Tracking cycle straight after coming off the pill?

[zoClueless]

Hi there,

Hoping that the experienced ladies in here can give me a quick answer to this question – I have just spent some of my lunch break googling but couldn’t find a definitive.

I took my last pill on Thursday and am planning to start ttc in December. I have download Ovia and Fertility Friend so that I can start learning about my cycle ahead of ttc. Can I start now and count the first day of my withdrawal bleed as CD1 even though it isnt true AF?

I haven’t purchased a thermometer to start charting temperature. Wasn’t sure this is something I should get into straightaway. I know that ttc is more than likely to take a while and don’t want to get completely obsessed before I have even started! However, if I were to start charting temp, does this need to be taken the same time every day or is it just important that it is the first thing you do when you wake up?

Thanks!

[heavenforbid]

Hi zocluleless - I'm also new to this so thought I'd share my experience!

I think you can start tracking right away but be aware that your first cycle might look really long as it won't be a true period. I started tracking mine on an app straight after coming off the pill just to get into the swing of it even though I knew the withdrawal bleed wouldn't be a true period. It's been 7 months since I came of the pill and my cycles are still very long and irregular which is irritating, but my friend who came off her pill at a similar time to me got her periods back much quicker and they are more regular, so it really depends!


I also bought a BBT thermometer but haven't been using it yet. Waiting for another long cycle to end (never thought I'd be wishing for my period!) and then plan to chart my temperatures for the next one as I'm concerned I'm not actually ovulating. I believe it's most accurate if you do it at the same time everyday, but should always be before you get up.

Good luck!

[Teddy7878]

I came off the pill recently and you track day 1 of your withdrawal bleed as the first day of your cycle. I got mine within 5 days of stopping. I then had my first AF 30 days later for 6 days (heavy and painful compared to being on the pill). I ovulated on day 16

[zoClueless]

Hello - Thanks for your replies!

My withdrawal bleed properly started after 3 days of stopping the pill, as normal on pill free weeks, so I will put that in as CD1 and see what happens - fully expecting the first few cycles, and first especially, wont be a true reflection but wanted to get started on tracking and learning my cycle again after 6 years+ on the pill.

Heavenforbid - I'll have to have more of a think about charting temperatures. I am not a morning person and not sure how reliable I would be at forcing myself to wake early on the weekends! Maybe I'll leave it and see what happens after a few cycles.

Teddy7878 - I've had some minor cramps with this withdrawal bleed as normal and it reminded me that AF is only going to get worse when it comes back properly - not relishing the thought of full on cramps returning again :-(


It's going to be a learning curve over the coming months i think - scary how much I dont know about my own body!

[Teddy7878]

Yes definitely count first day of withdrawl bleed as day 1 as I was instructed to do this by my gynaecologist. Some people go straight back to a 26-35 day regular cycle on their first AF. Other people may have a much longer cycle for a bit (think my sister didn't get her AF until she was on about day 63 but it soon settled down after 3 months)

[Pebblesandblamblam]

Hello! In the same boat here too :-) Anything else we should be doing around this time? I'm taking folic acid...

[Gem173]

I finished my last pill on 21st Sep, got my withdrawal bleed on 23rd Sep to 26th Sep, ovulated on 13th Oct (pos opk on 12th Oct), period came 24th to 28th Oct. (31 day cycle) pains were actually quite bad compared to being on the pill. Had constant backache (which I never had on pill) and some shocking pain in my right hip as well as a heavy vagina pain like it was gunna fall out! Lol was horrible not looking forward to my next period or ovulation pains :( hopefully you will get yours back soon !

[Teddy7878]

My pains have been horrible too. Thank god for hot water bottles. I always suffered with painful heavy periods though

[Warhammerwidow89]

Im the same as you my coil came out beginning of the month, so I've been tracking since, back in my paper based journal. I'm gonna try the apps you suggested. Just got my period today :( a lot more painful.

Never heard of the thermometer thing, I'll have to research it!

[SPARKS17]

Hi Guys, I am 12 days into tracking my first cycle after coming off the pill. I am using Kindara and a BBT, I am not actively TTC just yet but wanting to chart so I can see if I ovulate or not. I have been on the pill for 18 years so expecting it to take a while for my cycle to kick back in!

I am on a cocktail of vitmains at the moment as I was expecting my acne to return after coming off the pill (I did it once in my twenties and the acne was so horrific I went straight back on it). So I am taking zinc, vitamin B complex, folic acid, Maca, DIM and Vitamin D. Hoping to phase some of them out at Christmas if the acne doesn't come back. So far so good!

I had really a really achy lower back the week following my withdrawal bleed but that has gone now thank goodness!

[Teddy7878]

I had all sorts of symptoms the first month like Lower back pain, lots of bloating, gas, anxiety and strong cramps. Feeling a lot better the second month so hopefully my hormones have settled down

[zoClueless]

gem173 I do remember when I was younger having fairly bad cramping so I am keeping everything crossed it doesn't come back quite a bad as that :-( Just going back to heavier periods after years of lighter withdrawal bleeds is going to be a shock to the system I think!

pebbles I'm taking the pregnacare conception vitamins at the moment. Mainly for the folic acid, just picked those ones up because they were 3 for 2 when I was in boots. sparks I too suffer from acne and am concerned about it returning when my body realises it isn't getting another pill after the normal 7 day break. Which of the vitamins you are taking are for that? I'll have to check what else is in pregnacare. I'm using epiduo at night at the moment which I'll also have to stop once we start ttc and I use duac in the morning which my doctor says I can keep using.

warhammerwidow I picked those apps randomly really, I suspect they are all quite similar so I'll just have an experiment to see which ones I get on with best.

[zoClueless]

teddy interesting, and frustrating, that you had so many symptoms coming off the pill - glad that it's settling down for you now!

I feel like being on the pill effects things like anxiety levels and have been clinging to the hope that I'll feel emotionally better once coming off.

I think I best be prepared (and warn DH maybe...) for anything!!

[Teddy7878]

The pill gave me anxiety and it seemed to get worse the first month I was off (hormones were probably all over the place) but I feel a lot better now so don't panic if you feel worse for a few weeks

[Ladykat457]

Hello! I am in a very similar situation to you OP! I came off the pill on 16th Sept and planning on TTC in December/Jan.

I was on the mini pill and had a period on it (which used to happen from time to time) and was planning to stop soon anyway. I stopped taking it the first day of my “period” and starting tracking bbt, CM and using Opks. Not actually ttc but just wanted to know what’s going on and to honest just found it really fascinating.

Anyway, just finished first ‘normal period’. My cycle was 40 days but as was my first cycle off the pill, didn’t think that was too bad. Hoping it will shorten a little but even if it doesn’t the charting allowed me to know exactly what day I ovulated which I never would’ve known without it.

I’d say start charting now but just be aware that your first cycle might be longer than average.

[Ladykat457]

Oh and I would recommend fertility friend, seems most accurate to me (so far)

[BeardofZeus]

Hello! I stopped my pill Sep 6, withdrawal bleed as normal and then a 38 day cycle for my first period off the pill in 12 years! I had light cramps on and off for about a week or so and then a 3day light period (my withdrawl bleeds were only ever a day long).. did anyone else notice the blood seemed ever so slightly different? Mine seemed redder and more viscous? Anyway now onto our first proper cycle ttc.. I'm charting bbt for my interest at this stage as it doesnt really mean much to me yet! I've got OPKs but am not sure when to use them... any advice? There's not a huge amount of information on what to expect coming off the pill i found as it's all individual i think /cries

[SPARKS17]

Clueless this blog post sums up a lot of diet and vitamin changes you should think about making if coming off the pill and you had acne or other problems before going on it. www.theholykale.com/2013/03/getting-off-birth-control-pills-now-what/

and another one which was quite useful www.larabriden.com/how-to-come-off-hormonal-birth-control/

I have reduced my sugar and dairy intake but not eliminated it.

So far so good!

[zoClueless]

ladykat hello! It's been nice to see a few people in similar situations as I've been lurking around this board to get some idea of what to expect but obviously most people are actively ttc already.

I'm going on holiday, long haul, end of Dec to mid Jan. Trying to decide whether to start ttc before then or use the holiday as a starting point.

I can see how it might be good to start some chatting soon - especially if my first cycle is really long, it would be reassuring to see if I start ovulating. Don't want to get hooked on opks too soon - I understand that can get fairly pricey!

[zoClueless]

beard yes - I agree so little information which does make sense as everyone is effected differently, but still annoying for people like me that like to know what to expect!!!

Thanks for the links sparks. Will try sneak some reading into my afternoon!

[Kitty610]

I also came off the pill at the beginning of this year and am planning to start TTC in December. My periods have been all over the place with cycles ranging from 30-55 days. They seem to have settled into the mid-30s over the past few months.
Does anyone have any recommendations for vitamins I should be taking? I’m quite keen to just take one rather than a whole load every day!

[NelleB]

Hi Zoe,
I am in the same boat as you, stopped my pill in July, has the longest cycle ever in August and September and October it’s been better. I have the clue app, just bought some ovulation tests as I have no idea what I am doing. Hoping the ovulation tests give me some guidance. Also booked in with GP for guidance as I have some other health issues. Wishing you lots of luck x

[PickettBowtruckles]

This thread has been so informative! Thanks for starting.

I was on the patch, took it off (so same as last day of the pill) on 2nd October, withdrawal bleed from the 6th-10th October. I'm also using Ovia and used the 'I don't know' feature for how long my cycles are so am also just waiting to see what happens! I do remember having quite erratic periods when I was younger, but I've been on hormonal contraception since I was 15 so I'm not sure if mine would've settled down naturally as I got older had I not taken contraception. It's frustrating as we are saying we're TTC but realistically no idea how long it'll be until we can actually accurately do that!

[bloobree]

Jumping on just to share my experience really.

Took my last pill on the 28th of September, Thursday. Withdrawal bleed started the following Saturday for 1 week. I counted this as my first 7 days of the cycle. I had all sorts of symptoms, sore nipples, bad cramps, spots and the heavy feeling almost all month long. Feeling lucky that my period came back after 30 days. I know this doesn't necessarily mean they'll all be on time but fingers crossed.

Period has been alot heavier than on the pill but symptoms have been non existent. I've taken Seven Seas TTC vits since coming off the pill, it does say on the packet that they help regulate hormones so maybe this has helped? Using Ovia atm to track!

Not temping or POAS this time. Ive done this before and found that it made me very obsessive and stressed out.

Hope this helps someone

[zoClueless]

kitty I didn't really research the vitamins much. I mentioned in my last doctors appointment that I was planning on ttc December time as I knew that would change some of the creams I use for acne and he just said you need to start taking vitamins/folic acid. I got the conception pregnacare ones just because it was a brand name I recognised really and had the right amount of folic acid (I checked what the NHS website said for folic acid). I wish I had come off even earlier in preparation for ttc in December like you really but we went to somewhere with zika in march so couldn't risk an accidental earlier pregnancy. Neither of us think we got any mosquito bites but obviously didn't want to risk it.

nelle i also ordered some cheap opks from amazon today. Need to work exactly what to do but figured it might be worth checking whether ovulation is returning for me this month or not! Good luck to you too

[zoClueless]

pickettbowltruckles I'm pleased that it wasn't just mean wondering how it all works when you've just come off contraception. It has been helpful reading through these experiences. I think I remember having 30-35 day cycles before I went on pill, even though it's only been 6 years i actually don't remember too well. When I was at uni they were actually really irregular, once went 3months without anything but that seemed to settle in my early 20s before going ok pill. Definitely entering into the unknown.

bloobree hello and thanks for sharing! I have been thinking back to how heavy they were pre-pill and I am not looking forward to the first one back - although am in a way also as at least that will mean everything if hopefully coming back to normal ok!
I have some cheapie sticks to use to check on cycle/ovulation now so to try learn more about myself but once start actively ttc in December I may leave them for a bit so not to get too obsessed too soon!