Very light periods. Am I ovulating?

[TTCgee]

Hi everyone,

I'm really new to this so not fully sure how it works - but I keep scanning old threads trying to find answers and I couldn't find anything that was my exact problem so thought I'd join and ask a Q myself.

Basically me and my husband have been TTC now for 3 months. (Which I know in the big scheme of things is not long at all). But my worries are that I've now been off the pill for 6 months having been on for over 13 years (I'm 28) and since coming off the pill (sorry if this is TMI) but my periods are ridiculously light. They last 1-2 days and don't even fill up 1 tampon. I'm just worrying that this means something is wrong/ I'm not ovulating? I've been doing the OPK tests and I am having an LH surge ... but I know this doesn't confirm that ovulation has actually happened. It's stressful as every month I convince myself I 'feel' pregnant and even feel a bit nauseous / tired / have cramps etc then period arrives and it's so depressing 😖😖

Basically, I'm just turning into a crazy person and google everything and have convinced myself I'll never be able to get pregnant because of my light periods! Any help / advice / people who have had similar I'd soooo hugely appreciate hearing from you (especially if you've had light periods and have still been able to conceive).

Thanks in advance! 🙏🏼

Hi @TTCgee, sounds just like mine after coming off the pill - 2 days max and maybe a day of very light spotting at the end. I also worried if I was actually ovulating so started BBT tracking. It’s confirmed I’m definitely ovulating and I’m much more relaxed about the short/light periods now, maybe it could help you too?
I’ve also come across plenty of other ladies with similar so you’re not alone! I think periods change naturally over time and after years on the pill you don’t quite know where you’d be at without it. Fingers crossed for you 😊

@GiraffeInScarf thanks so much for replying and for sharing your experience! Do you mind me asking (sorry if too personal) but do you also see egg white CM when you ovulate? - that hasn't happened for me yet so Is adding to my worries!

@TTCgee no problem, ask anything you like... I’ve obsessed over everything and more than happy to share!
I get EWCM from about 3 days before +ve OPK and it’s finishes the day after. Some people get more or less, it doesn’t mean you’re not fertile without it. We tried a fertility lubricant this month (pre seed) for some extra help, it mimics EWCM in making the right conditions for sperm to get to the cervix (normal lubes aren’t sperm friendly, and nor are normal vaginal conditions apparently!) It probably isn’t necessary but it’s another ‘peace of mind’ thing we’ve done to take away stuff I’d otherwise worry about 😬

@GiraffeInScarf ahh amazing. Thank you! Yeah I'm exactly the same. I tell myself to not think about it then literally an hour later I'm googling away again getting myself all stressed! Ahhh okay that's really useful I'll buy some - like you say it can't hurt to try it! Xxx

@TTCgee yep, I’m just the same 🤣 and once I’ve sorted one panic I’m out looking for something else! Although over time I think I’m becoming more relaxed knowing we’ve done all we can x

Mine have been like this most of my adulthood. 4 kids no problems. Just figured I am lucky.

@GiraffeInScarf yeah I read something that said instead of telling yourself "I can't get pregnant" say "I'm doing everything I can to help myself get pregnant" and that's definitely helping my mindset! Xxx

@Callimanco that's really reassuring! Thanks for sharing. Do you mind me asking if you got fertile CM even despite your short periods? I'm starting to worry I might have PCOS or something as I'm not getting any, have the short periods etc 😖

Hi
Yes I did get ewcm when I was a lot younger but it was less obvious by around 35 - more watery. Had my last child at 40.

@Callimanco thank you!! 🙏🏼

When I was on the pill mine were like that and dr said fine, and they were the same when I came off it to ttc. Didn't have a problem though and now have a 3 month old baby :)

Try not to stress as that can effect things. I went nuts with tracking everything when I came off the pill as I'd been on it a while (a bit longer than you) and didn't want to get my hopes up and waste money on tests if I wasn't ovulating. I used the fertility friend app and also tracked my temperature and that helped to confirm ovulation so could try that if you're worried?

@Abi58 Hi, ahh thanks so much for replying. I absolutely love hearing positive stories like this when people have had short periods. I worried as I read online that it could be because I've not ovulated so my lining hasn't built up properly which then means I don't really bleed properly at the time of the month. So it's really good to hear you had the same but still got pregnant 🥰 huge congratulations on your little one.

That's really good advice too - trying not to stress too much but it can be hard. I keep getting obsessed about the EWCM thing as almost everyone seems to get that but I don't. But, I'm going to try and put it to the back of my mind for a few months and just relax. Xx

@TTCgee I thought the exact same dr said the pill can change your period as not a real period but then it was exactly the same when I came off the pill (and again my 1st period after birth) used to be 5 days but last 6+ years it's been 24-48 hours and most I could get away without using anything.

I felt like knowing I was ovulating helped me as I knew my body was back to normal after the pill so might help to do your temp for 1 month then if you confirm you're ovulating then it's a weight off your mind :) but also totally get stepping back so trying not to think about it, do whichever works for you :) 🤞🏻 good luck!

@Abi58 that's such a relief to hear! 🙏🏼 honestly thanks so much for sharing. A few people have said there's is only 2 days but that they do properly bleed and I'm like waaaa why is my body broken!!

Do you know I think I am just going to temp. I've been doing at home OPK tests each month and I definitely get an LH surge that lasts around 2 days which I know is at least something. So, if your basal body temp rises does that actually confirm you have actually ovulated rather than just your body preparing to? Xxx

I used fertility friend too. Had forgotten about that!

@TTCgee
Hi there, sorry I know this thread is a few months old now but just wondered how you have been getting on? I’m in exactly the same situation as you described above, been TTC for 4 months after coming off the combined pill in May. My periods are very light and short (mostly brown and 2 days max) and I never notice any EWCM. I know it’s still early days in the grand scheme of things but can’t help googling and stressing! I’m 29 x