Is this my AF?

[Nam095]

Hey ladies! So I’m a little unsure as to what is happening with my body right now. I’ve bullet pointed to get the main points across.

• I stopped my mini-pill Cerelle on 3rd July to start TTC for first baby
• Did not have a withdrawal bleed directly after stopping
• Partner and I DTD pretty much every single day from 5th-22nd, bar a few days here and there
• I had cramping 14th-16th, could this have been ovulation?
• Main noticeable symptoms I’ve had is sore nipples since 14th, every single day, and then sore and heavy boobs since 22nd
• I had clear CM since around 16th up until 24th
• 22nd I had intense cramping on the left side of my abdomen, only lasted around 5-10 minutes
• I started having middle abdomen mild cramps again 23rd & 24th, but only a couple times a day again lasting 5-10 minutes
• Morning of 24th I believed I had started my period
• However, sorry if TMI, all that has come out of me is brown stuff, I’m not sure if this is a period or brown CM? How can I tell the difference? It has been very light, almost like spotting from 24th up to today. Or, could this be the withdrawal bleed?

This is my first time coming off the pill and my first proper period without birth control since I was 16, so I’m not sure what to expect and I’d appreciate anyone’s thoughts on this, thank you!

I should also mention that I did not have any bleeding/period at all whilst I was on the pill!

Hi :)
I came off the pill at the end of January, although not the mini pill but the combined one.
My monthly bleeds have been so so light, in the way that you have described. They also only last about a day (2 days max). This really concerned me as whilst I was on the pill and before my bleeds were heavy and would last about 4-5 days.
I also have cramping, ranging from period like pains and also discomfort in my upper abdomen (usually on the right). These pains are mostly constant, even when I'm not due on.
Iv been researching this a lot as it has been driving me mad and apparently a lot of people who come off the pill have the same symptoms especially the light bleeds.
Sorry I don't have much more help but just thought I'd reassure you that you aren't alone, it's also frustrating that so many doctors disregard the pill having an impact on your body.

@PracticalMagic111 hi!

I think what I had was my withdrawal bleed, I decided to take an ovulation test yesterday as I’d read somewhere that you ovulate after a withdrawal bleed. I have that Femometer app so I scanned the result and it came up high! So did another one today and it’s even higher, so I think it may also be the case with me that I just had a light withdrawal bleed and I’m now ovulating.

I do agree with you about the GP’s, they just dish them out without explaining the long term effects of them, I mean I was given the pill from the age of 16 without even asking!

@Nam095 @PracticalMagic111 I'm also going through the rubishness that is coming off the pill. I came off in April and am on my third cycle, currently CD43! I've had the same - really light periods, starting brown and a little red towards day 2/3 and then brown again day 4.

FYI @Nam095 - those OPKs look like they are heading in the right direction but not a positive yet. Would suggest testing twice a day until you get a positive or they start to get fainter again x

Your period starts from the day you get red blood, so the brown spotting blood doesn't count yet. Coming off the pill takes your body some time to adjust to producing your own hormones and how everything works - typically around 3 months as this is the maturation of the graffian follicle that releases the egg.

After ovulation your CM should go dry, so it doesn't seem like you have ovulated get this cycle.

With the spotting and the sore boobs, it sounds like low progesterone levels (could be linked to coming off contraception rather than something to worry about). This should settle but you can help it with leafy greens, eggs, oily fish, cashews, almonds, dark chocolate. Look up progesterone diet. Some people swear by seed cycling too, eating certain seed types during certain phases of their cycle.

The best resource is Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. It's a very informative book that helps you understand your body.

Good luck!

@PlanBea thanks for the information, I’ll have to search it up :) although I do eat quite a lot of the foods you mentioned already so hopefully the symptoms die down soon.

With regards to the red blood, a few hours after I originally posted this I actually had very heavy bleeding, bright red with quite a few clots that lasted a few hours then went back to being light and brown, but as in my other comment my LH is rising so I’m confused as to what the bleed was

@MintGreenLife thanks I know the test line has to be as dark or darker than the control one so by how they’re looking now I think tomorrow evening or some time on Friday will be the peak. I’ve never tracked my ovulation before so feel like I’m obsessing over it haha