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?

I came off my pill back in April and had a period in May but I had nothing until July and after that I have had a period in November about 3 weeks ago and it hasn't went away yet and has been light. I went to the doctor away back and got my ovaries checked and bloods taken and they were grand. Think it's spotting. Was thinking of going to see doctor again.

@JennaRMD totally get the OPK anxiety! I think sometimes they can miss the surge if it's quick or happens in the night. I get a lot of other symptoms around O so thinking I should probably stop OPKs anyway - better for my sanity and my wallet 😂

@Maisy24 my period is almost over already so only really one and a bit days, and mostly all brown (sorry tmi!), so it doesn't look like the L-arginine did anything... started taking 400IU vitamin E today - I figure the clinic are not going to start any treatments this cycle anyway as my appointment will be too late, so might as well try something on my own for a little extra Christmas luck! Know what you mean about feeling like it'll never happen though... it's hard to stay positive when it's month after month of negatives, and the cycles of hope and disappointment are exhausting. But I keep telling myself that there are so many treatments options these days, and we haven't even tried any of them yet! Even though I obviously would love for it to just happen naturally, that still keeps me hopeful - it will happen, one way or another.

@MrsKirsty I've got that book! I found there wasn't much in there about light periods, but still lots of interesting stuff on what a healthy period should be and how to regulate it with supplements and nutrition. I've actually been trying to cut out cow's dairy from reading that book - to see if it improves my period pain - but finding it bloody hard to stick to (my love of cheese is an issue... 😬)

And thanks for the anniversary wishes - we went for a fancy meal and drank lots of wine (gotta take the only silver lining of getting my period!) Xxx

@hope365 I admire your optimism, it really is helping me. I'm not sure if lining might be something I'll get checked in the next few months if nothing happens.
I seem to get all the right symptoms, slight cramps, high sex drive, EWCM etc all around ovulation and all the "typical" period symptoms right before AF is due, sore breasts, mood swings, period cramps etc. Yet when I get my "period" it is basically as you say all brown and very very light over maybe 2 days. So I'm thinking if I'm ovulating and getting a "period" then it must be something to do with lining. I'm every 28-30 days also so this is all right as far as "regulatory" is concerned. I'm due in the next few days but started getting cramps this afternoon so I'm guessing AF is only a day or 2 away at tops.
My Mum reminded me that I'd never ever had heavy periods either (when I was a teenager I always just wore those thong panty liners 😅) totally forgot about that so it was a bit of reassurance for me that it could just be "normal" for me to have light ones, although I'm still not convinced that the lightness I'm getting is right or not. Feeling pretty clueless but looking forward to the silver lining of wine at Xmas 😂🍷

@niamhie95 welcome! Sounds like your having a bit of a nightmare as well. Hopefully someone on here can help you out/relate to your symptoms. It's strange how we all have the same goal but are all going through the same yet slightly different experiences. You are not alone don't worry x

Yeah I know it iss. I don't know what to do

@Hope365 glad you are making the most of AF arriving and enjoying your anniversary! I agree you may aswell try something else this cycle; try to take the vitamin E each day and also do at least half an hour of exercise upto ovulation. Keep moving. I've just booked into the doctors tonight so I'm going to really push them to get referred! Not long until your appointment now! 😄

Can I just vent how annoying it is when you try to research about light periods the only things that come up are "implantation bleeding" 🤬🤬🤬 it's so annoying because I know I'm not pregnant so stop telling me it's that!

@niamhie95 welcome, sorry you are in a similar situation, it is so frustrating, I really do think our bodies can take a good year or so to get back to normal (or nearer 2 years in my case) how old are you?

@JennaRMD totally agree with you, everything else is normal for me except the amount and length that I bleed so surely it has to be lining?! I will be telling this AGAIN to the doctor tonight. My mum also reminded me I was never heavy but I definitely needed a few pads a day for at least 3 days, the thing is I've been on the pill for like 12 years so I don't know what it would have been like if I wasn't on it 😖

@MrsKirsty hope your reading is going well.

I'll keep everyone updated with anything the doctor says tonight

Xxxxxxxx

@maisy24. I'm 24 years old. I didn't have much of a period last night but when I went to the bathroom this morning there was blood. Just frustrating 🙈😔 x

@JennaRMD I used to have pretty heavy periods actually, but that was soooo long ago (I went on when I was 17) so as @Maisy24 says, it's hard to know what they would be like now if I hadn't been on the pill... Hopefully for you it does mean that it's just your normal though, especially with everything else being so regular 🤞 As for my optimism, it's nice to hear you say that because most of the time I feel pretty low about it all... I've been listening to some TTC podcasts which really help - there's a huge community out there of women telling their stories (mostly success stories in the end), which I find really helpful for staying hopeful and not feeling so alone with it all - plus I've learnt loads about the science of it all through the podcasts too!

@Maisy24 great that you have an appointment this evening! Yes definitely don't walk away from there without that referral - you've definitely been trying long enough. We were referred at 11 months! And I'm 100% with you on the 'implantation bleeding' thing - that and early menopause which are the only two things that ever come up when you Google light periods 🙄🙄 Thank goodness for this group - finally some other women experiencing this who are neither pregnant nor menopausal 😂 Good luck for the appointment, let us know how it goes!

@niamhie95 sorry to hear you are struggling too, coming off the pill can really mess things up for a while but hopefully it will regulate for you with a little more time... Definitely go back to the doctors though if you're worried about it.

Xxx

@Hope365 yeah I'm going to make an appointment next week xxx

As expected, AF arrived early this morning, bang on 28 days! Slightly heavier today than last month but still light brown and barely needing a pantyliner. I know people say they've had light periods since coming off the pill but how light is light? Like mines is so light it's practically non existent, although tiny bit "heavier" if you can even use that word, is hopefully a step in the right direction!

@Maisy24 I'm the same, no idea what they were like when I was 13/14 just know they weren't heavy at all and only used more pads when on Microgynon. Since Cerelle 5 years ago I've had nothing so god knows!

@Hope365 the implantation search results are a fecking nightmare. I had never really heard of this before so when I first saw it I got quite excited. How foolish of me 🙈😅

@niamhie95 you are still young and if you have a form of blood this morning that surely can only be a good sign. Try keeping track of your cycles, length you have them, consistency each day, how long in between. Hopefully you'll start to see a pattern xx

@JennaRMD i am using glow the period tracking app just to help me 😊 xxx

@JennaRMD I'm sorry to hear about AF 😕 I hope you have some fun plans this weekend to distract you! My period is basically a bit of 'flow' for one day - too much for a liner but one normal pad is enough, and pretty much all brown. Then I usually have very light spotting for another 5 or 6 days. I can't remember whether you said you'd already been to the doctors about yours? I know you haven't been trying for as long but you can go to the doctors for abnormal cycles anytime, whether TTC or not, and they should run some tests... Might be worth getting a day 20 progesterone test to check that you are ovulating if you haven't already had that? Xxx

@Hope365 I struggle to remember what my period was like it definitely lasted at least three days and was bleeding all the way throughout, and also painful. the pain was the reason I went on the pill in the first place. Do you have any advice on what to say to get referred? I'm going to try my best to be firm and get referred. My period sounds exactly like yours the heavy day is too much for a liner but one pad is enough, then it's spotting, my spotting is before and after af though.

@niamhie95 you are young so that's great, I cannot imagine going through this at your age I was still out partying and making sure I took my pill everyday as I stupidly believed missing one might result in pregnancy 🤦🏼‍♀️ if I was you I'd definitely go doctors and have the standard tests then you can relax when they come back fine.

@JennaRMD so sorRY AF arrived for you,
I also get the brown , and also very very light pink. I just wish we knew what it meant! Make sure you enjoy yourself this weekend 💓

@Maisy24 I think they usually say you have to have been trying for at least a year to get referred so you really shouldn't have to fight for it. The only thing my GP said was that we both had to have all the basic tests done with them first before getting the referral, but I think that varies on where you are, and you've had most of those tests done already anyway? So hopefully it should be easy for you, just make sure to say you've been trying a long time with good timing. Good luck! Thinking of you, let us know how it goes xxx

@Hope365 thanks for the advice, I'm getting referred, got to wait for a letter from my doctors now (the doctor I seen tonight was a different surgery) hoping the wait isn't too long xxxxx

My AF is basically like everyday discharge but just a slightly light brown colour for 2-3 days, literally not even enough for one panty liner!!! I've been wearing white knickers so I can keep track of consistency, that's literally how litte it is, like a small "smudge" a day. I just have instinct that it isn't right but my doc says wait a year because they are very regular. It's basically like the spotting people talk about before their AF shows up except that is my period and nothing more.. I'm beginning to lose hope and care tbh. Might just buy another dog 😅😭🙈

@Hope365 I'm scared to get tested alone in case everything comes back ok and then I worry about DH. Think we will wait til April/May and go together, no "major" rush for us I suppose 🙄😣!!!

Think we are going to go abroad in February. #yolo

@JennaRMD that's a great idea , just enjoy life and have lots of holidays. Just to play devils advocate my nanna hardly bled and she had no problems getting pregnant and also very quickly! Doesn't always mean there's an issue. Xxxxxx

@Maisy24 everything is so confusing 🤦

@JennaRMD I know I'm sick of it all! I might Just's stick with my pets! Much easier 🤣

@Maisy24 great about the referral! Fingers crossed the letter doesn't take too long to come - I hate waiting for the letters... 🙄 Lucky you with the pets - I'm desperate to get a cat but the landlord won't allow it... Might have to just sneak one in at some point and not tell him! They just make everything better...

@JennaRMD taking a break until next April/May sounds like a good idea, especially if you want to go away and are not in a rush. I wish I could be a bit more relaxed about it all... xxxx

@hope365 unfortunately relaxed is the last thing I am about it all, just trying to pre occupy myself with something else before I go off my head. Don't think we will stop trying just not sure if there's any point in me getting tested alone. I definitely did not think I'd be in this position. My whole family are fertile as hell 😥😂

Hey girls. Just an update o was very light yesterday now I'm a medium with blood. This has been going on about 3 weeks. Doing my head in lol

That's 2 days of one brown smudge a day I've had. Something definitely isn't right. Same exact thing every month. Bang on time but 2-3 days of a tiny brown smudge each day, really only noticeable when wiping. I think it's more like "spotting" than an actual period but I'm 100% sure it's my period because it comes the same time every month along with all symptoms. Would you advise getting tests done? Was kind of hoping something would have changed a bit this month but nothing is happening. All I can find about spotting at the time of period instead of a "proper" AF is PCOS which now I'm shitting myself about. Although I know google is the devil and I have no other symptoms from this. I'm concerned. ☹️

@Maisy24 think I might try Vitiman E. Do you have recommendations of where to purchase it etc?

@Hope365 pets really do help! Sorry your landlord won't allow it 😩 the silver lining is they are ALOT of work. It's your appointment this week!! So exciting. What time is it at? Do both of you go to this appointment? How long was it for you between the doctors saying they will refer you to getting the appointment? I'm going to chase mine up this week.

@JennaRMD keep trying but just try not to obsess, easier said than done! My family is the same, my mum got pregnant without trying 😩 everyone seems to get pregnant quickly. Just goes to show it's not hereditary. If I were you I would go to my gp and explain the symptoms and ask for the blood tests, when they come back fine it might help ease your mind that it's just taking time and nothing is actually wrong. I'm no doctor but i think with PCOS you wouldn't be regular. A simple blood test would be able to tell you though. How long have you been trying again?

@jennaRMD like @Maisy24 says I thought that PCOS would mean irregular periods, but I'm no expert... I do think that light periods can mean no ovulation, especially if you're not getting positive OPKs - it's an easy test to check and I guess the positive is that there are lots of treatment options to induce ovulation if that does turn out to be the problem (eg clomid/letrozole). If I was you I would probably get tests done, but mostly because for me I find it's the only thing that makes me feel like I have a little control over the situation - I hate feeling helpless and just waiting. But everyone is different and I also completely understand that getting tested is terrifying. I found that I waited until the stress of just wondering if something was wrong got worse than the stress of actually having the tests done! Ugh there's just no escaping the stress 🙄

@Maisy24 yes appointment is tomorrow!! And OH is having a second semen analysis done today (he is not looking forward to having to do the deed in the hospital 😬), so hoping we'll also get the results of that tomorrow - yes we are going together. Appointment is at 11.30. I think we got very lucky with our initial referral - it was booked during our GP appointment for 3 weeks later, but I've since found out that that's really unusual and the wait is normally longer (I don't know what happened with us). I've had to wait for letters for other things in the past though and it drove me crazy - I was always chasing up too! Def get on their case about it! Xxx