Trying to conceive after 10 years on birth control

[TaylorDawn]

Hi all!

I'm new here but after reading through countless other posts I wanted to post my story and see if anyone else out there was in my shoes. I've been on birth control for 10 years and stopped taking my last pill early August 2019 and had a withdrawal bleed on the August 6th for 5 days and now I technically have post pill amenorrhea which isn't fun since DH and I are tying for our first baby and no period = no ovulation. I know it's only been two months but I can't help but stress over the fact that my hormones are so out of whack I am technically currently infertile. Anyone else in this same boat and did you do anything in particular to get your period/ ovulation back?

You aren’t “technically infertile” after two months of trying. Please don’t use that term. It’s pretty offensive to those of us that are actually infertile.

It’s entirely normal not to have a period straight away after stopping the pill. Give it another month and consider seeing your gp if it doesn’t turn up.

I did see my doctor as I wanted to make sure I wasn’t pregnant and infertile was the term he used as he said I technically haven’t ovulated in 10 years on contraception and still haven’t off of it but in hindsight I can see how that would be offensive to people with fertility issues so I apologize! I just feel like after all these years of believing that if I missed one pill I’d become pregnant now that I am actually trying it’s been distressing knowing that my hormones are so out of whack I’m not ovulating. I just didn’t know this could be a result of taking the pill

Your doctor is an idiot who does not know the definition of infertility. Not conceiving while you’re using contraception is the desired outcome! It’s no indication of any problem at all. I wonder where they went to medical school.

When you saw your doctor, did they tell you it’s absolutely normal for periods to not return straight away?

Your periods may be irregular when you first come off the pill, and you should allow up to 3 months for your natural menstrual cycle to fully re-establish itself.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/when-periods-after-stopping-pill/

In case anyone is wondering...Infertility is “a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.” That’s the world health organisation definition.

Thanks for the link! My doctor said that it is unusual for a women’s period not to return within 3 months of stopping birth control but that they won’t do anything about it until a year anyway so to follow up in a year if I don’t get my period back. obviously when you are TTC and know you’re not ovulating it’s frustrating but I’m more concerned about the fact that it’s not commonly known that birth control can cause hormonal disruption when trying to come off it. If I had known what I know now I would have came off the pill a year ago but I was lead to believe the moment you stop taking it you can become pregnant again!

I was lead to believe the moment you stop taking it you can become pregnant again!

Well, you can but it takes many entirely normal couples a year to conceive whether they’ve been on the pill or not.

I know it’s easier said than done but try not to worry yet. Three months since stopping haven’t even passed yet.

I was on the pill from the age of 16 to well into my 30's I came off it and we actively tried for 6 months brig I I fell pregnant with my first. It will happen good luck

It took 6 almost months for my periods to start after being on the pill, although I was on it for longer than you. I went to the doctor after 5 months as I was getting worried and she told me they couldn’t do any tests until after 6 months of no period as it often took that long for your body to settle down (obviously mine did so I never went back). From what I was told and my experience 6 months with no period after being on the pill whilst unusual is not something to worry about. I am now very regular and have no problems.