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Conception

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Original poster

No period for over 3 months after stopping the pill!!

44 replies

sherbertlemon17 · 16/03/2014 11:16

Hi everyone!

So as the title suggests I've still not seen AF since stopping the pill on December 27th! I had a break through bleed from the 1st as expected but since then.... Nothing!

I'm now starting to worry that there's something wrong with me!

Anyone else in a similar boat or got any words or wisdom and advice?

OP posts:
cooperG · 16/03/2014 13:00

Hi, it took my periods almost a year to settle back down after coming off the pill :/ it was very frustrating! I had a couple (literally three) during that time, and I did go to my gp for tests which all came back normal. I think depending on how long you've been on it for this is more normal than people think unfortunately. Hope it sorta itself out soon for you!

Cookiepants · 16/03/2014 13:03

It's very very common, it can take up to 12 months for periods to return to normal after the pill. Were you regular before? My lack of periods was indicative of a problem but I was put on the pill to try and regulate my cycle anyway.

Fairylea · 16/03/2014 13:08

If you're very worried you can ask your gp for a blood test to check your prolactin levels. They raise on the pill and are the hormones responsible for breastfeeding and pregnancy- so in effect your body already thinks it is pregnant and halts ovulation at very high levels. You can get medication to reduce the prolactin and then your periods should return to normal over a period of time (I had this issue after having my dd and being on the pill 10 years before I tried for my second child).

PipkinsPal · 16/03/2014 13:12

I stopped taking the pill but not to TTC. My periods were all over the shop, 168 days, 14 days, 31 days etc. After a year off (and back on the dating scene) I decided to go back on it. Heaven. But no dates Sad. Before anyone says, condoms too.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 16/03/2014 13:23

The pill actually leaves your system very quickly after taking the last tablet.

I would seek medical advice and have blood tests done to see what your hormone levels are like. Possible causes for this is a condition called polycystic ovaries or problems with the thyroid gland. Both should be checked for via blood tests.

Original poster
sherbertlemon17 · 16/03/2014 14:08

Than

OP posts:
Original poster
sherbertlemon17 · 16/03/2014 14:14

Thanks for your replies ladies...

A year?? That must have been awful! Have things settled back down now? I was on the pill for over 10 years so hate to think how long this is going to take!

I think a trip to the GP is in order then. I have lots of symptoms of PMS but just no AF. At the beginning of this week I was convinced she was coming; quite bad cramps and I even had that feeling of coming on but there was nothing! Very strange.

Sorry to hear that pinkins. Hope things sort themselves.

OP posts:
mrshjb · 16/03/2014 22:12

Hi sherbert yes the pill does leave your system very quickly, but it takes time for your body to remember what it's supposed to be doing! I came off in October and I've had AF 3 times since. 2 that were around the 55 day mark and one at 29 day mark. I've spoken to a few doctors about it and they've pretty much all just said don't worry about it and it's very normal. I did have blood tests to check my thyroid and basic hormone levels but it all came back normal. I don't really think any doctor would go crazy with the testing for various things so soon after coming off the pill, especially if you don't have any other symptoms. They all said to me they would start to take it more seriously if you hadn't had AF for 6 months after coming off the pill and also if you were only having AF a couple of times a year.

Really hope your cycle goes back to normal as soon as possible. It's painful waiting when you're TTC isn't it!

mrshjb · 16/03/2014 22:13

Oh and one more point, I had a really nice female doctor I went to see and she was really good. But I've read a lot of people who have felt a bit like they've been laughed out for going so soon after coming off the pill. So if you do go to the doctor, try and go to one that you know and trust or you'll probably end up feeling worse!

AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/03/2014 08:42

Hi mrshjb,

re your comment:-
"I came off in October and I've had AF 3 times since. 2 that were around the 55 day mark and one at 29 day mark. I've spoken to a few doctors about it and they've pretty much all just said don't worry about it and it's very normal. I did have blood tests to check my thyroid and basic hormone levels but it all came back normal"

A normal cycle however, is a cycle length of between 21 and 35 days. The 2 fifty five day cycles were likely anovulatory ones. Three periods since October is not normal.

What hormone levels were tested and importantly on which days?. Many GPs are generally not up to speed when it comes to such issues and something could well have been missed here. It is certainly in your interests to find out why this is happening; this often happens because of hormonal imbalances.

Brices · 17/03/2014 08:46

I would do a pregnancy test too...

mrshjb · 17/03/2014 10:59

It wouldn't be normal if I had been off the pill for a long time but I have only been off for a few months so as everyone says it takes a while for your cycles to settle back down. Some people don't have a period at all for months and months on end. You only have to do a bit of looking online to see that.

The doctor said many women only have periods every 6-8 weeks as standard and that's not a problem.

If they don't settle down in the future then I'll ask for more tests but I think that's a bit OTT for the minute.

DrSocks · 17/03/2014 16:28

I don't want to scare you at all, but I would would push to have some more investigations. This happened to me, the GP fobbed me off for a year until they finally referred me. Turns out that I was pretty much menopausal (I was just 27 when I came off the pill). Post-pill amenorrhea I believe has been shown to not actually be a thing, rather that just being on the pill masks symptoms of other problems. I'm not a doctor, but one thing I have discovered in the last 2.5 years is that an awful lot of doctors don't actually understand very much at all about the menstrual cycle/infertility.

mrshjb · 17/03/2014 18:19

Hi DrSocks, thanks for your input. Were you not having any periods at all? Did you have any other symptoms? How do you know post-pill amenorrhea isn't it a thing? I'm just asking because you read/ hear about countless women who have irregular periods when they first come off the pill that settle down over time.

Original poster
sherbertlemon17 · 17/03/2014 19:43

Hi Mrshjb! Thanks for the insight... It's good to know I'm not alone. Unfortunately unlike you if you discount the blob of pinky brown cm I had on the 12th feb this is cd76!! I'm kind of hoping I can count that as a very mini AF making it in fact cd34 which is bit less alarming. Confused

Thanks brices. I have intermittently been taking ICs just in case, but actually used a FRER on saturday because I had convinced myself I was preggo. I obviously got a BFN. Gutted!

Thanks DrSocks, although I am a bit worried now! Good to know what I may be up against though runs off to google post pill amenorrhea Wink

OP posts:
PipkinsPal · 18/03/2014 14:19

Forgot to mention when I stopped the pill didn't have a period for 4 1/2 months and then it came on my blumming birthday in January!

blamber · 18/03/2014 14:45

When I stopped the pill I didn't have a period for over three months either. Went to the GP who wasn't bothered at all. They started investigations after 9 months though, as I was getting periods, but my cycles were irregular and long. I was referred to a specialist who said it was PCOS.

So I would see the GP, just so that they are aware. Some do blood tests straight away, some wait a bit longer. However, if your period has not returned after 6 months, or if you're irregular, press for blood tests or a referral to a specialist. If you want to ttc you don't want to have to wait and worry for ages. The specialists are amazing, they are very knowledgeable and they can help you with your cycles or with conception.

Original poster
sherbertlemon17 · 18/03/2014 19:03

Thanks pipkins and blamber...

Just a little update really, I've made an appointment with the GP for next Week so hopefully that will get ball rolling. I just want it to be sorted!! Hmm

OP posts:
mrshjb · 20/03/2014 07:54

Good luck and keep us informed :)

Original poster
sherbertlemon17 · 20/03/2014 18:50

Thanks Mrsh! Will do!Smile

I've been a right grumpy guts this week because of this so am trying to be positive! Come on positive vibes.... Bring me AF!!

OP posts:
IsleOfIslay · 20/03/2014 19:30

Hi sherbet found your thread thanks for the invite to join to you all!
To fill you all in I have a 2 year old dd and have just come off the noriday pill to ttc baby no2. I have been waiting a month for af but no sign yet! Reassuring to see there are others in the same position as me!

mrshjb · 20/03/2014 19:42

Sherbert- I don't blame you at all. When I first came off the pill and had nothing I was totally obsessed. I spent so much of my time googling stuff trying to find some answers. I'm fractionally better now but I do spend a lot of my time stressing that there's something wrong and my periods won't settle down. Hopefully the doctors will give you something to work with!

Driveway · 20/03/2014 19:49

I came off the pill and didn't have a period for ten months then got pregnant, no period in between.

mrshjb · 21/03/2014 07:48

Wow driveway, bet that was a shock for you! Good story though :)

Trinpy · 21/03/2014 08:18

Just to add my story: I was on the pill for 3 years before stopping to ttc. No period for 5 months then very irregular, often anovulatory cycles with very heavy periods. It never settled down but I did manage to get pregnant after 1.5 years of this.

Best to get the ball rolling with tests etc asap. It took me around 14 months from first set of tests to initial consultation with fertility clinic. They never found anything wrong but tbh they didn't look very hard, just prescribed Clomid.

Sorry for the depressing post - I really hope you don't have to go through all of this.

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