First month off pill....

[HannahFlo]

Hi ladies,

Just joined up & wanted to say hi & to see if anyone else in a similar boat to me?

I'm 29 and this is my first cycle off the pill. Currently on day 29th & so far not much is happening. I've been tracking my temp, so far no rise for ovulation. I have been treated for PCOS a few years ago but can't ever remember a normal cycle. I managed to get pregnant but sadly ended in miscarriage at 8 weeks. Went back on the pill not long after. Feeling nervous that my cycles could still be linked to PCOS or is this just down to the pill?

What have other peoples cycles been like when stopped the pill?

Xxx

Hi ladies

New here, can I join the first month off the pill club? :-)

I'm 33, been on the pill off and on for years. When I wasn't on the pill I'd never really had proper periods so suspected something might not be quite right.So in 2010 I came off the pill so I could get a fertility MOT and get my hormones checked out. Frustratingly the hormonal blood tests had to be done on day 3 of my cycle, but the problem was that I didn't have periods!! Had to wait 10 months until a period finally turned up in Oct...after coming off the pill in January. Glad I did though, as I was diagnosed with PCOS, which at least provided an explanation. I was surprised it was that, as I'm skinny, and had always read it was associated with weight issues - but turns out 'lean PCOS' is actually quite common, although a bit trickier to treat than 'normal' PCOS, according to my consultant.

Plan is to start Clomid - I'm delaying a couple of months to allow my body a bit of time to get used to being off one set of hormones before starting on a different hormonal tablet! I don't expect to magically lay an egg until then, but am chucking everything I can into the mix to try and get my hormones a bit more in balance if at all poss. Was supposed to come off the pill months ago, immediately after my wedding, but getting diagnosed with epilepsy delayed things somewhat.

Anyway, so I took my last tablet of Yasmin on Friday, and my withdrawal bleed started today. Don't expect to need the tampax again for a while, but here's hoping!!

It's funny - normally when people are TTC they're hoping NOT to get their period. But though I know periods don't necessarily mean I'm ovulating (PCOS often means anovulatory cycles), no periods DEFINITELY means I'm not laying an egg. So getting a period would be a good start at least!

Sorry for rambling - I have a tendency to wang on!!

Nice to 'meet' you all x

Morning ladies!

I've just posted a new thread about ovulation worries as I don't think I'm actually ovulating

Banana....I too had PCOS & got treatment for them, first time I'm trying for a few years & totally scared sh*tless that I'm not laying an egg.

Babycakes - there should be a leaflet in there that tells you roughly what day to start testing (according to your cycle length) but if you haven't had a period for ages then it's hard to know! Perhaps try a couple over the next week and see what happens. As an example, my last cycle was 35 days so I started testing on day 17 as this is when I am supposed to ovulate. CD19 today though and negative OPK :-( come on ovaries!!

Stealth - you can get clear blue monitors from boots I should think, but my DH ordered my kits online, from Amazon I think. They come in packs of 5 and you just pee on the stick and then wait for the result

Hannah I'm sure things will be fine for you my lovely! I scanned up thread and saw that your AF turned up within a few weeks - a normal cycle length. That's awesome! Anovulatory cycles I think tend to be much longer - like when my period eventually turned up after 10 months, the body sort of gets fed up of trying to ovulate and has an oestrogen breakthrough bleed (rather than a true period, which is due to the fall in progesterone after ovulation). Your cycle sounds brilliantly normal (fingers crossed for you!). Plus, as awful as your MMC must have been, and trite as it sounds, the one positive out of such a horrible event is that you know your body can get pregnant. Which is a big thing!

May I ask what kind of treatment you had for pcos in the past? I saw you mentioned cysts - were you diagnosed with pcos as well? Cos Polycystic ovaries aren't actually cystic - lots of medics say a better name would be polyfollicular ovaries, cos they're not cysts and it's dead confusing!

My SIL was treated for ovarian cysts and was told there was no reason this should impact on her fertility. If that helps at all :-)

Hugs x

Bananafish - your story sounds similar to mine, except I didn't have quite such a long wait for a period when I came off the first time for tests! I wouldn't say I was skinny, but have a normal BMI and a diagnosis of PCOS. I too have been given the option of clomid 'when you want it' but I am trying on my own for a couple of months to see what happens first

I believe you can only have so many cycles of clomid, so may as well see what nature brings before i start using up my quota.....

I fell off this thread for a little while but just had a substantial lurk...I've tried to tell myself to chill out and 'just see what happens' but I am wondering if I should start using OPKs as well?

My situation is exactly the same as Stealthbanana's I had a period 41 days after coming off the pill and now nada...currently on CD45 and two BFNs later, and no symptoms of any kind!

My periods were always irregular from what I remember, I was on the pill for 13 years! When should I go to my GP about lack of period?

Banana....I actually had cysts on my ovaries & fairly big ones at that. I had them removed but didn't really think about asking what might happen in the future, but I do know the doc said they might come back?

Your are very right in saying least I had a bleed after 34 days. However I'm just worried about actually ovulating now? XX

HannahFlo you sound exactly like my SIL - she had ovarian cysts removed a few years ago, but isn't polycystic (i.e. she had cysts - she doesn't have the gazillion follicles you get with PCO) and doesn't have PCOS as she doesn't have any of the hormonal issues or absent periods. She was told no reason these should impact her future fertility - and as far as I know there's not necessarily any link between ovarian cysts and anovulation, like there is with PCOS. You got your cysts treated and you're having periods, so that's super positive [ smile ] x

Thank you so much banana....you have certainly helped my worries & put me at ease.

I've been tracking my temperate but turns out I haven't been using a Basel one & doesn't have enough decimal points on so not that accurate. I've ordered a new one today so hopefully next month it will show exactly what's happening.

Is anyone else tracking temp? Xx

Yay Hannah stay positive! She says as the person who catastrophises about everything as a defence mechanism against being disappointed, haha

I started temping a couple of days ago. I'm using the Kindara app to enter them - though I should probably turn the 'predict fertile days' feature off as it's only going to be disappointing when the ovulation and predicted AF date come and go with no sign of either!

I got my thermometer for about £7 on Amazon.

Hannah stay positive! I haven't tried temping (yet) although did but a basel thermometer which is hidden away somewhere. Only first month TTC.

Apologies for the off tangent TMI question... How long are you all laying after DTD? My DH givese a kiss and a cuddle then immedialy goes off to the loo - I feel really daft lying there for ages and don't want to freak him out altogether!

How funny...I was literally googling this question the other night...right after TTC.

I tend to lie down after for 20 - 30 mins either on my side or on my back. So far my bf hadn't noticed that I'm lying down after

Spooky! I think I'll just lay over and hope he doesn't think I'm trying über hard!! I'm only on CD 12 so hopefully plenty of time!

Hi all,

Been off the thread for a while as had chest infection but still no AF and CD52!!!!! Have been using cheap opk tests off amazon as cant afford to use clear blue smilies as dont know how much longer i will be testing although think i will use them after i get AF as not 100% sure i am reading one step opk right? Very disheartened and GP said i still have to wait a few months before they will test. Have bought agnus castus and evening primrose off Amazon and should be arriving today so will start taking asap and keep you all updated- Anyone else waited as long as me? :(.

p.s i always try and lie down for ages now just in case and defo feel like a wally!

Hi Ally - digital OPKs are not cheap are they? Your body ovulate late anyway if you have been poorly. I haven't tried AC but have bought some to try if we don't get lucky this month (cycles ranging from 23-31 days). Your GP should offer a 21 day blood test- did you ask for this?

No they wouldn't give me an appt so GP phoned me and just said not to worry and they don't do any tests for minimum 6 months. She talked to me for about 2 secs:( that why I've bought ac to try myself, fingers crossed ! Had nothing but withdrawal bleed April 20th- easy for them to say dont worry!

Ally - what have your cycles been like in the past? Do you mind me asking how old you are? I think it would be reasonable to do at least blood tests after 3 months if you have no return of AF. They may not give a very clear picture, but can help to figure out if you might have polycystic ovaries

We're you on the regular pill or implant/other contraception?

I think you spoke to a rather unsympathetic GP! :-(

When I came off the pill 5 years ago (in order to get my irregular cycles checked out) I went to the GP after 7 months and she said they wouldn't usually order blood tests under 6 months, as it could take that long for cycles to return. At 7 months she said it was reasonable to order tests. May have got a different response if I had gone earlier with a different GP - will never know!

Ally I so feel your frustration. Let's hope it's a temporary thing and just our bodies adjusting. I'm going to buy some Angus castus this week too... Let's see if it helps!! xx

Hiya,

Im 31 on Monday,

To be honest not sure of cycles as since 15 i have been on various pills then depo for 3 years then various pills again due to bad PMT and heavy AF. Then PMT got so bad that i was really anxious, angry, teary etc... and after a lot of research convinced GP to put me on Yasmin which was a life saver- been on that for about 5 years until stopping 10th April.

I'm 5ft 7 and normally 10st.6 but have gone up to11 st 3 since coming off the pill even though i m really careful what eat (im ceoliac so cook everything from scratch and no cakes, biscuits etc.) All the weights gone to my love handles which i never really used to have 3 months ago :( I have seen PCOS can cause weight gain round middle as well as diabetes and high cholestrol? bloods for something else showed i am borderline for both - i wonder if its related? Probably should stop googling symtoms!

yeah hopfully body is just sorting itself out, Angus Castus did not arrive yesterday but hopefully will be there when i get home today and work quickly x

Keep us payed on how your cycles progress after a few weeks of the AC! Alkyd you are probably over thinking it as I do! Do you have facial hair growth or acne?

I got a smiley face on CB digital OPK this morbing! Also cramping mildly and (sorry TMI) watery CM so going to BD tonight and tomorrow!!

Rose - that's good news about the positive OPK!

Ally - you are a normal weight, it may all just be your body still settling down after coming off Yasmin, let's hope so. Thank you for sharing your stats. I reckon give it another month or two, if still no period try speaking to your GP again

Ally your GP does sound unsympathetic , how frustrating! Yes do let us know if AC helps, hope it does!
Rose that is great news about the positive OPK - fingers crossed for you
Sorry to hear peoples' stories of PCOS xxx
My update is rather boring... pill free day number 11 after being on Cerelle which you take back to back, still no sign of AF. Googled it a bit and now not expecting AF until day 28ish... No side effects since the cramps, bloating and emotions I had at the end of last week - just feel normal which is great.
Hubby and I plan to start properly TTC in Aug so here's hoping!
How long after coming off the pill did people start using OPKs? I plan to wait until I have my first AF...
It's Friday - have a lovely sunny one ladies

I have been off mercilon since sept 2014 and only started trying this month. I started OPKs about 3 months ago to get to know my cycle better as it's ranging from 24-31 days. The CB digital are so expensive but easy to use!!