Did it take you a while to start ovulating after the pill?

[KylieP]

I came off the pill 5 months ago and I don't think I'm ovulating, so am trying acupuncture, starting on Tuesday. I was freaking out googling a bit and I saw this article below, and wondered if the my body might have gone into "hibernation"?! This article might be PR-influenced but wondered if many people have to wait a while to ovulate? www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3350809/Pill-can-delay-a-baby-far-longer-than-you-want.html

KylieP

No googling!. However, Verity's website www.verity-pcos.org.uk may well help.

One in five women show signs of having polycystic ovaries (PCO); it is more common than people realise. The stats for PCOS itself is about 1 in 10.

I would go back to the GP before July and insist on a referral to a gynae at a subfertility unit. If PCOS is suspected it should be investigated thoroughly; GPs are pretty much useless at dealing with such issues and PCOS often requires careful management.

DO not use OPK's either because these kits read LH. Many PCOSers have an excess of this particular hormone to start with so the kit ends up reading this excess level hence multiple positive results. They are not worth the money.

Low GI/GL eating plan can help women with PCOS; any excess pounds can exacerbate symptoms so do try and remain within the correct weight range for your height.

i think it depends on how long you were taking the pill doesnt it? i was only on it for about 4 months stopped in feb i had two periods that month which was mad... and annoying normal one in March and April then found out im pregnant last week. Ive read about how the chemicals in the pills can mess up your system making it take upto a year before ovulation is regular again.

and if it is poly ovaries... please dont give up hope or stress. my friend has it she lost a tiny bit of weight last year and now has a gorgeous daughter

I was on the pill for about 15 years non-stop and I'm sorry to say OP but it took a whole 12 months for me to ovulate after stopping. I didn't have a period the entire time. It was very frustrating, and worrisome. I went to the GP after 10 months and he did bloods. All normal and he said it can take time for some women (especially given how long I was on it). Just before ovulating again for the first time I seemed to go through a second puberty - greasy skin, spots all over my back. Then I ovulated (knew I had - I felt it), puberty went away and I went back to normal very quickly (including the horrible heavy long periods I hadn't had since I was 15!). Conceived on 3rd/4th cycle (I was 31). There was nothing wrong, it was just time. I'm sure checking with your GP in a few months is a good idea. Good luck.

Thank you :) it actually makes me feel better to hear it does sometime take a while to get back to normal as that means at least there's hope I will start ovulating in the next year or so. Although I know my PCOS does complicate things. Just had my first acupuncture session,apparently she is trying to bring on my period now (on day 31) and then I'd need to see her around mid cycle. And thanks Lora but I have lean PCOS (skinny poly!) so no weight to lose, trying to be really healthy though. Thanks Attila too, I'll go back in June, it can't hurt if I get the referral sooner, you're right and then they can start doing tests. No more googling for now, got myself in a right state last night! x

I've charted for years but I think it's quite hard to start/learn when you've just come off the pill, because you won't really know what to look for and you are likely to be faced with at least a few confusing charts anyway. Have you read the book "Taking Charge of your Fertility"? It is a wonderful guide to charting if you haven't.

Purely anecdotal, but my friend was charting straight off the pill and she found that she did ovulate but not every month; and also that even when she did ovulate (temp shift) the cervical fluid wasn't really in a clear fertile/infertile pattern. In the end she just went more by the temps I think and did get pregnant quite quickly.