Post Pill TTC Party

[TheDaydreamBelievers]

Come one, come all ! A thread for those TTC after coming off hormonal contraceptive pills.

Discussions typically include:

• Baffling temp charts
• Absent or oddly timed EWCM
• Whacky cycle lengths
• AF gone AWOL (current high score is 141 days post pill)

Thank you @Flowerkm

@TheDaydreamBelievers congratulations!! Great news, keen to hear how your symptoms develop!

@GlassLily welcome :) do you mind me asking how you went about approaching the GP for tests? I'm 6 months off the pill now and have just sent over an online request for help, but feel like they are going to fob me off with the whole 'it can take up to 12 months thing'

@Sarahp2308 I'm only on my first cycle of RHR tracking but the first dip down to 60 here is 2 days before AF, and the highlighted bit where it goes up to 62 is the start of my FW, which I think is exactly the "normal" pattern!

Thanks all 😊 Yes @MintGreenLife you were right! Also shows the cheapie One Steps are USELESS too early on (took one at 9dpo which showed zero). They are strong lines - the FRER came up in 30s or less. Set a timer for 3 min, heard my husbands alarm go off, went to hide it so a negative didnt make him sad, then saw it was already positive!

@HeyDW96 - let me know if you set up a pregnancy chat at all, as I think if these beans stick we would both be due around same time? Juneish next year?

@MintGreenLife Ah of course, thats fair enough. Difficult to change the dates if you had an appointment. Your form sounds fine and i really hope they listen and send you through some tests ☺️

Ah thank you, even if she does show. Going to take notes from the @TheDaydreamBelievers and do positives from this cycle and next steps for next cycle :) xx

@MintGreenLife I know I was in the 'lucky'position of having obviously weird cycles, but I would just stress all your knowledge and data. "I have been tracking all my cycles using x, y, z. I do not seem to be ovulating at all based on x. They are atypical lengths. I would like a referral, particularly as the waits can be long ". Also dont be afraid to correct them if they are wrong!

@MintGreenLife every single woman in my immediate family has some kind of fertility issues, so once I had reeled off the list of things I was hoping to check for generally, plus the fact I was getting all negative OPKs, she said we would do the blood tests so we at least know if I'm ovulating or not! But she did say that usually she would recommend trying for a year first at my age.

@TheDaydreamBelievers ahh that's so lovely and exciting for you, so pleased! I've just submitted a form to get some help from the docs, really hope they give me the time of day instead of fobbing me off...not hopeful!

@Flowerkm thank you, I'll keep you all posted. It's a tricky one isn't it as I don't think they like you going to them and telling them what you think is wrong, but the form asked what treatment I would like, so obviously put that I want blood tests and a scan. We shall see... xx

@GlassLily Thanks for replying :) that makes sense. I feel like the trying for a year thing makes no sense if you're having clear issues with your cycle - someone that wasn't trying would surely get some tests done for problematic cycles as what's the point in just leaving them to it if it's causing issues. I didn't mention I was TTC in the form I filled in this morn, but I did say I'm charting BBT so that's probably pretty obvious, although some people use that as prevention now anyway! x

@MintGreenLife fingers crossed the doctors are helpful. I would lay it on thick with being worried about PCOS. If they ask about TTC you can always day you are preparing to start trying...if you have any pain/bleeding after BD then mention that too! Keep us updated. X

@MintGreenLife yes, I think if it's causing havoc with your life generally they will probably be more likely to recommend tests! As an obvious solution to a patient not getting pregnant is to just tell them to try a bit more. But if you just want to understand your cycle and fix anything that's going wrong, surely they can't just throw "have sex for 6 more months" at it? And if you're TTC they can't throw contraceptive pills at the problem either!

@lawandgin thanks :) no pain or bleeding after DTD myself. That's a good shout re PCOS, I'll try and lead with that! I've been contemplating trying Agnus Castus this cycle or a B vitamin complex, but think I best wait a few days to hear from the GP and find out whether they will run tests or not! x

@GlassLily well that's very true! Must try and remember what you've said when I do speak to them. I'll try and come at it from more of a 'concerned about my health' point of view, as haywire cycles could be because of a completely separate issue that may need addressing anyway, so surely they can't just ignore that! x

Thanks @GlassLily mine seems to be abit haywire! 🤣 the 8th was the first day of AF and I’m guessing the recent rise is my FW

Anyone know what vitamin B complex does to cycles? Just wondering as I went to take my folic acid and vitamin D this morning, only to find its vitamin B we have both been taking . I think tesco swapped them out on an online delivery and we didnt notice!

@TheDaydreamBelievers It's meant to help regulate your cycle and balance hormones, as well as extend your LP. I've been thinking about introducing an B vitamin complex to help me along x

@MintGreenLife I'd say that it's been X months and your cycles are highly irregular, ranging from X day to X (and that the NHS website says to contact if the variation is bigger than 8 days as it could be indicative of something else) Tell them you temp and have only identified ovulation once since you came off the pill.

If you're not going to add on months to the time trying, definitely add that this is causing you distress and worry that something is wrong.

@MintGreenLife can't find a source on the 8 days though so my memory might be playing tricks on me!

@TheDaydreamBelievers it regulates/prolongs the LP and is good for TTC so don't worry!

@Sarahp2308 looks like the same sort of pattern as mine, but wow yours goes up and down by so much more bpm! I've been trying to wear my Fitbit to bed every night to make it more accurate, do you do that?

@Juno231 thank you :) I've submitted the form and it says they will get back to me by end of the day tomorrow at the latest, so fingers crossed. I've included a link to the NHS page that says your natural cycle should resume within three months of coming off the pill, so if that's true and this is meant to be my natural cycle then that's no good, so surely they will see me just based on that!? When they call me I will make sure I explain that it's causing me a lot of worry x

@TheDaydreamBelievers, I have been taking a high dosage B Complex and it has helped regulate my Cycle: faster Ovulation, day CD17 (down from CD 27) and a longer LP (14DPO and counting, up from 8/10 Days).

I cannot see anywhere online where it says the B Complex might be a concern in early pregnancy, so i'm sure you'll be OK . I wonder if they helped you catch this cycle?

Phew @MintGreenLife @Kay00! Sounds like it was okay to take them throughout.

If you were me, when do you think you guys would register the pregnancy with the nhs? Almost feels like tempting fate and too early?

@TheDaydreamBelievers your lines are pretty strong, so I suppose you could go for it. I assume they will take note of the first day of your last period and then get in touch for your 12 week scan? I have no idea how this part works

@kay00 the issue is the first day of my last period was aages ago and likely not correct in dating? I guess I can just tell them all about this

Haha good point! They may go by your ovulation date then? Perhaps they will want to see you for a earlier scan to determine the due date?