Trying to conceive & nexplanon implant

[BakingElle]

Hi all ☺️ I’m new to the site so please bare with me if I sometimes don’t use the right abbreviations.
So my OH and I after a long chat over a few months have decided to try to conceive, he has a daughter from a previous marriage aged 10 and I have none. OH is 35 and I am 32. We’ve been together for 3 years and I’ve had the nexplanon implant for 1.5 years. Previous to that I was on the pill but didn’t always remember to take it!!
So I have an appointment to remove the implant next week, I’ve read up a lot on the general timescale it takes for women to conceive after removal, 3-18months. We’ve set our expectations at around a year.
I’ve never been pregnant before, prior to my current OH I was with someone else for 2 years using no contraception and never had a positive test, so there’s is a bit of a worry in regards to my fertility and before you say it I know it’s not always the woman’s fault, but we’ll looking into both of our fertility if there’s a problem after a few years of trying.
I decided to buy some supplements from the big blue logo pharmacy (not sure if allowed to say their names!) I got the ‘conception’ ones with folic acid, zinc and vitamin B6. The lady in there recommended them. It also says it’s specially formulated for women trying for a baby.

I have a few questions though to anyone in the same position or who has been, have any of you mums/ mums to be/ mums ttc tried supplements? Were they beneficial?
How soon after removal of an implant or stopping contraception did you fall pregnant? Did you start supplements soon after removal of implant or before removal?
Apologies for so many questions.

All advise is greatly appreciated Xx

[SilverWitch]

From a previous career, I have seen ladies who have become pregnant after having the implant out for less than 2 months. Once your bleeding pattern returns, you're good to go.

[BakingElle]

That’s highly encouraging to hear, thank you. We aren’t keen on rushing or setting a tight routine purely aimed at conceiving, I feel a more natural go with the flow is the way for me, but with a boost of something easy to keep an eye on like supplements.

[Twinkle1989]

Hopefully other ladies will be able to help, some of the vitamins like Pregnacare can cause irregular periods so it may be worth giving your body time to adjust before taking them (in my opinion). When I came off the pill I didn't have a period for 6-8 weeks and luckily they were regular there after but I wasn't taking anything.

May be worth just taking folic acid for now xx

[BakingElle]

Oh I forgot to add, it seems like most women’s bleeding patterns were affected by implants, coils etc... mine has never changed, on time every month same length. I wonder if that may make a difference, might my pattern actually become irregular and then settle down to regular..

[BakingElle]

Oh that’s handy to know because I did wonder if maybe something maybe thrown out of balance by adding supplements, I went for a Boots own brand. Hopefully they continue being regular, but I’ll be patient. It might be worth me getting folic acid for now as you say before diving into the other ones. Thank you xx

[TheGriffle]

I can’t remember which supplements I took but I had my implant out in May after the 3 years were up, had a period in June and found out I was pregnant in July. This happened twice (dd2 born 5 days before Dd1’s 4th birthday)

[TheGriffle]

Oh I was prescribed folic acid by the doctor when my implant was being removed, I do remember that!

[CooperLooper]

It took me 5 cycles (but 6 calendar months) to fall pregnant after having my nexplanon removed. I'm 37+2 as we speak 😊

I'd had mine in (2 back to back) for nearly 6 years and didn't have a single period whilst I had them in.

Neither of my periods were back to 'normal' before I fell pregnant, I'm still surprised I did tbh. My cycles were all over the place between 27-50 days, I had delayed ovulation and really short luteal phases, and my periods themselves were really light and only lasted a day or two. Still managed to fall pregnant though which is brilliant but my doctor has actually suggested PCOS - so not sure whether the implant had masked PCOS or whether it was just taking ages for my cycles to regulate again after no periods for so long. I'll never have the implant again though.

As for supplements just take a folic acid pregnancy vitamin and try to relax. Don't tie yourself in knots every month like I did - I'd recommend you use OPKs, track your BBT and cycles and just collect data and look for patterns each month. I took every supplement under the sun (B6, B complex, agnus castus, zinc, Vit C) and all they did was make me nauseous and cause me to have pill fear about swallowing them.

Good luck, relax, enjoy the process 😊

[CooperLooper]

Oh and I started taking folic acid once we'd started TTC, so I'd been taking folic acid for a few months by the time we'd conceived!

[twoticksvix]

Good luck op! I'm now on my 4th Nexplanon implant. I have twins (my only pregnancy) and had my 2nd implant taken out early to TTC. I conceived the 4th month of trying. I didn't have any periods whilst I had any of the implants in at all. I took folic acid but only from when I got my positive test and I then also had to take aspirin daily (multiple reasons but mainly due to multiple pregnancy).

[BakingElle]

Thank you all for your input and experiences, it’s definitely boosted more of the positive mindset I had from when we decided to start ttc. I have just got regular folic a code supplements so I’ll start on those as soon as it’s out. I’m very much looking forward to the journey ❤️

[BakingElle]

Noted! I definitely intend on being relaxed about it and just enjoying the journey. On the point of PCOS, that’s been something on my mind, I’ve had a feeling it maybe something I have but to get my GP to investigate has been a nightmare, but I certainly have all the symptoms.
There are changes I need to make in terms of losing some weight and being healthier, as it’s for an amazing reason it’ll make the changes enjoyable.

Thank you CooperLooper ☺️ Xx

[Pollyell]

Hey! I got the implant out 1st August, immediately had a withdrawal bleed (basically like a period) and it took 55 days for normal period to arrive. I THINK I'm on track for a standard cycle this month according to OPk's.

I am taking pregnacare and also drinking lots of nice teas such as ginger, cinnamon, turmeric - and also taking apple cider vinegar (pretty yucky!) apparently these herbs etc help promote regular cycle, not sure if they're actually working but a good way to cut down on caffeine in prep for being pregnant! Good luck! X

[TotoroPotoro]

I just took folic acid and was pregnant within 2 months of having it taken out. Quite a shock!

[borntohula]

I got pregnant within two months of having the implant removed, it should not affect your fertility. Good luck. :)

[BakingElle]

Hi ☺️ @ I had it out yesterday but was already on my period, the nurse told me to either expect another period sooner or for it to be late, but to do a test in 4 weeks time anyway. What are OPk’s? I’m not so clued up on some things.

I wondered if to take pregnacare but decided on Boots own brand called ‘conception’ for women trying. My caffeine intake is low anyway, but I’ll give the good teas a try, definitely miss out the apple cider vinegar, it causes me gastric issues, tried it as a weight loss supplement and oh my... I suffered!

Keep us updated and good luck to you too! Xx

[BakingElle]

Oh wow that was quick!! That’s great to know, thank you for sharing ladies. Hopefully it’s good news sooner but no rush.