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?

Hi girls. How are you getting on?

Quick update on my end, so I had the bleeding for 5 days but it was still very very light, then I started opks on day 10 and was still getting flashing faces! I'm not sure if this was because I didn't ovulate. Anyway I got to day 17 and started to bleed, and I've had 2 days of medium bleeding , I'd say the most I've bled, so I am now thinking this is my actual period and the other week wasn't a proper one. It's all so confusing. I am counting from this bleed again now so I'm back to day 3 🙈. I am praying that I ovulate this cycle , so much time has been wasted due to taking the tablets, I've lost 2 months where I could have tried.

Any positive news from your end? Xxxxx

Hi @Maisy24, oh no I'm sorry to hear about all the confusion 😔 I guess that was an anovulatory cycle then..? Fingers massively crossed this cycle will be back to normal for you - and possibly with better bleeds too (though obv no bleeds would be even better 😉)! On my end I'm on my first unmedicated cycle after those three rounds of injections (I still have progesterone & estrogen for the TWW but no ovulation induction), so waiting to see if I will ovulate normally or if the treatment screwed me up too 😬 So far I'm on CD17 and have been getting all my usual pre- ovulation symptoms (EWCM and cramps) but OPKs are negative which is unusual for me, so no idea what's going on... I'm tracking temp and hoping the big O will make an appearance in the next couple of days 🤞 I've kind of lost faith that it'll go anywhere though - still trying because we might as well, but mostly just desperate for the fertility clinic to open up again so we can have a real chance. Another pregnancy announcement from a close friend at the weekend too, it never gets any easier... xxx

Hi everyone, I am new

I have been off microgynon since May 2019 and my periods are regular now but super duper light, spotting for 4 days before, 1-2 days of bleeding and then spotting again. Been TTC 7 months and just going into cycle #8. Because of the spotting the doctor referred us to the fertility clinic for tests, I've had swabs and a TV ultrasound and the nurse said everything was fine, but do I need to push for my lining to be checked separately? I'm so fed up with my body at the moment as it just is taking SO long to get back to normal and TTC is battering my mental health so much as I wrongly thought we would be pregnant by now! Does anyone still so hang out here?

Hi @unicornpower, so sorry to hear you're having similar issues... It's great that you've already been referred to a fertility clinic though, and that the first few tests came back normal! On what cycle day did you have the ultrasound, and did they look at lining thickness? I found I had to really push for anyone to take my light period concerns seriously, and they only checked my lining because I explicitly asked them to during my HyCoSy procedure, which happened to be later in my cycle - if the ultrasound is too early in your cycle it won't tell you anything about lining as it's supposed to be thin at the start. Ideally you really need to have a scan around ovulation or during the luteal phase to see if it's thick enough...

We do still message on here and it helps to have people with similar issues to chat with, so feel free to share 😊 How are you other ladies doing? @Maisy24 @JennaRMD?

I'm on cycle day one, yet again... the good news is that the fertility clinic has had approval to reopen - though hasn't reopened yet. Two pregnancy announcements last week, they just keep coming... Xxx

I'm on cycle day 2 after last months heartache. I'm over it now. So bored of trying and failing. Still super light periods even more so than last 2 months so god knows. I was in agony all day yesterday, everything ached. So tiring all of this. Feel like just going back on birth control lol

@unicornpower I feel exactly the same as you. Tired and fed up, entering our 13th cycle now and definitely think it's a lining issue.
@hope355 that's good news on the fertility clinic. I'm still hoping we don't need referred but I know now that it's been a year they will probably refer us. Just never thought that would be me.

Update though after what I thought was another shitty light period... TMI but had red clotting today and heavy like compared to my youthful periods. The doctor last month said she reckons that my lining is thickening on it's own, which makes sense if you compare what I just wiped against what I had back in say November (a tiny spot of nothing for 3 full days, not even enough to wear a liner). Last month and this month I've actually had to put something on so I'm thinking it may be just taking my body time to sort itself out, which is fine, I just wish I could get confirmation on this.
@Maisy24 how are you? Xx

@Hope365 the nurse didnt say, she said I have a retroverted uterus but everything else looked okay. I think I am due to have a HyCoSy at some point but dont know when yet. The GP referred me because I have 3-4 days of spotting before each period so he was concerned about endometriosis so I am so lucky to be referred quickly. The clinic seemed quite disorganised and It all seemed quite rushed and I had loads of questions that I didnt really get chance to ask so I'm a bit confused! My period was a little heavier this month but not by much. Thank you for replying though! Were you on Microgynon?

I've had two pregnancy announcements too and it just gets harder every month 😔

Hi everyone,

So sorry I haven't been on here for a while, even though I'm technically not doing much, work has been really busy and I seem to find the days are flying!

I'm currently 10dpo. I am really happy because my cycle has returned to normal after them stupid Provera tablets affected my ovulation. I got a static smiley on cd16 and then my temp went up on cd17 so I think I definitely ovulated. We've really tried with all our might this month but like you ladies I still feel like it's pointless and I'm expecting af in the next few days.

I had my follow up appointment at the clinic planned for August. And I got a letter two weeks ago to say I've got an ultrasound scan on the 22nd of June. I wasn't expecting this as I have already had one early on in the initial investigations at the doctors. I'm not complaining though, the more tests the better! I am annoyed though as it works out to be around cd7 so early on in the cycle again so They won't be able to check lining. Then last week I got another letter saying that my fertility follow up appointment in August has been cancelled and I'll receive another one in the next few weeks 😭 really gutted as I thought it was all going ahead still with getting the scan. Hopefully the next one that comes isn't too far away.

@Hope365 good to hear your clinic is back open! Have you got another appointment yet to go back and start the medicated cycle? Sorry to hear about the announcements, they never get easy, I've also had a few lately and I'm expecting an influx in the next months due to lockdown 😢

@JennaRMD so sorry to hear you are into another cycle, but that sounds really positive regarding the heavier bleed! Hopefully your body is getting back to normal, I have heard a lot of people saying it's taken their body over a year to return to normal. And yes I know how you feel , I never thought I'd end up in the position, I am coming upto 2 years in July.

@unicornpower Welcome! Yes we are still on here, I've just been busy this month but always thinking of the lovely ladies in here and hoping I come on here and find an announcement (the one time I actually want to hear one😂), so sorry you are going through what we have all been through, my advice is continue pursuing the investigations and get as many tests as you can, that way you can feel like you are doing something. BUT it is very early days for you yet so fingers crossed it will happen within the year. Try and not get too stressed out, many people have light periods and it doesn't affect anything to do with fertility.

Sending lots of love to everyone xxxxxxx

Hi all, so I've also just come off the pill in April. Basically meant to be getting married in two week but thats postponned till 2021, so we though we could try and squeeze a baby out first. Not so easy when your hormones need to settle down 🙈 Ive had two cycles 30 days long which I was happy with, but my periods have got lighter and lighter. They were heavier when I had the week brake off the pill. Ive decided this month to stop exercising as much incase its stress related? Also using OPKs for the first time, doing seed cycling and currently drinking grapefruit juice every morning. Im CD4 AF already finished yesterday 😩

Hi all - I’m new here, hope everyone is well. I’m so glad I’ve found this thread it’s super helpful! I came off the pill in August of last year (I was on the mini pill for about 3 years and a different pill before that from when I was 15) my periods came back in December of last year but very light and brown in colour, I wasn’t too concerned as thought they’d go back to normal eventually and if not I would book a drs appointment but then covid hit and as my ‘period’ comes every month I’m not sure if it’s something to worry about or not?! I guess I’m a bit more aware of it now as we were due to get married in May and were going to start ttc after that however our wedding has been postponed so we have decided to start trying now. I try not to google too much but it’s hard not to when it all feels so unknown x

Just read your post and wanted to say that I'm in a similar position - meant to be getting married in September, but have had to change our plans to next September so TTC now instead. I only came off the pill in April, had my withdrawal bleed and then first natural AF arrived 30 days later. I'm now on CD38 of cycle 2 off the pill and appears I had a very late ovulation - CD33. Will be interested to see what this next AF is like, as like you my first was very light, more brown spotting first and last day and only lasted 4 days. I've been looking into what happens to your body post pill and what causes irregular cycles and found some good articles that may help:

avivaromm.com/post-pill-reset/

www.kindara.com/blog/transitioning-from-the-pill-tips-from-a-womens-health-coach

To help with the depleted nutrients caused by the pill, I've just started taking Pregnacare, and already take vit D and folic acid. I've also ordered a vitamin B complex from Holland & Barret x

@S345 message above x

Ahh thanks for your reply it’s comforting to know there are others in the same position! I have friends who have come off their pill and their periods returned almost immediately but appreciate everyone is different thanks for the articles I will give them a read. I only started tracking my periods etc in March of this year as before that I wasn’t too bothered about it all, wish I’d have taken some time prior to try and understand it all! I used the cheap ovulation test strips last month but couldn’t really get on with them so bought the clearblue ones for this month, I am cd 11 and have had the flashing smiley face since Monday so am waiting for my ‘peak’ if it comes. My cycles have been between 27-30 days for the last 3 months. I’m taking the folic acid and vitamin d too, I’ve also been taking evening primrose oil prior to ttc to try and regulate my hormones (not sure if they help or not!) x

@s345 I've just had my first relatively normal period last month and I've been off the pill since May last year and actively TTC since November time. Doctor's aren't worried as I was on Cerelle for 5 years with no period at all and before that was on microgynon for 9. They reckon my lining has took a hit bit the fact my periods are increasingly getting heavier each month, indicates growth of thickness so 🤞. Everything else is completely normal with my husband and I. Not overweight, both healthy and both only 28. I'm just going to wait and see what happens over the next couple months x

@JennaRMD oh that’s really good to know thank you for sharing! I was also on the pill where you don’t have a period so part of me feels like that has probably impacted my periods somewhat. It’s hard to know what’s normal and what’s not I think, I guess time will tell. Fingers crossed for you 🤞🏻 I think just waiting and seeing is a good option and think I’ll do the same just continue to track and see what happens. I’m 28 and my fiancé is 32 and same we’re both pretty healthy - I think being patient is key (although that’s easier said than done!) x

@MintGreenLife thanks for the links! very interesting. Luckily some of the things mentioned I have been doing after coming off. Although first month off I didn't take any sort of supplements. First month tracking and really hope Im ovulating, 3rd cycle off pill so maybe still a bit soon

After posting on here earlier I've gone and got AF, making my last cycle 37 days. I ovulated on CD34 so this means an extreeeemly short luteal phase of three days!! This is only my second cycle off the pill and I've read a short luteal phase can be a side effect for a while after, anyone else has super short luteal phases?

@mintgreenlife this is my first cycle tracking, so no idea yet. But I had worried about it

@blodyn91 just spotted above you too have had to postpone your wedding :( ours was meant to be in September. Not going to lie, even though AF coming yesterday was a horrible shock as means I had a 3 day luteal phase, there was a small silver lining in that I had red blood instead of brown which is what I had first cycle off the pill. I thought that might be a good sign, but it seems to be less today :/ still early days for me so trying not to fuss too much x

@MintGreenLife It's really annoying, our new date is June 2021, and its putting pressure on TTC. Spoke with OH about it last night, we were saying how different it would be if we weren't under pressure to convieve before August 😩 trying to relax this week coming up, decided not to tell OH when im ovulating.
Finger crossed your next cycle is more normal. I've been doing seed cycling. My periods have been light though

We have the exact same issue! Ours is September 2021 - almost exactly a year after our original date and we feel like if we don't fall in the next few months it's not going to work, so makes my bizarre cycles even more frustrating. I seem to be having more of a normal AF this time than my first one off the pill though, so trying to see that as a positive ha. I think that's best as during our first cycle I told OH and on one occasion he said he felt too under pressure eek. It sucks so much with having a wedding postponed doesn't it, you just want it to all work out but feel like you have so little control over it :(

@blodyn91

@mintgreenlife when are you going to stop TCC? This cycle ill be due in March then next one April, thinking April might be too close to June 😬 If I get pregnant I will have to cancel my hen do, and have it post Wedding, but that doesn't bother me.

I don't think we are going to ha. My OH asked me if we would stop so that we can go ahead with the wedding and I said I wouldn't want to, so I guess if it doesn't work out timing wise we may have to move the wedding again instead. I say wedding, but our plan is to get married this year and have a small ceremony when we legally can do, and then a 'party' next year, but the party would just be the wedding day as planned, but with a non-official ceremony as we would already be married, so I guess that's a little different. I just don't think I could start TTC and then stop again really. It's so rubbish isn't it :(

@blodyn91 x