Period woes after stopping pill

[Laura1609]

Hi all,

I’m new here and really looking for some reassurance. I’m 31, have been married for 2 years and my husband and I have decided to start TTC. I came off my pill, Ovranette, in July after taking it for 13 years. However, after the initial withdrawal bleed in July I haven’t had anything. I’ve had days where I really feel as though my period is imminent; the achy lower back, stomach cramps, irritability but nothing happens. I’ve taken a few pregnancy tests (just in case!) but they’ve all been negative. I went to see my GP who ran some blood tests to check my thyroid and blood glucose levels and I’m waiting for a telephone appointment with her to talk through the results. All the not so helpful receptionists at the surgery could tell me was that there’s something the GP wants to discuss but it’s not urgent . Anyone else experienced this and had any blood test results show anything? The GP said if there’s still nothing after 6 months then they’ll do an ultrasound.
I wish as I got older I did some research into taking the pill. It seemed like the easy thing to do at 18 years old but now I hate the idea of something stopping my body doing the most natural thing in the world.

I had this after coming off the pill, no period for 6 months! After negative pregnancy tests and the gp fobbing me off for a couple of months, I was given a 5 day course of progesterone tablets. They kick started my period and my cycle was normal after that.

Hey I stopped mine mid September and have nothing since so although it's not been as long as you're I'm still thinking where it is? I had also been on it for many many years and we were hoping to start TTC in dec/jan so I came off earlier hoping my periods would sort out by then.

Thanks @DiscoDown, I'll keep that one in my back pocket in case these blood tests don't contain any particularly useful info. I guess they want to give my body the chance to do it's own thing first. Funny how you spend so many years hating and dreading your period and then can't wait to get it!

It's frustrating, isn't it @Pastaallday?! I just want to know my body is working properly!

Yep very! As you say, I've spent most of my life trying not to get pregnant and now I actually want to it seems hard!!!

Well, the results came back and hormones all fine which left me feeling like “well, now what?!” I’ve been advised that if it hasn’t returned in 3-6 months to go back to the GP and she will refer me to a gynaecologist but to be honest from past experiences of being referred to specialists through my doctor I’m not willing to wait 5 months for a letter. I’ve got private insurance so I think I’m going to contact them and see someone sooner if still nothing in the next few months. The GP said she wouldn’t give me any kind of progesterone to kickstart the period when I asked her about it so for now it’s a waiting game

I had a similar experience when I was TTC with my eldest. I was early 30s, been on the pill since late teens and I took it back to back to stop my periods completely. It took us nine months to conceive eldest. We were quite relaxed about it in the early stages. But then I would go 3 months at a time between periods. I'd actually not had my period for 3 months when I fell pregnant. I had bleeding, that stopped after a day and then I had a 3 day hangover after a night out which turned out to be morning sickness! We were at the stage of going to go to the GP about it all when I fell pregnant.

Since having my eldest, I've really struggled with the pill and hormone contraception. I briefly went back on the pill between eldest and youngest, but stopped about 6 months before TTC. I fell pregnant within the first month of trying with him. But like I said there was that 6 month gap of not having the pill before! After my youngest was born I refused to go back onto the pill, although I've recently had to return to the injection because my periods are so heavy again. It really doesn't agree with me though and I'm struggling to decide what to do long term. Although no more children will be happening!

Have they checked your prolactin levels? The pill can make them rise so much often people struggle to conceive. It’s not done as part of a standard blood test. I was found to have very high prolactin when I stopped the pill and had to take tablets (dostinex) to bring the levels back to normal and restart my periods - took about 18 months until I conceived.

I'm in the same boat! I stopped taking Cerazette and nearly 2 months later still waiting for any kind of withdrawal bleed/AF. I have taken a test to be sure, as we are DTD anyway. OPKs are negative so assuming there's no ovulation even happening, although I'm not temping.

I feel the GP would just laugh at me if I made an appointment just now but I'd like to know if my body is actually doing anything 😞 I've read horror stories about coming off Cerazette and TTC so I'm not feeling particularly optimistic about it.xx

@Fatted It’s so strange what it does to the body. I’m trying not to get too stressed about it but it’s hard when my body just isn’t doing what it should be. Never have I wanted to get my period so much!

@Fairylea Yep, they checked them and all normal. I just don’t understand why nothing is happening if my hormones are normal. I’m not underweight or overweight, nor do I drink or smoke and I eat very well so it’s not even lifestyle issues that seems to be causing the problem 😢

@wannabebump It can’t hurt to book an appointment and see them. If your GP surgery is anything like mine you may be waiting weeks just to get an appointment anyway so you may aswell book it in!

@Laura1609 my surgery is exactly like that, I'll give them a phone today! Xx

Laura1609 glad there were no major issues identified. I do wonder how long to leave it before going to the gp. Mine has only been 6 weeks but I can imagine if my period is still not here by Jan when we want to start trying it'll have been nearly 4 months. How long do you leave it before seeing doctor? And what could be done about it? I'm guessing they work so much for a while.

It is impossible to get pregnant when you're not having periods? I've begun testing now using cheapies.

@Pastaallday I left it 3 months before going to see them and they've now said to leave it another 3-6 months before going back so they're potentially willing to leave me for 9 months with no period!

Laura1609 that's so frustrating. I cant believe ive started stressing already and it could potentially be a lot longer wait. Just all of a sudden it seems to have hit me- what if my periods just don't return?
Woudl it be bad to exaggerate how long it's been if by Jan I've still not had a period? Or is that a bad idea.