Fertility after long term pill usage

[beantins]

Hi ladies,

I am not yet TTC (awaiting the illusive first AF after 15+ years in the pill). No sign yet and I know that's normal but I feel so worried I've somehow damaged my fertility!

I had a hormone imbalance (raised androgen level) when I was a teenager and they said then there was a chance my fertility would be affected but that hopefully because I had normal (albeit not completely irregular) periods that it should be ok. A few years ago I had a short break from taking the pill and had a PCOS test but hormone levels seemed to be normal. Now that we are about to try I feel so panicked about it!

How common are fertility issues really? I see so many posts on here from people who are struggling and they are heartbreaking, I don't know how to fully prepare myself for the possibility. We only manage to dtd once a week at most (DH not really interested) so that's not going to help either!!! I know I'm worrying pointlessly in advance, I need a slap!!

I was on the pill for about 17 years but had no underlying hormone imbalances. I came off the pill when ttc and had a small bleed around the 28 day mark which I thought was more withdrawal bleed rather than af but conceived that next month. While I know this is probably unusual I just wanted to say it can happen. When first ttc i decided to not really stress or monitor for first 6 months to get back into a rythmn before stepping up the ttc game. My gp had said normal fertility should return within a few months but everyone is different.

I was on the pill for about 10 years and probably had endometriosis although decided along with the GP not to go through the formal tests years ago as it wasn't going to affect how it was treated (that was why I originally went on the pill to control my symptoms). Took us 5 months to conceive when I came off it.

I would suggest doing ovulation tests so you can make sure you're ovulating and also so you're dtd at the right times. Then at least you're sure that you're giving yourselves the best chance at ttc. If nothing has happened in 6 months or a year (depending on whether you're aged less than 35 or not) then you can chat to your GP about getting referred for fertility tests.

I know it's the most annoying thing to hear but do your best not to stress about it, it happened for us in the month when I had stopped worrying about it all because I was more focused on other things.

The pill does not damage your fertility, time does. The only thing the pill might do is artificially regulate your period making you think you are regular when you are not. You haven't damaged your fertility by taking the pill but you simply can't expect to have the same cycle or fertility you had 15 yrs ago.

I've been on the mini pill for 13 years with breaks only when having my two DC. Both pregnancies, I got my BFP exactly 12 weeks after my last pill, with only one AF in between. Before I went on the pill, I was told that I had PCOS and would most likely need IVF to conceive. We DTD every other day and I also tracked my temp so I knew when I ovulated. HTH

Thanks for your replies ladies, it's good to hear some positive stories!!

I was on the pill continuously for about 17 years, and conceived DD after 12 weeks off it. I was much younger then though which I think helped!

I was on the pill for 18 years and also have endometriosis. I have been pregnancy four times in the last two years and and three months and now have two children. Good luck.

I was on the pill for the same amount of time and had no issues. The thing that is going to slow things down is only having sex once a week, you could easily miss the egg doing it that infrequently. I would definitely track your cycles so you can focus your efforts at the right time.