Trying to conceive after coming off Dianette.

Hi Fells,

I also wondered the same as thirtysoemthing in that Dianette is often prescribed to women with an underlying hormonal imbalance. In such cases PCOS is often to blame.

I would ask the GP to have a blood test done in order to see what your hormone levels are like now. If there is a discrepancy between your LH and FSH levels I would ask for a referral to a gynaecologist for further evaluation.

It does sound like your cycle is irregular and as such is more like to be anovulatory (a "normal" cycle is one of between 21 and 35 days or with less than 4 days of variation from month to month). Having periods in itself does not automatically mean that ovulation is happening.

HTH

Hawaii

Hi fells, your story sounds like mine. I was on various pills for about the same amount of time then Dianette for a few years to deal with delightful acne on forehead. Came off Dianette before Christmas - acne came back, cycles between 27 and 37 days, cramps some months, none the next etc.
Spoke to family planning doctor when having a smear the other month and she said that whilst the pill can leave system immediately (which is why some lucky b*ggers get pg without having a single period) it depends on the individual (one friend didn't ovulate for 8 months after stopping). Also Dianette is one of the strongest pills so can have a longer lasting effect.
This does seem to ring true for me, and was certainly a comfort. I asked her if I should see the doctor but she said they won't listen until you've been ttc for 12 months (although I think this varies by doctor).
Since then I've become v. scientific, taking temperature, using opks etc. and have found out that my luteal phase is always 12 days. This means that with irregular cycles, the cycle day I ovulate changes each month. As I've been keeping track of when we've been bd'ing (sad I know) I can now tell that out of the 7 months of ttc, there have only been 2 when we've actually timed it right (previously went with the assumption that you ovulate around cd14).
Feel a lot better knowing this, so am more relaxed about thinking it could happen any time. This didn't stop me being despondent when wasn't pg this month, but as I've also read that 3 out of 4 fertilised eggs don't implant due to various natural reasons, I reckon I've got to have at least another 2 goes before going to the doctor!
Sorry to ramble on, but hope it helps to know you're not alone! Bibi

Why were you on Dianette in the first place? It's often prescribed for PCOS related problems so maybe the long cycle could be to do with the reason you went on it?