Post-Pill (Cerelle) Cycle Question

[Redpony1]

I stopped taking Cerelle at the beginning of Dec 2016 after 5 years.

I had a number of 'normal' post-pill symptoms throughout Dec and into Jan. As i hadn't had an AF, i started using OPK's every other day from 1st Jan just to see if anything showed up that showed things were getting back to normal.
On 23rd Jan i got my first faint line, then it crept up to positive 25th/26th Jan, back down to faint line then paperwhite by 29th.
So technically i am in the 2WW as we DTD plenty.

However, as i do not know when AF is due, i plan to test on weekend of 11th/12th Feb if nothing arrives.

My question is, if it's negative i will be awaiting for AF for an unknown amount of time, am I right in saying i won't ovulate again until after i do have an AF though?

Thanks in advance!

[Redpony1]

Forgot to day, it's exactly 62 days since i stopped taking Cerelle

[Redpony1]

*say not day! Sigh.

[FlipKat]

Hiya, if the test is negative I'd repeat it after a week or so just in case.

You don't need to have AF before ovulating again, but it will be tricky to figure out when it is next going to happen!

I've just come off Cerelle too, but only 7 days ago. As I've been on hormonal contraception for many many years, I am curious to see how long it takes for my cycle to return. I've bought the CB digital dual hormone thing rather than just LH tests as I have no idea when I might ovulate and am hoping rising oestrogen will give me some warning. Have you thought about trying this? They are a bit expensive but lots of people say they are helpful.

Interestingly, my oestrogen rose and has stayed up from day 2 off the pill and I've been getting the blinking smiley face on the display. It will be interesting to see how long it takes from this point to actually ovulating!

[buzzmoon]

Hey red! 🙋🏽 Did you have regular periods 5 years ago? I'd probably not remember that far back tbh!

[Redpony1]

FlipKat Good to know i won't need AF to come before i ovulate again (although un-nerving that my cycle might not be normal!). I have a job lot of LH OPK's so will start them from after i do a HPT. If no luck, i will invest in the CB dual hormone ones - i just want to know what is going on inside me!

Hi Buzz! Ummmmm, sometimes AF lasted 2 days, sometimes 7 days. I never once ever counted how many days between them though back then

[confusedat23]

Hi Girls!

I remember reading on here you have to wait 6 months post pill for an AF before a doctor will start looking into it (I think thats a bit harsh!)

[xlaura]

Im finishing my Cerelle pack soon..well 12th March is the final one. I get married in June and wanted to give my body enough time (hopefully!) to have AF make an appearance so I know where I am cycle wise. Normally if ever ive had a break my withdrawal bleed arrives a few days after.

Let me know what your symptoms are like and how long you waited for AF to show as id be interested to see how much it differs.

[Mummymathsteacher]

Can't offer any advice, but in exactly the same situation, almost down to the day. Mini AF/withdrawl bleed at the start of Januart though. I am pretty sure I ovulated around the 25th but no idea how long my cycle is! So frustrating!

[xlaura]

Mummy - well I spose it's always refreshing to know your not on your own! We spend all that time avoiding pregnancy and then the minute we want to grow a little bundle of joy it's the hardest thing ever 🙈😂

[Mummymathsteacher]

I know! Cerelle is just so unpredictable! Last time I came off it, I was pregnant within three weeks, but this time, everything is all over the place. Still, it can take months to get back to normal so I'm not too disheartened yet.

[xlaura]

Well I've never come off it and been TTC. I've only had short breaks more for my own sanity as I was starting to become really anxious. I was reading loads of posts about how quick or slow people got pregnant post-pill and it's so 50/50. I figured if I use protection until end of April hopefully by then my body may start to regulate again properly and then no protection from may. I wish it was as simple as coming off and just getting pregnant on the first go. All of this waiting around and timing, testing, opks, apps..it sucks to be a woman haha.

[Redpony1]

Being a woman sucks!! If men had to do all this and give birth babies would be grown in artificial wombs in a lab by now!! haha

[xlaura]

It's funny you should say that red, I am in the process of conquering the world and growing your own hand picked babies in a lab. Think of all the coins I'll earn from it. I recon id possibly be the richest person alive if you can make something that overrules the whole use of a human body 🤔 if only aye...

[Mummymathsteacher]

It sucks, but when you finally get lucky and get that BFP, it's simply an amazing feeling! Another BFN here today, so hoping for AF soon so I can start again

[xlaura]

Well yeah I can only imagine what that feels like when you see those lines or words on the screen 🤞🏼 I had a few scares with oh but every time I've tested it's always been negative which we were always kind of happy about as it was complete wrong timing but we almost accepted it was gonna BFP we were sort of excited so when it was BFN we were both a little disheartened but knew it was right. Roll on when I can actually start TTC and keep a track of my cycles hopefully!

[xlaura]

P.S sorry to hear about your BFN. Maybe try again in a week you never know..probs just bad timing perhaps?

[Lolly34h]

I came off cerelle on the 28th of December and had a period on the 2nd of Feb. I'm 5 weeks pg tomoz so sometimes it happens quicker than expected x

[xlaura]

AF arrived 24 day after stopping the pill. Had severe cramps (something I've never suffered with) but other than that no other symptoms specific to post-pill anyway. How are you getting on?

[Nes123]

So i came across this post...internet is amazing but wow you can get overloaded. I stopped cerelle beginning of April, i have had no withdrawal bleed, did have nausa and perhaps tmi but really sensitive nipples for first few weeks have dtd but did hpt last week and nothing, the initial symptoms have gone. How long should i wait for AF as id like to TTC. Im over 30 so i at times worry about age also being an issue. When should i chat to GP guess i just need some reasurance. Any help or advice?

[OVO1410]

I'm 31 and I've been on cerazette (same as cerelle) for 14 years with breaks just when having my two DC. Both times, I saw the GP as soon as I stopped taking the pill so that it was on file when I had started TTC in case I needed help later. GP advised AF should return 3 months after last pill and I shouldn't expect to conceive for at least another 6 months after that. With DS (3years) I had one bleed 7 weeks after my last pill and then conceived 3 weeks later. With DD (7weeks) I had one bleed 4 weeks after my last pill and then conceived 6 weeks later. I'm aware that I'm fortunate to have conceived so quickly but I feel that there are a lot of horror stories online regarding this pill so it's nice to hear something positive. HTH

[Nes123]

Thanks for the reply, that does help, i just need to relax just didnt know AF would take so long...

[Emily9091]

I have been on Cerazette/Cerelle/Feanolla for the last 3 years with no periods in that time at all. I stopped taking on 27/03 and period came on 01/05 exactly 5 weeks after stopping it.

[LifeOfRiley63]

Sorry to bump an old post. This is my first post on MN. (Sorry if the acronyms are wrong)

3 years ago I came off Cerelle as I wasn't with anyone. I had AF 4 days later. 2 weeks later I DTD with someone and found out I was BFP 6 weeks pregnant. I had a termination as it was a horrid situation and went straight back onto Cerelle.

3 years later... I finished my Cerelle on 20th October and we are now TTC. It's been 2.5 weeks and still no sign of AF. I started taking folic acid straight away. However, after 1 week of TTC I had a LOAD of symptoms, one achey boob, stomach cramps, loads of CM (to the point I thought I'd had an accident!), sensitive smell, loss of appetite, nausea. I convinced myself I was pregnant. End of week 2 my symptoms have all but gone, still a fair amount of CM every day.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I have to confess I've taken far too many tests and all are BFNs. I took an ovulation test yesterday and it was a really weak line.

[Blondcat]

@Lifeofriley63 welcome to MN. I am fairly new too. Been ttc since I came off of cerelle at the end of September. I had an initial withdrawal bleed at time of stopping for about a week then also had sore boobs nausea etc but this must seems to be a side effect of stopping the pill. I had my first AF about 4 weeks after stopping the pill but I have heard it is different for everyone. It was painful and lasted about 5 days.
I have been on some form of hormonal contraception for many many years and was on cerelle for just over a year before ttc so have no idea what this has done to my body and if I am now into regular cycles but fingers crossed. I found an app to track my periods so well just keep a note and see if they settle.

[LifeOfRiley63]

Hi BlondCat, thanks for your reply.
After posting this yesterday a similar thread came up and it sounds normal for your body to throw up these symptoms. So confusing though as you feel blummin rotten!

I am hoping AF will come in the next week or two. Fingers crossed!