5 months off pill, still no period

[Joey0805]

Hi ladies, I came off the pill (Yasmin) over 5 months ago now and have had no period. Twice in this 5 month window I have had very, very light spotting that has happened for 3 days each time (but it really was super light). I have had bloods taken that came up "normal" but what the hell does that mean given depending in when in a cycle they were looking for a normal result would alter accordingly depending on where in the cycle you were!

I have a GP appointment in 2 weeks (which is 6 months no period) and would love some help with what question I should be asking in terms of next steps.

Also, have any of you had to wait this long for your first period?

I am 32, TTC#1, was on Yasmin for 8 years and another pill for 5 years before that.

Thanks.

Thankyou everybody for your kind words, there's so much support on here which helps.

Attila my sonographer just said, my ovaries looked "bulky" and that I had cysts on both of my ovaries. She didn't mention sizes or quantities of the cysts. So I left wishing she hadn't had told me anything so that he Dr could have explained everything to me.

Because I'm yet to have a period I have no idea at what point on my cycle my blood was tested, so probably a pointless result. The closest appointment I could get was the 9th April to see my gp so I'm left stewing on this for almost two weeks!!!

Ginfizz,

Blood tests can actually be done according to calendar days; a day 2 test done on the 2nd /3rd of each month would be far more helpful to you now.

BTW what have you LH/FSH levels been like; was there an imbalance of LH to FSH?.

I sincerely hope you do not have PCOS because it can be a sod. There is treatment available if it is the case and the situation is not hopeless at all. I was diagnosed with this some years ago.

Re your apt on April 9th. Many GPs are not at all up to speed when it comes to PCOS if it is present so you should ideally now be under the care of a gynae rather than a GP in any case. You need a diagnosis first and foremost and a gynae is best placed to give you that.

My LH 6.4 and my FSH 5.0

Not too sure what that means, my thyroid function came back normal and so did my other hormone levels.

Thankyou for all this advice!!

LH and FSH should be around about the same; that test needs to be repeated particularly if it is a day 2 test. When in the cycle was that done?. An imbalance of too much LH to not enough FSH is commonly seen in PCOS patients.

It was done last Monday 16th March. So I should be asking for another one then? Dr said my LH and FSH levels were normal, I take it they aren't as they aren't the same?

When I go back to my gp do I have to ask to be referred to gynaecologyst?

If that test was done mid cycle it was done on the wrong day; LH and FSH should be done on day 2 and LH should be compared against FSH. They can appear ok if only looked at separately; they should always be compared.

I would be asking the GP for a referral to a gynae at a subfertility unit and not take no for an answer.

My Dr called me today and confirmed pcos. Although my bloods are fine, the cysts plus no AF is enough to diagnose.

She said there is nothing I can do to get my periods back into a regular cycle. She talked about metformin but cannot give it to me because I am not over weight and isn't proven to be effective anyway.

She said she won't refer me until we have actively been trying for a year and until my partners sperm is tested. Really feel devastated, wasn't even offered an appointment to talk through possible options for me.

I hVe booked another appt with different Dr for second opinion. I have private health care so need a referral before I can go through them. Do you think they will refer me if I ask??

I also said "so it's okay not to have any period for a year" she said yes it's no problem for you. I was under the impression it was more harm not to have a bleed long term...

so sorry to hear your news Ginfizz. I don't know what to say, other than you have done the right thing asking for a second opinion. You should ask about being referred to private health care and be pushy about. Maybe you should prepare some things you want to ask before you go to your appointment? That way you can be sure you have covered everything you need to. Surely you are already 6 months in to the 'actively trying' timescale? She isn't suggesting 12 months from now is she? Again, so sorry to hear but keep positive and stay strong x

Ginfizz I think you do right to get a second opinion. TBH I don't think that your doctor sounds very helpful. The doctor that I saw at my Gynae appointment said that there is a chance of the womb lining thickening and showing changes if there hasn't been a bleed for 6 months, and that one of these changes could be pre-cancerous cells. They can induce a 'withdrawal bleed' with medication like Norethisterone, which is what I had in January. If you have this for 10 days, not only will you get a bleed which will shed your endometrium, but they will also be able to take more accurate bloods at certain days in your cycle. I think that you should push for this at you next appointment- and don't take no for an answer! Did the GP mention Clomid at all?

I have just received a date for my ultrasound. It's next Wednesday 1st April. Very apprehensive, but at least things are moving forward.

Hi,

I'm new on here, i have 2 boys (aged 4 and 6), and i'm wanting to start ttc #3.

I hope you will all find my experience somewhat helpful, you are not alone in this.

I wanted to let you know that you are not alone, when i first started ttc #1 i came off the pill and didn't have a period for 13 months!!!! I had to go for an internal scan which triggered a bleed, that month i fell pg with #1!!!! When i went back for my results i couldn't wait to tell the consultant that i was pg, she didn't look so pleased and said well lets just see if you are (cue me to panic, i pee'd on a stick and it said pg!!!! what was wrong with that!!!!)

The re-opened the scanning room to scan me, but as i was only 5 weeks they could not find a heartbeat, i had to wait a week and get scanned again - the longest week of my life - but all was good, we had a heartbeat.

Things may take time, and these boards are fab for support. My heart goes out to every one of you ttc, its very frustrating not knowing what our bodies are doing. I wish you all luck. xx

Sorry to hear your news ginfizz. The last time I spoke to my doctors she said similar things to yours (ie there is only a certain amount of things they will do before the 1 year ttc mark) but that was if they didn't find anything wrong. I would expect something to happen now they have found the reason you haven't had a period. Definitely push for a referral to a gynaecologist.

I've finally had my ultrasound appointment through - 7th April. I was starting to go crazy waiting for it but nervous now I've got a date! ??

I don't know what I'd do without this support!

Best of luck MSR, finally a scan appointment for you. Great news.

I am over the shock and upset now, feeling determined to not let this beat me. I am going to push for a referral at my next gp appointment my partner is coming with me for support. How am I meant to get pregnant if I'm not having periods and probably not ovulating, it's been 6 months.

As soon as I am referred I can go though my private medical care at least

Just had my scan. She could only find my left ovary but it looks like I have polycystic ovaries ??

Not really surprised but quite upset. Got an appointment with my gp next Tuesday. Hopefully it'll quicken up the referral to a gynaecologist.

Did you get a referral ginfizz?

Hi Msr12 Sorry about the news.

Gin and I are now on the TTC with PCOS thread. There are a few other lovely ladies on there who have more experience with PCOS and the issues that we've all had. I had my scan mid March and it was inconclusive. My ovaries are slightly enlarged and there are no dominant follicles. They are all the same size. She was unwilling to diagnose anything, so I'm waiting for the consultant to tell me what he thinks. In the meantime, I have just started another course of progesterone pills (today) in order to bring on a bleed so that they can do a HSG ten days in.

Hopefully see you on the new thread soon x x x

Hi Ladies, am so glad I found this thread! Very similar story and is becoming very frustrating. But am feeling more normal and more relieved after reading this post. It's strange for how so long you dread AF and now I would welcome with open arms.
Thank you for the advice eskimo will take a look at Holland and Barratt.

First time posting and posted prematurely!
In an odd way its nice to see people with the same struggle but giving so much support and sharing their journey. I hope you dont mind me tagging along.

Came off the pill (Microgyn) in Novemember but havent actively started trying yet due to weaning myself off pain medication. No period but some light spotting which now after reading this I think couldnt be classfied as a period. Used to be very regular, with cramps the day before AF, now nothing. Am using My Cycles app and FF occasionally.

All the best for everyone and hope you get the answers you very much need. You have all given me hope however that despite no AF ovulation still could be happening.

Any news anyone? I'm just at the six month mark, had second blood tests this week and have been referred for a scan. Just waiting on an appointment date. Still feeling as fed up as ever!

Hi Polly Still nothing from me. Am on my second round of Norethisterone and have about 3 days to go. The clinic needed to induce another bleed so that I can go for a HSG and have Day 21 and Day 28 blood tests done. Gin and I are now on the PCOS thread, as my u/s results were inconclusive. They're a lovely bunch on there. Feel free to join us.

Argh just lost my reply Nine months of no AF and have no hope that it will return. Another three months to wait for lap and dye. Life on hold and feel like a pointless failure of a human being Hope you don't have to wait too long for your test Polly and good luck

Oh Moomin :( It's so shit isn't it. I know what you mean about 'Life on hold.' When I have a good day, I'm thinking 'Ok, not long to go before I finish the pills / have a HSG / Can start to think about DTD every other day for the foreseeable etc. etc..' When I have a bad day, I'm thinking 'What if it never comes back? / What's the point in DTD if I'm not ovulating? / I'm not getting any younger etc. etc.

Hope you're ok. We've just got to keep going... there's nothing else we can do

Aww thanks for your reply Eskimolaura you've made me feel better Mostly I'm able to be positive and think there are plenty of people worse off than me, but other times it just seems hopeless - I feel more at home in the infertility section now tbh as all the 'is it a line' / 2ww threads get a little too much on here as neither are applicable to me and seem a long way off the way things are going. I will keep checking this thread though to see how you and the others are doing - hope Ginfizz is OK too

I know what you mean about the other threads. I'm on the Angry Pubes thread. I joined it back in February, after taking the Norethisterone (progesterone) pills for the first time to induce a bleed. After I finished them and had the withdrawal bleed, I really thought my body was getting back on track. I had EWCM, ov pain (or what I thought was ov pain) and positive OPKs at all the 'right times.' So I joined the monthly buses... and then nothing! No AF at all. By then, I'd made some chums on that thread and they all moved over to start their own thread, so I went with them. They are a good bunch, but sometimes I get disheartened at the thought of not really being off the starting blocks, as it were. Despite this, I wouldn't leave. There's so much support and if I'm having a bad day, they prop me up. Have also learnt so much about this TTC lark from them. If you ever fancy joining us, you would be made more than welcome. We also have a secret FB group and it's good to put names to faces.

Have just finished my latest set of Norethisterone and should be having a bleed Tues/ Wed time in order for the clinic to do a HSG, hopefully the week after next. Has you GP opted to go straight for a lap and dye then? Is that an op? Or have you had other investigations before this? Sorry for not remembering

Hey lovelies! Really sad that none of you is having any better luck. Sucks so badly... And I agree, the other threads (I was on sep-nov) are HARD; everyone is talking 2WW and testing and I'm so far from that... Update from this end (and believe me I know I'm lucky I've had a couple of periods now) is it's CD36, my CBFM stopped working at CD28 (it can't cope with 20 days and no sign of ovulation!!) and whilst my Boots opk did have a dark-ish line one random day last week, my cervix is now like a bullet and there is no CM to be seen. So did I ovulate or not? Who knows but it doent seem likely! I have my 1st referral appt on the 39th so we'll see how that goes I guess. Really hope you're all keeping spirits high xxx

It took me 6 months after stopping taking Yasmin to get my period back! Spent 6 months looking at my pants every time I went to the loo! Hang on in there, i was told it can take up to a year not that that's much consolation when you're waiting.