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?

@Maisy24 that's amazing news about your appointment today, I'm so relieved for you! You can now just relax and focus on your upcoming appointment - when is it again? Injections are going fine thanks, they've become quite routine actually, and so far still no side effects. First scan on Friday, hopefully we'll be able to start seeing an effect on lining but it might still be too early at 7DPO... Yes the plan is to inject until ovulation, then after I'll be taking progesterone and estrogen (bracing myself for the side effects there 😬). Just really really hoping my lining gets thicker and that if I don't get pregnant I at least have a normal period at the end of it 🤞🤞🤞

@8LouiseCambs8 yes welcome and sorry you're going through this too... I have all the same questions as Maisy! When was your scan done in your cycle, and when is your appointment? Thanks for all the tips on lining - I've tried a few of them but no luck for me so far. Hoping your spotting is the beginning of things getting back to normal for you 🤞 (oh and there really is no TMI here!)

Hope all you other ladies are doing ok too, I lose track of all the messages and where everyone is at but I'm rooting for you all xxx

@Maisy24 thank you Maisy! I’m so pleased your appointment went well and wishing you all the best for the appointment at the end of the month

@Hope365 thank you! I’m super rooting for you too..

... sending lots of positive vibes to you all!

To answer both you questions- it was very hard to determine the cycle day, as due to the lack of periods, I haven’t really had any. I did try for a little while tracking temp and OPK but the didn’t really show anything useful. If judging by major cramps (but no bleeding) is anything to go by, it would have approximately day 8.. but I’m nowhere near getting anything resembling a proper or regular cycle! It was a trans-vaginal scan.

I haven’t got an appointment date yet b it the doctor thinks it should be within 2 months. I’m going through gynaecology rather than fertility, as we haven’t been TTC yet- wanted to wait for cycles/periods to settle down first (was disappointed by negative pregnancy tests initially, so decided to relax things until my body is back to normal- hopefully!)

Keep me updated

@Maisy24 sorry I missed the part about your scan tomorrow- good luck and I’ll keep my fingers crossed!

Came of the pill December 5th - withdrawal bleed around the 18th. I’m now on my second period with a 26day cycle. They are rather light. Will fill a tampon but no tampon or pad really needed. TTC any advice on ovulation trackers ? All seems regular on the 26day cycle just very light periods. Struggling to figure out ovulation and fertile window. Thanks guys

Hi ladies, small update from me - scan yesterday was unfortunately not great... 8DPO, a week of injections, and lining was still only 4 mm 😕 it's still early and there's time for it to grow, but my ovaries seem to be responding well to the treatment so it looks like it is having an effect, just not on my lining...

In previous cycles it got to about 6mm by ovulation, which isn't great but apparently could be just enough for implantation, but then by 7DPO when implantation happens it was always back down to 5 mm. So hoping that if I can at least get to 6 mm again, then maybe the estrogen/progesterone supplementation I'm going to take during the luteal phase could make the difference 🤞🤞 Trying to remain hopeful but it's hard... Next scan Monday to see how things progress.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend xxx

Hi @Starstruck57xx, welcome 😊 I found temping helped me when I first started - you can get a basal temperature thermometer for fairly cheap and take your temp every morning as you wake up, will give you a good idea of when you ovulate, though only after it's happened so it's good to use ovulation predictor kits too. Clearblue digital OPKs are quite expensive but really helpful, and I found it was worth investing a bit at the beginning and then with time I got better at reading my body and didn't need them so much. I now rely mostly on when I have fertile cervical mucus to know I'm in my window - it's a very reliable sign for me, but I know everyone is different so see what works for you. Good luck! Xxx

This is amazing, Thankyou so much for such a quick response! I really appreciate it. I’m very new to this and learning so much day by day so again Thankyou.

I will certainly be investing and looking into all of these to see what’s best for me.

Wishing you alll the best of luck too! I’ve been reading your threads!!!

So happy to be able to talk comfortably with everyone who understands! Thankyou again! X

Hello,

Very sorry to jump in on this thread, but felt so reassured to see people in a similar situation. I'm a first time poster so all new to this!

Came off Microgynon (after 13 years, regularly asking doc if I needed a break for fertility reasons!) on 28th Dec. Had normal withdrawal bleed on 2nd Jan. No AF as yet, although I THOUGHT it was appearing on CD35, had a very small amount of bleeding, some red but mostly brown (sorry TMi!!) But no where near enough to fill a pad. Also had normal AF cramping at this time. Tiny bits of brown the 2 days following and nothing at all since. I'm on CD38 which I know is early days, but I just have a gut feeling that something is not right.

Not really sure what I wanted to achieve with this post, but felt the need to 'let it out' as I've no one else to talk to! x

Hi @RachD24, sorry to hear you're having issues too 🙁 It is still very early for you though, I think it's totally normal for things to take a few months after coming off the pill, so don't worry just yet! (easier said than done I know...) Hopefully your next period will be more normal 🤞

Good news for me today ladies! I'm CD13 and had a 3rd scan since starting the injections... the first 2 (last one was on Monday) didn't look good - my lining looked just as thin as on previous cycles - so I wasn't feeling very hopeful, but... it grew loads in the last 2 days!! It was 8.5 mm, which is well within normal range, and way thicker than it's ever been on previous tracked cycles! Feeling so so relieved that the drugs are working! Also I had two juicy follicles ready to pop, so we have great lining AND two chances 😬🤞🤞🤞 Triggering ovulation tonight, then baby making booked in for the next couple of days (so romantic 🙄), then onto progesterone and estrogen support for the luteal phase... excited! To be honest though, I'm so relieved to find out that my lining CAN grow, and responds to treatment, that this cycle is already a win for me, whatever the outcome.

Sending positive vibes to you all 🤗💕 @Maisy24 not long now till your appointment! Xxx

@Hope365 that’s amazing news! I’m so happy for you 😀

@hope365 buzzing for you!!! Total win to know it's working at the very least. Also, don't worry about the baby making, I got so bored of tracking we decided to just DTD everyday for 6 days 😂. 4 down 2 to go !! 🤞 (P.s. I'm literally f**d 🤣!!!)

Let the TWW commence 😴

@JennaRMD that's dedication to your fertile window 😂 OH and I only did 4 days and that was enough! I'm now 5DPO and this feels like the longest TWW ever... first time in such a long time where I feel actually hopeful, which is also really scary due to the potential disappointment 😬 Also I'm actually going to have to wait the full two weeks this time (luteal phase is usually 12 days) because of the extra hormones I'm taking - they will prevent my period from starting, so I have to wait 2 weeks and then take a test, which terrifies me as I find testing so anxiety inducing... I usually don't do it and just wait for AF to show, but can't this time..!

@jenna how many DPO are you?

@Maisy24 I seem to remember today is appointment day?? Hoping it goes well for you xxx

@hope365 yeah, we made it to 5 days coz I ovulated so didn't need to do day 6 😂. Was fun but I'm glad to not touch each other for a few days now 😂😂😂🙈!!! I'm currently 4-5dpo, I ovulated somewhere between Thursday afternoon and Friday night so not 100% sure but more likely to be 4. I've had some cramping yesterday and today and yesterday had the tiniest amount of brown cm (sorry tmi) but it doesn't seem to have continued. I also am quite good at convincing myself I have pregnancy symptoms when I clearly don't lol so just going to wait and see. We go to Portugal on the 3rd of March so if I'm not at least I'll be able to go get drunk in the sun lol ☀️ (although I'd prefer to have no choice but to be sober in the sun lol) 🤞 for us ❤️💋

@Hope365 hi!! So sorry I haven't been on here for a while! I've had a hectic time at work and then everytime I've thought "I'll do it tonight" something popped up!

Omg amazing news about the lining being thicker!!!! I have absolutely everything crossed this works for you! Are you still in the two week wait??

Well, We went for our appointment and I'm not really sure how I am feeling about it all. So we got in there and told the doctor everything, she had a look at the blood results (which were back in 2018) and also the SA results. She said everything looked ok on my bloods except the "progesterone serum" should be above 1, but then she went on to say but the other measure of progesterone looked good. So she said she wanted repeat blood tests done to check. I then explained how I used opks and also temped, so she wasn't that concerned and said I will be ovulating. She looked at the sperm results and said she wanted to consult with the senior doctor about the morphology. When she did this, she came back in with him and he basically said, he had lots of sperm, but not many normal forms, however this can be just at the time and he wants a repeat test after 3 months, he wants us to completely cut alcohol, eat healthy, drink 2 litres of water , and to completely stop opks, stop having more sex over ovulation and just so it every couple of days, completely stop thinking about it and just have fun. He told my husband, no hot baths, no tight boxers, and told him to take "L-Carnitine" which you can buy from Holland and Barrett. I explained about my 1 day bleed and I was worried about lining. He then said he was going to prescribe me 3 cycles of Provera for 21 days, with a 7 day break to bring on a bleed, he said this will "reboot my ovaries and help the lining". I have since been googling Provera and not heard of anyone else being prescribed it for 21 days and without Clomid, so I am concerned about it. The more junior doctor said she wants me to have a lap and dye also, so I will be phoning up next week to book that in, they can then check there is no blockage. So basically I take this 3 cycles of Provera, we follow the lifestyle advice (which we have already been doing tbh!) then after 3 months DH has another SA, I have repeat bloods, then I have been told they don't need to see me for 6 months, and I will get a letter to go back if nothing shows up on the lap and dye and I'm not pregnant. They said make sure you phone the fertility clinic if you get pregnant. So my DH thinks it went positive as they were talking like we were going to get pregnant. But I just feel like we haven't much of a plan still and it's another 6 month wait. Also very unsure about this Provera.

Sorry for the long message, I'm trying to put everything down incase it helps anyone

Xxxxxxx

@Maisy24 hi, so good to hear from you!! Yes I am still in my TWW - currently 10DPO and feeling completely different to how I normally feel, which is amazing! I normally get that pre-AF feeling so early - cramps and backache from as early as 5DPO - but for the first time ever, nothing! I know this doesn't mean I'm pregnant at all, it's just the drugs I'm taking, but it does confirm that those cramps were not normal and were likely all part of the same hormone imbalance, and that the drugs are working so we are actually in with a chance! I honestly have never had much hope during the TWW so this is so exciting, though the flip side is that I'm terrified of testing as I just don't want the hope to end... Test day is Thursday 😬🤞

Thank you for sharing how your appointment went - it seems at least they have lots planned for you, even though it does mean more waiting which I know is so frustrating. Also being told to stop thinking about it and "have fun" would have made me so angry if it was me - I find being told to relax is just the least helpful advice 🙄 It's good they are repeating blood tests, and also your husband's SA - they say SA should always be repeated as numbers can vary time to time (they did for my OH - morphology came back normal second time). I'm afraid I don't know much about provera either - though I think it is supposed to 'reset things', so perhaps it could be another way to fix a hormonal imbalance, if that is what underlies your light periods too? I'm surprised they are booking you in for a laparoscopy - I thought that was usually only to check for endometriosis, otherwise just HSG for checking tubes was standard... lap is much more thorough though so you'll get lots of info from it, but it is a proper surgery. I actually had one years ago, well before TTC, because I was experiencing pain during sex so they wanted to rule out endo (which it did), so happy to discuss that if you have any questions about it.

So when will you start the provera? Perhaps you could ask to discuss it again with the doctor if you're not sure? Xxx

@Hope365 SO exciting!!! It just goes to show your gut feeling was right and then cramps wasn't normal! They must have been related to the hormone imbalance, so glad the injections seem to be working! I know what you mean about being having Hope now and it is scary. Just try and prepare yourself and remember that even the most healthy couple can take months as it is a game of chance. Even if it doesn't happen this month it's sounding like it's likely to be in the next few! So happy for you.

The more I think about the appointment the more annoyed I am. I wish I'd have said more or pushed for more answers (not sure they have any though). The doctor kept saying "it's great because you are both young so we have time to play around with things". Actually no I'm not. 31 might be young in terms of IVF, but not to conceive naturally! I have been reading that Provera helps the lining, so I've agreed I'm going to just follow the advice and take it and see what happens. We are both cutting alcohol for the full 3 months, then at least we have tried everything. I'm 9DPO today so expect to start in around 3-4 days. Once I finish bleeding I then start the Provera for 21 days and have a gap, where I should bleed. The way the doctor explained it is that most women take a month or so to get back to normal after the pill, but i never have, so this is to help my body get back into rhythm. We will see! I have everything crossed for Thursday for you xxxxxx

@Hope365 also I'd got totally mixed up with the procedures( too much reading on here haha) I'm having the one where they put dye in the tubes to check for no blockages. Not an operation xxxx

@Maisy24 ah that makes so much more sense - it's an HSG or HyCoSy, I think it's one of the standard diagnostic tests that clinics do when you first get referred so I was surprised they hadn't booked you in for one and skipped straight to full on laparoscopy! Totally know what you mean about feeling frustrated after the appointment and not feeling like you asked enough questions - I always get that... I also hate it when they say we are young, like somehow then it doesn't matter if it takes us another 3 years to have a baby! I want a baby now, and also ideally I would want more than one, so no, I'm not young 🙄 It does sound like they're doing all the right tests though, and importantly taking your light periods seriously - it took me a while for my clinic to even recognise the problem, so at least they're not wasting any time with you. It's good to know provera is another potential option for treatment too - the more options the more likely it is that one will work! I'm hoping these 3 months of tests and provera (and no drinking!) will help, and at least give you some answers. I've also stopped drinking completely since starting treatment so I'm with you on that sober bandwagon...!

@JennaRMD how is your TWW going?

Xxx

Hi girls
Hope you don’t mind me jumping on here, I had a miscarriage beginning of last year and I went back on the pill for a bit and came off at the end of November and my periods came back in December which lasted 4 days but so much lighter than I’ve had before, been TTC since then and nothing which has been really getting me down and making me feel like rubbish 😩 I came on today and it’s still light but I’ve been having bad period cramps, just feeling so down about it all and it’s hard having no one to talk too xx

@Hope365 I'm meant to be due tomorrow or Thursday but my cycles range between 27-30 days so if I don't have them by Saturday then I might test. Feeling a bit pissed off today though as was quite hopeful this month and didn't have my usual luteal phase symptoms but woke up this morning with tender breasts which usually happens around 4days or so before the arrival of AF ! Starting to loose hope tbh, think I'm just going to have to forget about the whole "being a Mum" thing because it's mucking up my mental health every month. Building up hope just to have inevitable disappointment. It's not good.

@JennaRMD I am totally with you, sending lots of love, it is SOOOO exhausting, I am 11dpo today and started with the feeling I'm going to start, I was hoping I wouldn't have to start the fertility drugs but looks like I will be doing. I'm actually thinking the same thing, I feel like just giving up and enjoying my life as it is, child free!

@Klwb93 welcome and sorry to hear you are having these issues, 4 days still seems like a good length, even if it is light. I'd try not to worry about it yet, things might still be getting back to normal. If you are still worrying though make sure you go to the doctors and they may do some tests which could easy your stress.

@Hope365 hope you are doing ok, and the wait isn't stressing you out too much! Yes I know! I've always said I didn't want just one , I wanted two children, so time isn't on my side! I know some are much older but we are still not young! Yes I've been doing as much research on Provera as possible and still haven't found anyone that has been prescribed it like me for 21 days straight, I have also read it can help with the lining but mess with ovulation. I am happy that I ovulate regular at the minute, watch I will start this and get a heavier bleed but won't ovulate 🤣 I'm just going to take it and see what happens. Omg the sober train is so hard, I find myself wanting to avoid events or anything as people will think I'm pregnant if I don't drink...which fuels the questions and makes me feel worse. It's a vicious circle! My husband is pretending he is on a health kick to all his mates for a stag doo later in the year 🤣🤣

Xxxxxx

@Maisy24 thank you! I don’t even think it’s been a period I’ve had 1 day of really dark red/brown and really watery so if it’s TMI!! But since then just brown discharge.. it’s just so confusing.. I think I’ll give it a couple of days and go to the doctors yo checked out because this is very unusual for me.. I’m currently having a sensation where it feels like my lower belly is stretching instead of cramping, it’s just such hard work 😂 x

@klwb93 I'm with you! Hard work indeed! I'm getting more and more bored each month tbh, it's probably been about 5 months since I actually fully enjoyed life and felt greatful for everything I have.

I just took a HPT because I couldn't wait another 4 days. Surprise surprise! BFN! I don't know why I constantly get my hopes up, I've literally just cried to my OH for 15 minutes while he hummed and hawed and agreed but I feel so terrible that I perhaps make him feel worse. It's not doing either of us any good. I said to him I was considering stopping trying and he just said "no! Just try not to worry about it!". So much easier said than done. I'm dreading the next 2 months of negatives because then we'll need to go for further testing (which is something I really didn't want to do or ever think I would have to).
Portugal 1 week today so just staying happy and waiting for the arrival of AF because she has not appeared yet even though I have all symptom and BFN.
Sorry for depressing status girls, hope you are all hanging in there ❤️

@klwb93 I'm so sorry for your loss 💕 did you get your periods back after the miscarriage and before going on the pill, and if so, were they normal? It would be helpful for you to know if the lightness is since the miscarriage or since going on the pill as it might help to understand it better... In any case @Maisy24's right that it might just regulate with a bit of time - it can take up to a year after coming off the pill... but definitely go to the doctors if you're worried about it, they can at least run some basic tests. (Oh and don't worry, there is no such thing as TMI here!)

@JennaRMD ugh it's so hard I know 🙁 the thing that's crazy is that every month we somehow manage to build that hope up again, only to have it dashed, over and over. It's exhausting... but please don't give up! I know it's not ideal, and we'd all obviously love to fall naturally, but if it doesn't happen there's so much that science can do to help. We just have to stay hopeful ❤

@Maisy24 the TWW has actually been a dream so far - first time in 2 years not having that pre-AF feeling for at least a week leading up to it. I didn't realise how much I just wasn't myself during my luteal phase until this month, where I've just felt... normal! Though now I'm worrying that I'm feeling too normal and desperate to spot any kind of pregnancy symptom 🙄 I think my boobs are fuller, but I'm probably just clutching at straws there (and could just be progesterone side effect), generally feeling 100% normal. 2 more days till test day and I'm terrified - I don't want the hope to end... My OH suggested we wait till the weekend to test so I have a couple of days to process it before going back to work, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to hold out. We'll see...

Xxxxxx