Light periods after stopping pill

[HRMC87]

I stopped taking my pill in December and TTC since. I have had really regular periods since but they are so light! The same every time, period pains start on the Sunday night and I don't get it til the Friday. Last for 2-3 days and I can get away with wearing only one pad everyday. Getting worried now, I know it takes time for them to get back to normal but I have had 4 and they were never like this before! Anyone had anything similar with success?

@Hope365 I know exactly how you are feeling, I'm 11 dpo and I usually have around 12-14 lutual phase, but I went toilet last night and usually pale pink when I wiped, same this morning along with the back ache and dreaded feeling. I'm the same as you I have my appointment in February but was really hoping we wouldn't need it, look like we will 😔. How are you lovely? I bet you can't wait to start the treatment now, I'm so excited for you!!

@MrsKirsty so sorry you have been dealing with a new cycle, I react the exact same as you, one month I'm okish and then the next month it puts me into a dark mood for days. Definitely think it's a good idea to say you've been trying for a year, get them tests done so you can rule a few things out. Keep us all updated how you get on.

@niamhie95 it sounds like your cycles could be starting to regulate, fingers crossed!

@JennaRMD at least you will have the results of one test, then book in for the others, just so you can rules things out.

I know how you feel about time, I'm always booking things in advance and thinking "well I probably won't be able to go by then" but nope I end up being able to attend everything! It's really really hard but I'm glad we all have each other to share with.

Best of luck girls and I'm going to drown my pre period cramp sorrows with lots of nice food on the sofa watching a romcom 😊

@maisy24 hopefully 🤞

Further update to top off my great day, got a letter this morning with a referral to the hospital next week... to say my smear results have come back with abnormal cells 🙈 along with testing positive for HPV. Got to have an colposcopy.....When will all this end

Started the dreaded pre menstrual cramps today but no sign of my usual "spotting" just yet, if you can even call it that. It's such a head f**k every month, it's starting to get to me. The whole "am i? Am i not?" Or "maybe it's implantation cramps and not period pain", the whole thing of accepting you're not pregnant every month with the stupid bit of hope that resides in us all is what makes it so difficult. I'm due on Tues but I just know the way my body is feeling that it'll likely come tomorrow.
I feel like it would be easier if you didn't have to wait 2 weeks to find out, like if you could check the morning after DTD to see if it worked then you wouldn't build your hopes or expectations up for them to be crushed back down for yet another month.

@MrsKirsty I'm with you, some months I'm like "oh well never mind" this month I'm cheesed off to say the least. We're doing everything right, it's just so annoying trying and failing every month. So frustrating.

I need to phone docs for my results tomorrow re progesterone test. No doubt it'll be fine and will need to figure something else out to why it's not happening. Fml🤦
@Maisy24 I'm sorry about your smear results...it's shit and never ending. We're all here though so you're not alone promise 🤞.

@hope365 shit that you're getting your usual symptoms again this month but hopefully onwards and upwards once you start your new treatment plan!

@Maisy24 I'm so sorry to hear that, it's really the last thing you needed 😔 Hopefully it won't be too serious and they'll be able to sort it quickly - abnormal cells are quite common I think. Good that they're referring you quickly though - when is your colposcopy? As @JennaRMD said, we are totally here for you ❤❤

The pre-period cramps are a bitch. I actually always start to get 'that feeling' really early, this month it was 5DPO, sometimes it's even throughout the whole luteal phase... it's not really painful, just uncomfortable, and always just makes me feel like I'm out - although as you said Jenna, there's always that 'stupid bit of hope' that means I'm still inevitably crushed every time AF starts... ugh it's all so tiring. I'm guessing another 3 days for me before CD1, and then it's treatment time 😬 Terrified of getting my hopes up... Let us know how your results go Jenna, and Maisy, thinking of you xxx

@Hope365 @JennaRMD thanks both, really appreciate it. Well as always I'm totally confused with what is going on with my period. The pink has disappeared, and there's either nothing al all or the tiniest amount if brown, I'm now 13 dpo and the feeling has eased off. 😩 I'm really hoping that small amount of pink wasn't it this month! I'm now wondering if there's something wrong with me and that's what's stopping my periods. This scan can't come quick enough.

@Hope365 also it is odd you get the feeling so early in your lutual phase , sounds like something is out of sync with your hormones, this treatment should definitely help that! Roll on your next cycle xxxx

@JennaRMD I know exactly what you mean, I always think why can't it be like the Simms where a nice song comes on after dtd to let you know if you've conceived 🤣 xxxx

@Maisy24 yeah that defo would be easier. As for the spotting, that sounds like exactly what I get every month. 1 day of pinkish and 2 days of tiny bit or brown and that is it. Wouldn't even notice it if I wasn't looking for it.

@JennaRMD it's so weird isn't it; I usually get one day of a proper bleed, but looks like I'm not even getting that this time 😫 I have this colposcopy on the 5th and then my first fertility appointment end of the month: so I will get you all updated on anything I find out. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I will ask them xxx

So my bloods suggest I'm ovulating ... This is a good thing obviously but now I get the joy of overthinking something else 😂

@Maisy24 that's weird about the really short bleed... Do you temp at all? That would give you a clue whether your cycle did finish or whether that was just spotting and the real period is still to come (or not!) If you're not sure maybe you should take a test - it could have been implantation bleeding, who knows! So good you have those appointments coming up, rooting for you to get some answers this month! (Also yes, if only it was like the sims 😂)

@JennaRMD great news about ovulation! I know you suspected but it's always good to have it confirmed - it's a very important part of the battle won 😊 If you're worried about the other stuff you could ask for those other basic tests like FSH and thyroid, might give you more peace of mind xxx

@Hope365 yes I temp and use advanced clear blue opk, so I know I definitely ovulated. I am that much of an expert now that I only temp when I get my flashing smiley to when I get a peak smiley and then a rise.....Then I stop as I know I've ovulated and I don't need to stress. I've attached my chart. I know most places would tell me to do a test , but I'm sure you know the feeling when you just know you aren't pregnant 🤣 so I'm not bothering. I'm hoping I will have some form of red bleed by tomorrow, otherwise this has been the lightest one I've ever had! I do have a dull ache down my right leg though 🙄 not sure what this is!

@JennaRMD fantastic news you are ovulating! So now you know that egg is there and ready to go! At least you can rule that out. Although I know what you mean about worrying about the next thing! I think like hope says the next steps are the day 5 tests, once they are done then it's onto your partner for a SA. One step at a time and we will all get there 😊

Xxxxxxx

@Hope365 I've just had a brainwave as you mentioned temping, I will do my temp in the morning and see if it has come down: that's a sure way of knowing! If it has come down then I know I've probably had my "period". Will keep you all posted , I swear our periods are harder to solve than the morse code xxxx

@Maisy24 great, that's exactly what I was thinking! I usually do the same as you - only temp around ovulation then stop, but I also take one more temp when I think my period has come to confirm it really was my period (since it's so light 🙄). Let us know how it goes tomorrow xxx

well I didn't need to temp as I woken up with the worst stomach ache, and I've got bright red medium flow blood, I'm actually happy for once!! Hoping it stays longer than a day. I do find it odd how I had that pale pink a couple of days ago thought; makes me wonder if that's what my period is trying to start as that would make it a normal length if it was from then!

When will you start treatment @Hope365 is is from cd1?

Xxxx

@Maisy24 well it's good you're having some normal flow at least! And bright red too - I never get that, it's always brown or dark red for me... Hoping it lasts a few days! (Such a strange thing to wish for you but you know what I mean 😂) Are you still taking the vitamin E? This is my second cycle on it and I've not noticed any differences - though still need to see what this next period is like to reach a proper verdict... I'm waiting for CD1 now - expecting it either tomorrow or Thursday. When it comes I have to call the clinic and they'll book me in for a baseline scan and an appointment with a nurse who'll show us how to do injections... then I think treatment will start around CD3. It's getting real 😬 xxx

@Hope365 still got some this morning but it's very little, So looks like it's a day and a bit this time. Still got the stomach ache though. It's like I run out of blood or something! No I stopped all vitamins once I got my appointment because I wanted to just go to the appointment not taking anything so if they do tests it will be without any supplements or anything. Ooo exciting! It seems the treatment plan has come around really quick for you, I'm hoping I get something like that and not on another waiting list . I just need to get the smear appointment on the 5th out the way first as I'm really worried something is wrong.

Xxxxxx

@Maisy24 sounds like a good idea to stop all the extras and go to your appointment with a clean slate! I honestly don't know if they make much difference anyway (except for folic acid obviously). CD1 is just beginning for me (boo) so I've finally been able to make that call and get the ball rolling (yay!) - appointment tomorrow morning for baseline scan and injection lesson! 😬 I guess it has come around quickly, though feels like I've been waiting forever! Our very first appointment at the clinic was September last year, and we've had lots of tests, and one round of Femera in that time, so it has moved pretty fast - I'm keeping everything crossed that they are efficient for you too! And most importantly, hoping all will go well on the 5th. Do you know if you will get results on the day, or if they will need to send things off for testing again? Xxx

So AF showed up today in the form of a mid-light spot of discharge (sorry if tmi😂). Tbh, I'm just glad the "am I, am I not?" Feelings can be stopped this month. So bored of it now 😴... Pass the wine 🍷

@JennaRMD I'm sorry about AF 😕 Mine came too... Here's to starting another month! 🥂
We've just got back from the clinic for baseline scan and injection lesson... it's official, treatment starts tonight! 💉😬 Excited and nervous all rolled into one...!

@MrsKirsty how did your appointment go on Monday? Xxx

Oo also, @Maisy24 my OH got his full results back from the SA he did before Christmas, and morphology is now normal at 4%!! Just thought I would mention it as I seem to remember you saying your OH had low morphology like mine did - apparently it can improve with time! X

@JennaRMD so sorry to hear af arrived, but definitely enjoy yourself and have some well deserved wine!

@Hope365 arghhhh exciting! Keep us updated on how it's all going! And thanks for the update on morphology , yeah my DH got 1% but he has been doing all the things to try and improve it, so I'm hoping his will improve. What did your dh do differently? At least you can now be happy his swimmers are healthy and raring to go! Got everything crossed for you with this treatment xxxx

@Maisy24 sorry just realised I didn't reply to your last message! The main thing that changed between his first SA and the more recent one was that he is doing much less cycling - he was doing serious long distance cycling last year (for triathlon) and has since stopped, apart from the short cycle to work. But I've heard that that mostly affects count rather than morphology, so I'm not sure it has anything to do with it to be honest... I think SA is very variable, which is why they recommend doing two, so there may never have been a problem in the first place! Fingers crossed it's the same for your DH 🤞 Not long now till your appointment, thinking of you lots ❤

Injections are going well so far - it's a bit weird but not nearly as scary as it sounds... no side effects so far, just a slightly bruised belly! Xxx

Hi ladies

Hope you don’t mind me joining the thread! I’m new to mumsnet and signed up after reading this post with interest, as I’ve been sharing a similar story to many of you. Although it’s rubbish, to know at least I’m not alone in this made me feel less isolated.

I came off the pill at the start of last year (2019) and have had nothing so much as a cycle or period of any kind since then. I was originally on the combined pill, then progesterone only. I have been on it since 16, and am now in my 30s. I’m really glad I came off when I did as I knew things might take time but not this long!

After I came off the pill I had a couple of negative pregnancy tests which made me sad. Since then we have not been TTC- I wanted to at least wait to start cycling again, so as to try and avoid the inevitable disappointment.

I have had hormone tests that came back normal and a scan that showed a thin endometrial lining (4mm).

My doctor has referred me and I am currently waiting for an appointment to see a specialist.

In the meantime I thought I’d do some research and found a few tips online to help with improving endometrial thickness. I thought it couldn’t hurt so for the past couple of weeks I’ve tried:

Raspberry Leaf Tea
Pregnacare (before conception) which has L-arginine and Vit E supposed to be effective
Omega-3
Pomegranate juice
Getting good amounts of exercise

It could be a complete coincidence but a few days ago I had proper cramps and now am on the 4th day of seeing tiny bits of dark blood on the tissue paper after going to the loo (sorry if TMI!).

I know it’s not much but it’s a huge improvement from nothing at all for nearly a year!

I have seen some tips on here I will try too- I hear acupuncture is very good.

I wish all of you the very best and it’s lovely to meet you all ☺️

@Hope365 thanks hope! I've just got back from the smear referral and everything was ok thankfully, they said everything looks healthy and nothing to worry about. So waiting for the fertility appointment now at the end of the month. So glad to hear the injections are going well! Do you stop them after ovulation? Still no side effects? Xxxxx

@8LouiseCambs8 welcome! Sorry to hear you are also struggling with similar issues, this is a really good place to share/rant and feel like you can talk to people in the same situation, thanks for the advice on the lining. When you had the scan for the thin lining what kind of scan was it? I've had an internal pelvic ultrasound but it was on like day 7ish and they said my lining was fine, but I'm worrying that they can't say for sure it's fine as at that point as it wasn't in my Lutual phase. When was your scan done in your cycle? It is very good that you have seen some blood hopefully your body is getting back to normal! so you have been trying for around a year? When is your fertility appointment, I have mine at the end of the month so I will share what information I find out xxxxx