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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Did you stop hormonal contraception before you were ready to really ttc?

19 replies

maybenow · 28/10/2011 09:46

DH and i are going to ttc sometime soon-ish... we're not getting any younger and we've just had our belated second honeymoon (very high altitude so would have been impossible pregnant).

We're not really sure when to seriously start (i've got real job uncertainty right now and would like a job with mat leave before i get pregnant but i can't wait too long due to getting old... Sad)

I've been on the pill for years and years and years and most recently on a POP which stopped my periods (not had one in about three years) so i'm thinking i should maybe stop taking the pill now and use condoms for a bit...

Did you stop hormonal contracpetion before you were ready to ttc properly?

OP posts:
TheLittleFriend · 28/10/2011 13:20

With my dd I was incredibly lucky and fell pregnant as soon as I stopped the pill.

I have now been trying for a second baby for almost a year, I have a totally messed up cycle and would tell everyone who asks this question to definitely stop before you are ready to ttc.

Your body might need time to adjust, so you may not get your period back regularly straight away. It is a horrible feeling when you are ready for a baby, but your body is not capable of getting pregnant.

Best of luck to you when you do start ttc.

dobeessneeze · 28/10/2011 13:26

I did, though we didn't use condoms on the theory that it can sometimes take a few months after coming off the pill to start ovulating again, and then conceived on the 2nd month after I stopped the pill. Since then, everyone I've spoken to says they also conceived really quickly after coming off the pill (very scientific, no?). I don't know about POP, but if you're really not ready to get pregnant yet, I'd definitely use another method of contraception.

Was also in a similar position to yours re job uncertainty and ended up deciding to ttc, then getting a new job, then deciding to wait for a bit before ttc, but of course it was too late by then and so started my new job 3 months pregnant.

Have a fabulous DD now though and wouldn't change things for the world!

Good luck whatever you decide!

buggerlugs82 · 28/10/2011 13:41

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TheLittleFriend · 28/10/2011 13:43

Sorry to hijack but Buggerlugs, you got a BFP today?! Well done!!! I don't think we've chatted on a thread, but I've seen you on the conception board even since I started ttc and know it's been a while for you. Congratulations x

buggerlugs82 · 28/10/2011 13:45

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This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

sprinkles77 · 28/10/2011 13:46

I was on the pill for about 15 years, and conceived DS the first cycle off the pill. I was then back on the pill once DS was 2 month for about 8 months. We then used no contraception for 3 months (withdrawal / rhythm method contraception), and TTC for 7 months before getting pg. I do wonder if we had tried the first month I came off the pill if I might have got pg straight away. So it is not only different for everyone, but different for each conception attempt.

You just don't know what will happen. However, I am of the opinion that you never know what the future holds, and there is no such thing as the "right time" so would not put a career change on hold if TTC, nor put TTC on hold if in the process of a career change. Even if you get pg straight away, you will have the best part of 8 months in a new company. If all else fails you will get statutory maternity allowance even if you have not been with an employer long enough to get SMP. Though this is not as good a work-based mat schemes.

So my advice, just go for it.

TheLittleFriend · 28/10/2011 13:48

I won't be a hypocrite and tell you not to worry Buggerlugs, cos I know that's impossible. But I hope you relax and enjoy your pregnancy after a while - try and get an early reassurance scan if you think that'll help.

buggerlugs82 · 28/10/2011 13:52

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This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

TheLittleFriend · 28/10/2011 14:00

Well if you are in a position to be able to pay privately then you should be able to get one from a private clinic like here.

NHS do offer early scans if they think it's needed, but hopefully there would be no medical reason for one. However, you can't lose anything by asking your gp to refer you for one, as I have heard of people being offered one for reassurance on the NHS.

(Sorry to hijack thread op)

ItsTimeToBurnThisDiscoDown · 28/10/2011 14:17

I'd been on the pill 10 years before ttc, and it took us 15 months to conceive (I'm 33). So I would say come off it sooner rather than later. On the other hand, my colleague (who was 37 at the time) fell pregnant the second cycle after coming off, so everyone's different. Smile

GarrottingItLaldy · 28/10/2011 15:29

I'm now pregnant, 3 months after coming off the PoP...and we weren't even TTC as such, just not preventing if you know what I mean? I'm 35, so no spring chicken in fertility terms.

Aworryingtrend · 28/10/2011 16:17

I was on the pill for 14 years and came off it last September. It took 6 months for my periods to return and even now I am not ovulating and have been put on a course of Clomid to make me ovulate. If you are not getting any younger I would come off the pill asap.

Original poster
maybenow · 28/10/2011 22:22

thanks everybody - sprinkles, it's not a chosen career change Sad i'm being made redundant in january and haven't found a new job yet... getting pregnant on jobseekers allowance would be very very hard fianancially even though i have a small amount on savings.

OP posts:
Original poster
maybenow · 28/10/2011 22:24

oh, and should have said, i think i will stop the pill sometime in the next few weeks and then we can use condoms till i get some kind of new job... or if i never get a new job then i guess we'll set a cut-off when we just ttc anyway.

OP posts:
Quodlibet · 30/10/2011 13:33

maybenow I came off the pill a year ago and we haven't quite got round to ttc yet!

But another advantage of coming off early is you can get a feel for your natural cycles and get to know when your most fertile days are, which means you can hopefully strike when the iron is hot when you do TTC!

SweetieDoesIt · 30/10/2011 16:49

I came off the mini pill in May, after only 2 years taking it. Yet it took 3 months to have first AF. Since then have had 2 proper cycles, first 25 days, second 29 days. So I think things are beginning to get back to normal.
Those 3 months waiting for AF to arrive were so frustrating when we were desperate to start TTC and nothing was happening. I would say come off sooner rather than later in case it takes a while to get back into a regular cycle.
HTH

DessieLou · 31/10/2011 23:56

I agree. I have been off contraception for 18 months or so and have only had regular(ish) periods for the last few months. It's important to keep track of and get to know your cycle when TTC so come off sooner rather than later. If you're really not ready yet then use condoms but as sprinkles said there is never a 'perfect' time to start a family and you never know what is round the corner. Life is too short so go for it! Join us on First Time Frolickers, lots of good advice and no one tells you off for having a good old winge! Smile

Amonstercooper · 01/11/2011 16:24

I stopped using the pill about 18 months ago and now use Persona for contraception. It's not 100% reliable, but DH and I are both comfortable with the small risk of failure, so it works well for us. I don't see me going back on the pill any time soon.

Amonstercooper · 01/11/2011 16:34
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