Light periods after stopping pill

This thread is reassuring as I’ve been the same. Came off pill in January and started to cycle straight away. Have checked ovulation last couple months and fine but I will now spot for up to a week before my period and when it does come it’s lasting 2-3 days and so light I’m almost unable to use a tampon. I was more worried about the spotting and I’m going this cycle for day 21 progesterone to make sure that’s all ok. Seeing a lot of other people with issues off the pill it may just be one of those things

Hi everyone! Just interested to know if any of you track your cervical mucus to help with pinpointing ovulation? I’m planning to not use OPKs or temping at least unless it seems to be taking a while once we start TTC, but I am tracking my CM to see if there’s a pattern. What I’ve noticed is that I don’t think I ovulated my first cycle off the pill (in between my withdrawal bleed and my first natural period) as there was no noticeable CM but I’m definitely seeing a pattern of EWCM in what my app says should be my fertile days (this month and last month), which I guess is encouraging? I know it doesn’t definitely mean I’m ovulating but is hopefully a sign! Would be curious to know if any of you know any more about it or are also tracking or looking out for it as a sign 😊

@Lollipop87 yes I would love to keep chatting on here with you guys. Keep me updated with how you get on.
I am currently on Levothroxine for my under active thyroid. I was diagnosed about 2 months ago after asking for bloods due to abdominal aches, exhaustion and severe bloating.
I'm still convinced it's related to coming off the pill as these symptoms only seemed to occur after stopping it.

@Sip123 I can completely understand why you are worried and I can empathise. After reading through this thread there is a lot of hope so I think everything will be fine for you :)

I came off pill end of last month and still no bleed.. plenty of cramps and mood swings and feel like it’s coming , then nothing.. can’t no worry as came off to start ttc

@PracticalMagic111 thanks for the lovely message, would love to keep chatting on here about how we’re getting on 😊 Will you be having any treatment for your under-active thyroid?

Thank you so much for welcoming me!
@Lollipop87 I am not actively TTC as of yet but was just concerned about the change of my cycles and how that may impact my body.
Thank you both for putting my mind at ease I really appreciate that.
It really is frustrating that Doctors don't acknowledge the impact of coming off the pill, I would feel better if they said it was related then I would know for sure what the cause was.
The bloating and aching is constant which was the main reason why I asked for a blood test. I know muscle aches and bloating can be caused by under active thyroid but it was so strange how my body just changed completely after stopping birth control.
My mum was convinced I was pregnant due to how bad the bloating was, it was so difficult to try to explain that I couldn't be due to having so many negative tests.
I have a lot of cramping too (sometimes even when I'm not due on), which makes me think my bleed will be heavy but it's so frustrating when there is only a light bleed to show for the pain.
I'm hoping that after a few more months that my body will settle more.
@Hope365 I'm glad your post pill weirdness calmed, that gives me some hope :) (excuse the name reference)
I feel like a weight has been lifted being able to talk about this so I'm so grateful for your responses.

Hi @PracticalMagic111, sorry you're having these issues too... Like @Lollipop87 said, in my experience and others on here too, light periods seems to be something that is sadly totally dismissed by doctors. It sounds like you are having some tests done though which is good - from what I remember reading I think thyroid issues can definitely explain unusual periods so something to discuss further with your GP? With the bloating and ache, do you have it all the time or only at particular times in your cycle? When I first came off the pill I used to get horrendous bloating and ache for around a week leading up to ovulation every month - it was so uncomfortable and really worried me... It gradually got better with time though and after about a year it was totally gone! So for me, some of the post-pill weirdness did sort itself out on its own (long irregular cycles and ovulation bloat) but the light periods unfortunately didn't. I hope you get some answers, always here to chat xxx

Hi @PracticalMagic111, sorry to hear you’re having these problems too. So you’re still having the light bleeds a few months later? And the doctors said it’s nothing to worry about? (A couple of ladies on here had to push to get referred to fertility clinics to check their uterine lining). Do you know if you’re ovulating and are you actively TTC? I haven’t done any temping or OPKs or anything and not TTC until October so not sure if I’m ovulating, but if you know you are you could try getting referred for them to check your lining as it needs to be a certain thickness for implantation. Good luck! Xx

Hi all, I hope you don't mind be joining.
I came across this thread today after being concerned about my cycles after coming off the pill (lucette). I stopped taking the pill at the end of January (I had been taking it for around 10 years) and each month I have had extremely light bleeds lasting at most 2 days. All regular but nothing like the periods I had when I was on the pill or before.
I am also extremely bloated and achy around my abdomen.
With the light periods and bloating I was convinced I was pregnant! After taking 6 test all coming back negative, I guess I have to rule this out.
It's so refreshing to find people who are experiencing the same thing after stopping the pill, I couldn't find anything on google and when I mention it at the Drs they brush past it or say it's not pill related.
I have had a recent blood test which showed an under active thyroid so not sure if that's related too, or if that's caused by coming off the pill? I'm so confused.

@Hope365 Thank you :) perhaps I'm being a bit harsh on my body - it's just tricky when you read about so many women on here falling pregnant the first cycle off the pill, and then I'm here thinking 'well I don't even seem to be ovulating!' and then I find it hard to grasp why things are taking a while as am a healthy weight, healthy diet, regular exercise etc. I suppose the only positive I can take from this situation is that hopefully everything I am doing will help my egg quality, and how much I have learnt about TTC will hopefully mean we have the best shot possible at things working out when I do start ovulating again. Just wish I knew this could happen as I would have come off the pill a year ago in preparation. Must learn to go with the flow and let my body do its thing! xx

@MintGreenLife I totally get your frustrations, though can imagine everything must feel a million times worse with the added stress of a postponed wedding... My cycles were really long and irregular for almost a year after coming off the pill (often 40 plus day cycles), but they did settle in the end - now I almost always ovulate on CD19/20. I hope things settle for you xxx

@Hope365 thanks for your wise words :) you're totally right, I should probably wait and see what happens over the next cycle or two. General advice online seems to be to leave things for three months and see if things go back to normal before trying Vitex etc, which I have now and am currently on CD29 with no positive OPK and no BBT temp rise, so things are obviously far from normal with me. I'll leave it another cycle and just hope that things look better next time round - I was convinced things would be better this cycle as I made dietary changes and started taking a conception vitamin and a few other supplements, but things are actually even worse this time. I'll see how I go, but the pressure of having to rebook our postponed wedding isn't helping.

Wishing you all the luck in the world with IVF, really hope you are successful xx

Hi @Hope365, thanks for your lovely reply 😊 Yes it’s funny isn’t it, we know it’s probably better to just wait patiently for a while but it’s so hard! I’m definitely not going to take anything like Vitex unless I have real trouble, will give it a good few months first. Thanks for the tips and I really hope you get your longed for baby really soon ❤️

Hi @Lollipop87, like @JennaRMD I just wanted to say thank you for your lovely message! I'll always be lurking around this thread don't worry, so will def keep it updated if ever I get some good news! Currently in the process of choosing a private clinic for IVF since our NHS treatment was postponed due to covid. Hoping to have a go in September 🤞

I don't want to worry any of you with my story though, as you - and @MintGreenLife too - are only just off the pill and I think it's totally normal for things to be out of whack for a while. Sounds like you ladies are on it with your reading and research so I'm sure you're doing all the right things and it will happen for you soon! I would say try not to obsess over it too much so soon - and maybe wait a while before taking things like vitex that I've heard can really affect your cycle, before giving your body a chance to do its thing naturally - but I know all too well how hard it is to sit by and do nothing when it's something you want this bad... (I also wouldn't recommend the homeopathy, though the only harm that could do is to your wallet!)

Good luck, and there'll always be this thread for support ❤

@Lollipop87 that sounds like a good plan, think I probably should have gone down that route to begin with! But because of the wedding situation I wanted to do everything I could to try and help us catch as early as poss, hasn't worked out that way 🙈 Yep I've read it - it was the first TTC book I read and I really enjoyed it. I'm now three books down and got another arriving this weekend 😂 I'm actually really enjoying learning for now, think four books will be quite enough though so best call it a day then! Xx

@MintGreenLife hahaha how funny! 😂 My brain was obviously like “agnus castus is a weird word, Vitex is easier to remember!” Lol! Yes you have a point, I think I’ll just crack on in Sept (hopefully) and then if nothing’s happened by Christmas I might start temping. I’m currently reading The Impatient Woman’s Guide to getting pregnant, just to educate myself really and it’s written in a really nice way with some funny bits - she says to try the “lots of sex” method first i.e. sex every other day from like day 7-23 of your cycle (hmm maybe this is how I can convince DH!) and if nothing happens for around 3 months you could be ovulating earlier or later than you think, in which case she recommends doing one of or a combination of OPKs, temping etc. Have you read it? Xx

@Lollipop87 Vitex is Agnus Castus ☺️ It's the same thing. I got my BBT thermometer from Amazon for about £10, so not much of an investment. Maybe see how you go over the next few cycles. Part of me feels like I would have been better not knowing my cycles aren't back to normal, I would have been blissfully unaware and just getting on with TTC 😂

@MintGreenLife I remember something called Vitex but must have skimmed over agnus castus! That’s a good idea, let me know how you get on 😊 I can’t decide whether or not to get a BBT thermometer, are they expensive? I’ll probably just see how things go, but at the same time it’d be nice to know if I’m ovulating before TTC. Not sure what DH would think of it, he might think I’m getting ahead of myself! Xx

@Lollipop87 I'm actually just looking back over this thread and agnus castus is mentioned a few times - it's a herbal remedy that is meant to help with PMS, but it's also meant to help regulate irregular cycles and encourage ovulation, I'm on the fence about trying. My other option is a homeopathic post-pill detox, but it's £90 and I can't decide which to try. Ahh fair enough, tracking BBT is the only way to confirm ovulation. I've had EWCM every cycle off the pill so far but not convinced I'm ovulating as I only got the slightest temp rise last cycle and then AF came 3/4 days later, which obviously isn't good! I think I'm going to leave it until the end of this week and if I still haven't ovulated by then I'll try and decide which route to go down to try and help things along x

@MintGreenLife yes such a relief, we had a big honeymoon in Jan too and then everything started to go a bit crazy soon after we got back so we were very lucky! Thanks for the congrats 😊 Your plans sound lovely! I mean, I’d have come off the pill in Jan but in a way I’m kind of glad I’ve not had a pregnancy on top of all the craziness, it must be quite an anxious time for pregnant women. I’ve not heard of agnus castus?! No sorry I think I’ve used the wrong terminology, very new at this! I think I meant tracking, so I’m just tracking my period and other symptoms like cramps and EWCM which I definitely got more of my second cycle off the pill. I think like you say it just takes a while for bodies to get back to normal, some more than others. Fingers crossed for you! Xx

@Lollipop87 aww thanks, it just makes everything that little bit more complex! We are still going ahead with the ceremony, and having the 'wedding' over what will be our 1st wedding anniversary next year. Was praying I would be one of those women that caught first cycle off the pill, but alas not. Congrats on your wedding, bet that was a relief when everything kicked off! I'm on the cusp of turning 32, so not far behind you. That's great you have some time for your cycles to regulate before starting TTC, although I'm sure you'd be happy to start sooner! I must admit it is exciting to have started, but then the crazy cycles are also a bit of a worry, but I'm trying not to concern myself too much with that for now. I am considering giving agnus castus a go however, in case it'll give my body the kickstart it needs and could help us catch in the next month or two, am a little bit worried about making the wrong decision though :/ I started taking vitamin E a couple of weeks ago, so probably not soon enough to tell if that's making a difference. Are you charting your BBT then? I seem to have EWCM today after it dried up a few days ago with no temp spike or positive OPK, so hopefully my body is having another go at things! xx

Hi @JennaRMD thanks for your reply, I can’t imagine what it must feel like to have waited as long as you have. They say things happen for a reason so maybe your body knew about the pandemic so was waiting for that to be over first?! 😂 I really hope 2021 brings you your wee bundle of joy ❤️

@MintGreenLife hi! Sorry to hear about your wedding having to move back, although fingers crossed your ceremony can still go ahead. We were lucky and got married in October before everything kicked off. I’ll be 33 in a couple of weeks so am also feeling the age thing, most of my friends started having babies years ago and have even had second babies! The thing that made me super broody was my younger sister had my niece last year (when she was only 28, lucky cow!) and I’ve got such a strong bond with her it just made me really want one of my own. My husband is one of these super sensible types who wants to make sure career and everything is sorted out first, he doesn’t have a ticking clock like I do! He’s still on the fence about when to start TTC (we’re still using condoms at the mo) but has said before Christmas so I’m hoping in September when we’re hopefully going on holiday that I can convince him to leave the condoms at home and have lots of holiday BD’ing (have already checked and as long as my cycles continue as they are it would fall in my fertile time! 😂) The only thing concerning me is these light periods, I do think I ovulated last month as I’ve been charting but haven’t used OPKs or anything yet. The ladies on here mentioned Vitamin E as a good way to get your cycles moving along, maybe you could look into that? Fingers crossed for you! Xx

@Lollipop87 think I'm probably not far ahead of you in my post-pill journey as I came off in April. I've had two natural AFs since, first was super light and more brownish, second was a bit better and mix of brown and red blood, but still pretty light. I'm on CD27 now with no positive OPK yet and no temp rise, starting to feel quite frustrated as thought I did everything I could to help things along this cycle 😕 Xx

@Lollipop87 what an uplifting post. So nice. We're all still ttc atm, I've taken a break from this as the stress of obsessing isn't helping. Can't believe I was worried about it after 6months (back in November) and another 8 months later I'm still worrying... It's not good for your general well being tbh but I have had 2 red periods the past 2 months with spotting either side, this is the first time I've had anything remotely resembling a period so I'm hoping it's took a year for me to get back to normal and this coming year we will get our wee miracle. Going into month 3... Thank you again for your amazing post ❤️

Hi @JennaRMD, @Maisy24 and @Hope365,

I stumbled across this thread this evening while trying to find info on light periods after coming off the pill (as you well know it’s hard to find any actual information through googling!) I started reading it from the beginning, which was back in Nov! 2 hours later here I am having caught up! You probably think I’m a nutter but I got really invested in your stories and kept reading and crossing my fingers each month hoping you’d each get your BFP!

I came off the pill in May and haven’t started TTC yet, but the reason for googling was I had my second very short period with brownish flow rather than bright red blood (I won’t apologise for TMI as I know you don’t mind! ) Anyway, you’ve given me hope that there are options out there if it does turn out to be pill-related so I’m going to bookmark this page just in case I ever need it.

I notice you’ve set up a WhatsApp group, but please could you update the thread when (not if!) you each get your BFP? Rooting for each of you ❤️