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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

Coming off the pill - how long did you wait?

56 replies

nervoussam · 06/01/2015 15:00

Hi Everyone, its my first thread on here and am new to all of this.
We've made to the decision to start ttc, planning to start once Christmas and New year were out of the way (so I could definitely have a few vinos!).
I stopped taking the pill at the beginning of Nov, had a withdrawal bleed a few days later. But AF hasn't visited since! I know it can take a few months, especially after being on it for so long, but I can't say that I'm not disappointed to not be able to start at it now that we're in the New Year.
You have all these expectations of it being straight forward, but now I'm worried about what the journey may hold for us, despite it being so early on - I am a worrier and chronic googler!

What are your experiences of coming off the pill, getting your cycle back and then trying?

OP posts:
Midorichan · 06/01/2015 15:47

My cycle took 4 months to come back, then took a further 4 months to conceive. My mum took only 1 week with me! My cousin's AF came back within 3 months, then took them 4 years to conceive... It can take a long while to return to normal, then they say if you're still ttc after a year then you go to the doctors...

Original poster
nervoussam · 06/01/2015 15:59

Thanks Midorichan, I know I just need to be patient. Reading all the posts on here shows just how different all our bodies are and to expect the unexpected - 1 week versus 4 years in your examples shows that!

OP posts:
itssangriaoclock · 06/01/2015 19:41

Let your periods come back naturally have lots of fun in between.

Maybe buy some cheap tests to do each month, just to be sure.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 06/01/2015 19:45

It took 6 months for my periods to come back properly after coming off the pill, then a further 6 months to conceive.

spicydaisy · 06/01/2015 21:50

I'm in the same boat stopped end of nov all excited and hopeful and now AF is 3 days late and hormones all over the place......really wish I came off it sooner

Hobbit19 · 06/01/2015 22:21

Hi nervoussam, I am new here too, and in a similar boat to you. I stopped taking my pill right at the beginning of Dec. I had a withdrawal bleed then but since then no AF, should have been today but think I am ovulating at the mo so no AF for two weeks probably. Are you ttc straight away or going to wait until your cycle settles down? Good luck!

rachelrawrrr · 06/01/2015 22:57

I came off the pill about a month ago, no bleeding whatsoever as of yet! we're actively trying now but I'm not holding my breath until AF comes and returns to normal, so I can get all geeky with charts and ovulation calculations and such Grin but there are some who get PG straight away, so it's just luck I guess!

Original poster
nervoussam · 07/01/2015 09:35

Hi oneyorkshirepud, I suppose we're ttc now as we're dtd with no protection, but I'm not counting it as actively ttc as I assume I'm not ovulating if my period isn't here. I took a few random cheap ovulation tests a few weeks back and nothing, but maybe I should do some more.
Have just ordered the Clearblue advance fertility monitor so hoping that will help with my nerves and stress! Have also been googling like mad all the things that can help with getting hormones back on track so I'm upping my healthy fats (avocado, flax etc) also taking some natural remedies and even considering acupuncture.
Know it all sounds a little crazy ;) but I just don't want to be 6 months down the line before thinking there was more that I can do!!
I have been naughty in the past with with diet (as in dieting too much) and the last couple of years have been quiet stressful so I'm just hoping that I haven't hampered my chances.

Hearing about what all of you are going through is very helpful though :)

OP posts:
bettybyebye · 07/01/2015 12:20

First time I came off the pill in December, periods returned in a regular cycle straight away ( I was surprised as had been on the pill for about 12 years) however we used condoms until we were ready to ttc. Started ttc in February and conceived in March!

Second time I stopped taking the pill mid July, had a withdrawal bleed immediately and then nothing until mid September, so about 9 weeks for first proper period. Conceived end Sept and miscarried beginning of October, then conceived again following cycle and currently 11 weeks with DC2.

Try to relax and be patient, although I know it's easier said than done! I found this time around particularly frustrating as my periods returned so quickly the first time round. Good luck!

australopithecus · 07/01/2015 13:01

Hi nervous! Have you poas yet? I came off the pill after ye-ears, had a period (withdrawal bleed, but more a period IMO) and then was pregnant before my second (or first) period arrived. So you never know! :)

Original poster
nervoussam · 07/01/2015 13:50

Thanks betty - your story gives me hope that it be quicker than I'm imagining at the moment!

Hi australopithcus, I poas on Monday actually, having the same possible thought but it was BFN, will keep trying and testing regardless I think though. Just incase! ;)

OP posts:
MelonMelon · 07/01/2015 14:32

Hi Nervous. I came off the pill in January last year and it took 4 months for my period to come back, then I had a MC in August and it took 4 months again for them to come back so we've just started ttc now. So for me 4 months seems to be the norm for getting back on track. I had so many pregnancy symptoms this time last year when I first came off it, your body goes crazy. Good luck!

Choccyhobnob · 07/01/2015 16:02

I came off the pill last January, think it took about 5 weeks for AF to come back and then I thought I was regular-ish until July when I had a 52 day cycle and every one after that was totally different to the kind of AF I'd had on the pill for 12 years and reminded me of when I was a teenager so I now think that was when I started ovulating again. We didn't try between July and November for a number of reasons. I started using OPKs in October and charting my BBT and got my BFP today!

So in summary: AF regular after 5 weeks, OVing after 7 months and BFP after 12 months

Original poster
nervoussam · 07/01/2015 16:10

Wow congratulations Choccyhobnob!!!

OP posts:
Choccyhobnob · 07/01/2015 16:14

Thanks you Smile we weren't actually supposed to be trying as have a holiday booked which we will now have to cancel but got carried away in the excitement of Christmas day lol. Fingers crossed your cycle will sort itself out soon enough x

Choccyhobnob · 07/01/2015 16:15

Thanks you? lol

rachelrawrrr · 07/01/2015 16:51

the subject of holidays makes me really nervous! we're meant to be going to Barbados with the family in about 18 months, I'm hoping I can fall PG before we go, otherwise we'll have to put off trying Sad which I don't want to do because it'll be the first time me and the OH will have been away together!
congratulations on your BFP Grin Thanks

ValancyJane · 07/01/2015 17:00

I feel incredibly reassured after reading this thread as AF is currently missing in action here!! I took my last pill at the end of December and we decided to ttc as of then. I've been on the pill for twelve years but have had a few breaks during that - and have always, always reverted straight back to a 28 day cycle, so being on CD32 with no sign of AF is reeeeeally throwing me. Had bloody awful cramps on Friday (needed a hot water bottle for the first time in years) and AF was due Sunday so I figured that was that, but so far absolutely nothing...

Have POAS (repeatedly) just in case and BFN with no hint of a line - judging by dates I'm pretty certain I'm not pregnant. It's really frustrating, I just want to get AF out of the way now!!

booboobeedoo11 · 07/01/2015 17:05

Hey Ladies...I stopped taking the pill in July last year after 10yrs and AF came back right on time each month since then, give or take a few days. I'm due AF or to test this weekend so if its a bfn again next time will be my 6th cycle since stopping. I haven't tried the ov prediction kits or anything so I don't know for sure when I ovulate, just been taking it as the average, around cd14 so been trying before, on and after this time of my cycles. First few months I wasn't even really taking dates into consideration but have been since oct/nov.

Good luck to everyone!

Nevlet · 07/01/2015 17:08

Hi ,

Glad there are others going through this! Came off pill about 3 weeks ago, had usual withdrawal bleed. Then a few days later used an ovulation test just to see and got quite a bright second line but assumed it was negative as not as bright as control line. But have done a few since then and no hint of second line... Dare I hope I actually ovulated?!

booboobeedoo11 · 08/01/2015 15:57

Hi ladies...just popping in to say I got my BFP this morning!

Keeping my fingers crossed there's more bfp's to come on this thread!

Original poster
nervoussam · 08/01/2015 16:12

Ahhh! booboobeedoo11!!! That's brilliant, congratulations! Too right I hope there will be some more BFP's soon!!!

OP posts:
ValancyJane · 08/01/2015 16:52

Oooh congrats boobeebeedoo how exciting :)

I'm still on CD33 waiting for AF, sigh...

spicydaisy · 08/01/2015 17:49

Congratulations boobeebeedoo that's wonderful news!!

I'm on cd32 and AF arrived today I'm kinda hoping that's a good sign and that it'll be regular well until I get a bfpWink now to wait until she's gone hope everyone else is doing ok xx

rachelrawrrr · 08/01/2015 21:44

congratulations! Grin Thanks

fingers crossed for all of us! Grin