New to this and confused!

[pips84]

Hi everyone! I'm new here - my husband and I recently decided it was time for me to come off the pill! We're not "actively trying", just no longer trying not to...so I don't to start worrying too much about when I'm ovulating etc but rather just want to let nature take its course to begin with at least.

I've read up a bit on what to expect when coming off the pill and general advice seems to be "everyone is different"! I took my last pill on Jan 16th (was mid-pack but too impatient/excited to finish it), and 4 days later got what I think was the withdrawal bleed (is that a thing?! think I read it on here somewhere!) Lasted about 4 days. Since that stopped I've been having mild cramps every day, on and off.

Does this all sound normal to all you ladies in the know? Is a withdrawal bleed the same as AF? Is there any way of knowing what stage of my cycle I'm at and when I might expect ladies week to arrive, or do I just wait and see?

Finding the whole thing very confusing and not much liking the feeling of not being in control! Would feel much better having more of an idea of what to expect.

Thanks!

How exciting for you.
I honestly can't remember what it was like when I stopped the pill - too long ago!
But think it did take a couple of months before a clear cycle was obvious. Try to relax about it and your hormones will soon settle down. Have fun not trying though!

Hey pips- no the period you have when you come off the pill is just a dip in the hormone levels that you're getting from the pill, which causes you to bleed. Your normal period will only resume when you start ovulating again. It took 8 weeks after coming off for pill for me to have a period and it was very weird. But 28 days after that I had a normal period again. So really it took a good few months for stuff to return back to normal. It seems to happen a lot faster for some women though and some people even get pregnant before they have their first period! Basically I've found that anything goes and you'll just get used to your cycle over time!

Good luck :)

Thanks for your replies! Will have to relax and see how things go, but sounds like everything so far is "normal" which is good. Determined not to get too caught up in TTC and just go with the flow (pardon the pun!). What will be will be!

Hi pips I like your way of doing things, I came off pill in sept mid pack as well and had withdrawal bleed 7 days later that lasted four days. Once you have had that bleed (and because you just came off pill) apparently your body goes into overdrive and starts releasing eggs quite quickly then your body starts about making the hormones it hasn't made for however long you been on the pill and that can take a while and make your cycles irregular which is what I found. I started to get worried so tracked ovulation to check I was releasing eggs and I got my BFP today five months after coming off pill and only properly trying the last two months! Good luck and don't worry too much.

Good story bump, congratulations!

Hi Pips,

I waited until the end of the pack (yasmin) and had first period 31 days after withdrawal bleed. Second period turned up after 28 days.

If you count your withdrawal bleed as the start of your cycle then you are on CD10. Your first cycle day is the first day you have "full flow"

You might get ovulation pains - I did. This is a good indication of when you're ovulating (obviously!) but also that AF will be due around 14 days later.

Hi Pips,
Im so glad Im not the only one confused by all this! I came off the mini pill on January 3rd, had what I presume was a withdrawal bleed from 4th Jan and then had a period 2 weeks later. Does this mean I've restarted proper cycles??!
DH and I are also taking it pretty easily, as I have no idea when Im ovulating anyway!
Exciting times though!