, great family support etc) in theory but we are shit scared in practice lol

DP wants children now, it's me who's holding things up and to be honest i would be over the moon if we got pregnant, im just not quite ready to actively TTC yet if that makes sense?

[Youowemeatenner]

In the exact same boat as you Pluto, second implant removed 2 days ago, prior to that was taking the pill. It's a long time! We are TTC #1. OH is "it will happen when it happens" whereas I'm ready to get trying asap! Having all sorts of panicky thoughts though, what if it doesn't happen for us, what if 10 years of contraception has had an impact, what if what if what if!

[MoonlightMojitos]

Ok first up you are not going to have a second puberty don't worry! First few cycles after coming off bc will probably be completely crazy, youll get symptoms and cm youve never seen before and many other things thatll make you realise how much bc really messes with you! You might not ov or get af for many many weeks so do not use the method of avoiding any (what you think are) fertile days until cycles have settled down until you decide to join the dark side start ttc! And when you're ready come and join us in the ttc after pill thread (doesn't really matter of its the pill or other birth control!) I'd like to keep posted on how long your "not actively trying" phase lasts because I think you secretly really want that baba too and don't worry were all shitting ourselves about it!

[Dixiechick1991]

Hello waves

Can I join?
I'm on week 1 of no pill and I've felt like absolute garbage. Headaches and nausea and just general tiredness. Give me back the hormones please!

I'm so scared I'll go back to my acne faced, agonising AF, teenage ways.

Oh...and Pluto I think we're in the same boat. Married 😊 House ☺️ Want a family ☺️ ... Terrified of actually committing to trying to start a family ☺️☺️☺️

[FayaMAMA]

I can't take hormonal contraception due to how it affects my mental health (yay), my DP is allergic to latex and latex free condoms give ME a rash so we have been tracking my cycle and just avoiding sex during my fertile 'window' and pulling out most of the rest of the time to be safeish. We've been together 9 months now and I'm not pregnant yet so I believe it's going well.

Coming off hormonal contraception is scary though, I understand that. I was on it from 14 until I fell pregnant at 20 (multiple different pills, implant, injection) and it utterly terrified me to be told by both my GP, nurse and therapist that I shouldn't really be taking it due to the hormone variations and imbalances it can cause.

[KittyWindbag]

Pluto If you want to try to avoid getting pregnant but you really can't use any contraception, you could download a period cycle app to help you work out which days are the 'danger' days.

Of course, this is not exactly foolproof, but as you said you wouldn't at all mind getting pregnant, then perhaps it's one method you could use.

FWIW, and with a caveat that I know everyone is different, I came off the pill after ten years in order to TTC, and my cycle took a few months to get back to normal, and I am still not pregnant.

But then, there are others who get pregnant within weeks, so...

[plutoisnotaplanet]

Thanks Guys :)

Really lovely to know I'm not alone here!

Haha yes you have it right if I'm honest, I'm secretly hoping the adult decision of TTC is taken away from me and we sort of accidentally fall in to having a baby If it was up to DP we'd have a house full of kids by the time we hit 30 and he's keen to start our family ASAP. That's lovely, but I'm chronically sensible and a massive worrier, so making big decisions like this is hell for me! He's lovely and supportive though and very much happy to wait, no pressure which is great :)

We are getting married in 2018 so part of me wants to wait until then, but then I think I'm only using that as a way to postpone the decision making

BAH!

Currently the plan is abstinence until I've had a period or 2 and know where I'm at with cycles etc.. except that so far has been rubbish We decided this last night and would never normally want to DTD on a night when DP was working, but because we told ourselves we couldnt do it.. we did

Question: I havent yet had a period and have only had the thing out of my arm since Tuesday, I can't get up duffed yet can i? (argh...)

[Dixiechick1991]

I think getting pregnant so soon is highly unlikely - but then again I'm a novice at all this TTC business!

We've got to use condoms for the next 5 weeks which I hate. It's so annoying being so cautious - neither of us got bitten or have had any Zika symptoms but were being extra safe (which is extra extra hard!)

Today is my first day without a headache so I'm pretty glad, Im eagerly awaiting my first AF. Hoping it doesn't just start like it used to when I was 14!

[plutoisnotaplanet]

Wondering whether I should brief DP and say we really cant be sneakily DTD as there's a chance we could get pg, or whether this is over cautious and you can't really get pg until your cycles settle?

Bah!

Feeling tired and a bit sick today like i used to pre-AF in the early days, I feel 15 again!

[Dixiechick1991]

Maybe just say to him that he's Got to be aware that no matter how small a chance until your cycles are all settled there is still a chance you get get pregnant if you keep DTD

Yep same symptoms as me but mine can't be because of AF being due as my withdrawal bleed only finished yesterday. I'm dreading going back to work in 2 weeks if I can't shake this tired feeling!

[plutoisnotaplanet]

No bleeding at all for me yet but it's only been gone since Tuesday so I'm not too worried.

We DTD the night before i had it removed and then again last night, I've said no more without some form of protection and I've told DP we can get pg at any time now it's out. He only has a very limited understanding of how periods and cycles work (he calls it period maths ) but he's trying his best to learn and I've promised I'll keep him in the loop with where I'm at.

We discussed trying condoms again but I ended up in a&e last time .. not a great way to discover a latex allergy! The latex free ones also make me really sore so not sure what that's about.. maybe trying a different brand would help?

[Dixiechick1991]

Haha my husband is the same. He thinks women get pregnant at any time as soon as they DTD

I hate condoms with a passion, I think in the whole time we've been together we've used them maybe 4 times - they make me not want to DTD. slightly TMI maybe?

[MoonlightMojitos]

It's just funny because usually when people start trying they say oh were just going to relaxed and see what happens and before you know it you're actively trying everything you can and it becomes a bit obsessive!

Defo come and join us all on the other thread even if you're not trying yet you can talk with us all in a similar position of the crazy limbo of not knowing what's going on in there for a few months til it all settled down. I was on the pill for 10 years and very lucky that my cycles became regular straight away but there are girls waiting 50+ days with no sign of af so it's really a mixed bag and you could have no idea when you will ovulate. It could be 1 week, 2 weeks or a month and you might get caught out! Everyone is just as nervous as you first time as it's all new. I got a BFP on my second cycle off the pill (unfortunately ended in mc so trying again) and up until I saw that line I was so calm and like "I'm so ready to be a mum" and when that test turned positive I shit my pants! I was shaking and scared and the complete opposite to how I thought I'd be so don't worry!!!!