Advice for Women That Have Come off the Pill - Share your Experience :)

[MintGreenLife]

Hi all,

I came off the pill two months ago, and after having a completely haywire 2nd post-pill cycle, I've been doing a lot of research to try and understand what's going on.

I thought it would be nice to share my research and what I believe is happening to me, in hope it might help others. I also thought you might like to share your experience and how you found/are finding coming off the pill, as being able to read that other people experience similar can be really comforting. So here's me...

I'm 31 and TTC DC1.
I came off the pill early April, had my withdrawal bleed a few days later, then first natural AF came 30 days later, so a 30 day cycle. First AF was very light and started and finished with brown spotting. Only lasted 4 days.

I'm now in cycle2 currently on CD37. I didn't ovulate until CD33! The day after ovulation, my boobs and nipples were agony. I'm now 3DPO and the pain is worse.

I recalled this pain the last cycle too, which I wasn't tracking. I assumed it was a sign AF was coming, as it arrived 5 days later. But from this cycle I now know it's actually a sign I've ovulated, so this would mean an extremely short luteal phase on that first cycle.

My research has included reading 'Taking Charge of your Fertility'.
I also found this article extremely helpful in understanding what goes on in your body when you stop the pill, as well as learning things you can do to take charge of your cycle again: avivaromm.com/post-pill-reset/

My sore boobs and possible short luteal phase points to an oestrogen dominance, which causes low progesterone.

This sums up why this happens:

'While not a symptom in itself, nutritional deficiencies can cause a host of symptoms – including hormonal imbalances. They are also a problem for women who come off the pill hoping to get pregnant right away because low nutrient status has been associated with fertility problems, and low nutrients in mom can also mean low nutrients in baby. The pill has been associated with robbing a number of nutrients including B vitamins and magnesium.

Hormonal birth control pills can deplete the body’s stores of certain nutrients, including vitamins B2, B6, and B12; vitamins C and E; magnesium, selenium, zinc, and folate. Vitamin D levels may also drop after coming off the pill.'

Understanding what is going on with my body right now has made me feel so much better. If I were to have a normal luteal phase this cycle, I'd be on track to have a 48 day cycle! The sore boobs tell me I'm probably going to have a short luteal phase though.

I've also learnt how hormones control the whole cycle. With oestrogen being the important hormone during the first half. It builds up and when it reaches a certain threshold it triggers the LH surge. Once you've ovulated, then progesterone kicks in. This cycle I had three LH surges in total spaced 12 days apart until I finally ovulated. Oestrogen and Progesterone have to be perfectly balanced, and so I think the three LH surges could indicate that my oestrogen kept building up over and over until my body finally managed to ovulate, causing an oestrogen dominance. I finally confirmed ovulation after three high temps.

As of a few days ago, I'm following some of the steps in the article I linked, by taking a prenatal multivitamin to replace depleted nutrients. I already take probiotics, vitamin D and folic acid, so will continue with those and will add in vitamin C too. I've cut out low fat dairy instead choosing full fat, and am trying to focus on eating at least 2 pieces of fruit a day and extra veg with my lunch and dinner. I may also look into including a b6 supplement for my luteal phase next cycle if it does turn out to be short again this cycle, as this helps with progesterone and during the luteal phase progesterone spikes to dry up cervical fluid, change the cervix position, stop anymore eggs from being released and build up the lining, so is really crucial.

Hopefully this will help someone :) would love to hear how others are finding coming off the pill x

@crabette how does that work with natural cycles though if your cycles aren't regular? Cause surely they just give you an estimated fertile window based on previous cycles - but if you have one that's 40 days another thats 28 then surely that throws the whole algorithm off? I've always wondered!

@mrsmacmc ha well let's see if it actually happens - the skies just opened here too! I thought the lunch time downpour was going to hopefully be it.

@Juno231 Natural Cycles mainly relies on temperature? They give you an estimated fertile window based on previous cycles, but it updates during each cycle based on your temp input. So while it uses your previous info as a start, it also notes how varied your cycles are.

Mine said at the start of last month I was expected to ovulate CD19, and I had a positive LH CD18 - but the app adjusted after that, during the cycle, to confirm ovulation CD21, in response to my temperature changes, and kind of overwrote the LH. It also then extended my fertile window as a result.

LH/OPK tests will certainly help while things are uncertain, which is why I've been supplementing - I guess the more data the better! - but even with a positive LH, the app didn't register ovulation til the temperature change. And it says in their documentation, the LH tests are suggested as supplementary if you want a better picture, but not required for successful use of the app.

@crabette I just don't see how they can predict it though - just like any other BBT tracking, it will be able to confirm that ovulation happened but your temps don't show that you're in the FW. That part is a guess until ovulation is confirmed. So I guess it could tell me it's going to happen on CD18 and I'll have a FW of CD13-CD21 but if I ovulate unexpectedly early on CD12 it won't have known to tell me when FW was?

I think it works well enough from a TTC point of view but I couldn't bring myself to trust it for contraception purposes .

@Juno231 Ah I see what you mean! I think it's meant to overestimate your FW where you're not regular... so it keeps telling me the more I input data and the more regular I am, the more 'green days' I have in future, where I don't have to use contraception, but in the meantime where there is uncertainty it errs on the side of caution. (Mine is still set to 'prevent' pregnancy at the moment, rather than plan, though I'm not necessarily using it like that!) But as I'm fairly new to it and less regular, last month it had me down as potentially fertile from CD6 - CD24, so told me to use contraception that entire time. Lots of 'red' days, as it's any day you might possibly be fertile, where green is only where you are definitely not.

The idea being that it can be reliable as contraception from the beginning, and learns the rhythm of your cycle as you go (if you have one) with the data you input. The more regular you are the better use you get of it, but it works regardless as contraception, and can tell you if / when you've ovulated using BBT.

I obviously got a positive LH CD18 last month... but don't think I ovulated til CD21. So not sure if the LH helped me or confused me!

Hey everybody. I'm a little miserable today as I have a UTI for the first time in 20 years and it is sooo painful! I'm due af this weekend and can't stomach the thought of having both at once. Big sad face.

@eternalflame2020 oooooo nippy!! Get yourself some cranberry juice to help take the nip out and try to relax as much as you can. Keep the fluids up to flush it out your system gentle socially distanced hug

@eternalflame2020 drink one teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a glass of water. That's basically what all the cystitis relief sachets at boots are. I used to have chronic utis for years so I feel your pain!

Hi ladies :) I've been reading your thread over the last couple of days and I just have to echo all the other new ladies who have posted here by saying THANK YOU for starting this thread and all sharing your experiences! It's already helped me so much! A bit about me...I'm 32 (nearly 33!) married to my gorgeous husband nearly 4 years (together 16!). I was on Microgynon then Rigevidon since I was 17, came off May 24th as we wanted to start TTC :). Started my withdrawal bleed (which like an idiot thought was an actual period all these years hahahah so silly) May 28th and since then...nada. Currently on CD 83. Have been using OPKs for a few weeks seen nothing of interest, then shit got serious a couple weeks ago and I bought the Femometer thermometer and have been daily temp taking and stick peeing and tbh I'm loving it because that's my personality but I'm also just so so worried something is wrong and constantly trying not to freak out :( . We're BDing every few days but not as much as we maybe should be but I just have no idea what's going on with my body. I took a PG test mid July, negative, have another one in the cupboard but haven't had any symptoms so doubt I'm pregnant! Just feeling so annoyed like a lot of you that I was told I could get pregnant straightaway so no need to come off the pill early. I'm impatient and I know it's relatively early days but just so frustrating that I could have maybe come off earlier had I known what it could be like. Anyway I'm so excited I've found you all and am looking forward to "meeting" you all virtually :) xx

Hello again!

Just wanted to get a wee update... After 95 long days after taking my last pill I finally got my period! It lasted 5 days and was very light but it was period so I'm delighted!

I do think I ovulated a few weeks ago as well so hoping I fall back into a regular cycle like I used to have!

To anyone in the same position as me I know its hard but just try and keep busy and eventually things start happening again!

@Flowerkm well done on the soggy run! I know it's really not far away now! I think so pretty much. I'm getting my hair cut and coloured today, which will be nice after 5 months of my hair being untouched! It's safe to say I have a lot of greys 😂 I'll be in the hairdressers all day as I have long and thick hair so it takes a long time ha. Kind of looking forward to it and am taking a new book, so hopefully will be quite relaxing, apart from having to wear a facemask all day!

@Juno231 my new thermometer arrived yesterday. Not sure what's going on with my temps, but was 35.78 today! Until yesterday 36.01 was the lowest I had ever had! Not sure whether to mark it as abnormal 🤔 But maybe it doesn't matter so much when it's a low temp x

@Pettylamby great news! I'm fairly confident now that most of us have issues until around the three month mark (like not ovulating or short luteal phase) because that's how long it takes the eggs to mature. It all makes sense when you think of it like that ☺️ I'm fairly certain I ovulated first two cycles but had an extreemly short luteal phase, which from what I understand is caused by a low quality egg - because it didn't have the three months to mature!

Hi @TheHotelCalifornia and @Pettylamby it sounds like you two are/have been in very similar boats . I am on my 2nd cycle: 1st was 41 days long and I ovulated around CD31, i'm currently on CD32 (no AF yet) and ovulated around CD 26... which is a bit shorter. Hopefully that means mine will get progressively shorter until they are in the 28-30 day range . Hopefully that also means that your two cycles will start getting shorter too.

@Juno231 Thank you, did you manage to dodge the rain?

@eternalflame2020 – Aw bless you, I can sympathise with you, they are so so painful, plenty of fluids and hot water bottles always helped me.

@TheHotelCalifornia – Welcome 😊 Childhood sweethearts, that’s so lovely! Also please don’t freak out, as you can tell it’s so common for long cycles after the pill and it will get better. Please keep us posted and I’m sure some of the other ladies who have had longer cycles can offer you support but we’re all here to chat to and rant to, whatever you need.

@Pettylamby – Yay for AF! That’s a long cycle but glad it finally came. Fingers crossed you fall back into a regular cycle now.

@MintGreenLife – Ooh exciting, your hair will be feeling great after that, sounds really relaxing, enjoy 😊 xx

@TheHotelCalifornia welcome ☺️ You're certainly in the right place! There are several women on here that have gone a few months without AF. I honestly think it's just pot luck in terms of AF and TTC when you come off the pill, and lots of us have drawn the short straw. At least we're not alone and have each other to talk it all through with ☺️ X

@eternalflame2020 aww I’m sorry you’re feeling poorly, that sucks! Hope you’re feeling better today?

@TheHotelCalifornia sorry to hear about your long cycle, it’ll come eventually. It’s just horrible waiting, I know!

@Pettylamby Yay glad AF has finally made an appearance! Hopefully now your body has done it once it will start to get in the swing of it.

@MintGreenLife Ooo enjoy your pamper day! I expect because your thermometer is new that it is just calibrated slightly differently, you might find all your temperatures are on the lower side now. They say if you get a new thermometer you should start on CD1, but at least you do have a few day’s before ovulation to start to see a pattern.

I am on CD16 and am feeling a bit fed up. I don’t know why I expected miracles but I just really wished this cycle was going to be more ‘normal’ but obviously no signs of ovulation happening just yet. I’m just worried cause they seem to be getting longer and longer. I’m only temping atm but might buy some OPKs so I can see if my body is at least trying or if it’s not even bothering yet.

@Flowerkm I went for an hour long walk - does that count lol. Definitely didn't feel up for a run once 5pm came round.

@MintGreenLife that's an odd temp! Maybe you've been sleeping with your mouth open? Some people have the thermometer in their mouths for 2 min before taking their temp, maybe try that tomorrow if you get another abnormal temp? I'm on my 3rd day of EWCM btw but my OPKs have been blank so far so I'm not sure what's going on.

@Juno231 Of course that counts :D well done on going, sometimes getting out the door is the hardest thing so anything once you're out is worth it.

@Elsie2021sorry to hear you're feeling fed up, I would try some OPKs just so you can see. A few of us use the Femometer strips as they work out cheaper when using them everyday and they're good to use against temping/the Clear Blue OPKs which are a little more pricey, but they are also really good and i find them pretty accurate and then you can see if your body is trying xx

Thanks @mrsmacmc and @juno231 for tips. Definitely going to give those a go today! @flowerkm I tried the hot water bottle last night and was quite surprised by how well it worked.

Thanks @elsie2021 I had quite a good night and thought I'd beat it, but it's come back with a vengeance today! Sorry you're feeling a bit meh, I have been ovulating around day 17 and found that using opks for one cycle to be really helpful in getting an idea of what's actually going on.

@mintgreenlife new hair is going to make you feel brand new! Hope you have a fab day!

@pettylamby yay for AF! 🙌

@MintGreenLife jealous of the new hair btw! I had nails and wax done two weeks ago and it was bliss but I already feel like it was months ago. Was thinking I'll treat myself each coming AF now lol seeing as hitting cycle 9 will be pretty depressing (that's a full term baby :()

Aww @Juno231 big hugs I hope this is your month!! (I hope it’s everyone’s month!)

@eternalflame2020 omg utis are the worst. Not sure if it would be worthwhile for you or not if you don’t get them frequently, but there’s this supplement you can get at health stores or on amazon called d-mannose that I’ve found really helpful to take before and after bd and also low amounts regularly to prevent getting them. Also try to really avoid eating or drinking anything acidic because it not only makes the pain worse but provides a better environment for the bacteria to flourish. Once utis get really bad for me nothing fixes them for me but antibiotics. I feel your pain!

I had my first peak on clear blue connected yesterday which is CD13 for me after coming off the mini pill July 12th. Before that I had three days of high fertility flashing smileys. I feel too scared to exercise or anything in case it disrupts fertilisation! Is that silly?

Hi all, hope everyone well ...just a quick update and to see what your opinions are please.
I think my short bleed was possibly a period at day 53 (hopefully) as I'm now CD 15 and showing signs on ovulation, sore boobs and ewcm. I've been using opks (cheapies) and saw a rise on cd13 and cd14 I'be been using the premom app its saying I peaked yday and then my surge completely went. However my peak was less than 1 ..do u think this is my body trying to ovulate? I'm unsure what to think I had ewcm a few days ago but it had seemed to have dried up ( sorry tmi) but this morning its came bk which going by premom today is ovulation day.
I've added pic to show the very quick rise.
Any advice is appreciated thanks xx

Also I haven't tried temping this month will try in my next cycle x

Sorry got my days mixed up today is cd14 x

@Pip1903 I don’t know too much about the numbers because I use a different brand of tests, but maybe your body just ovulates really quickly? I’ve read the number of peak days before ovulation can vary, for some women by the time they get the peak reading it’s so fast they may have missed ovulation from what I’ve read. I’ve read you can ovulate 12 to 24 hours after receiving a peak but some women even ovulate within 6 hours.

But then if you still have egcm that can indicate you’re still ovulating... I think OPKs aren’t supposed to be 100 percent accurate. I’m sure I’ve read EWCM can even be a more reliable guide?

My brand of tests clear blue, once it detects a peak you can’t test again for two days, it doesn’t let you it just assumes a peak for two days. Not sure if this is to prevent this kind of confusing situation...

From what I’ve read the only way to know for sure if you’ve ovulated is through temping or a scam. I think if I had the attached results and EWCM I think I’d assume I ovulated or am ovulating but would know I can’t be sure of the exact timing of when.

Others may have more insight but those are my thoughts anyway! Good luck!