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)

@Trying4one I'm not sure there's a correlation between strength of surge and when you ovulate tbh. Mine seems completely random anyway.

Get BDing and yay for peak 😁

@Juno231 I have been panicing a little as my numbers were so low and I see some ladies get a slow increase. I don't think it is anything to worry about, just a way of my body keeping me guessing I will do. Told my husband that I have had my peak so he knows what he has to do 😂

@Elsie2021 I didn't for long as the femtometer app wasn't working well at reading them. I basically always had very faint lines on them, but I must have only used them for a week and never saw an increase.

I'm starting to think my IBS may play a role in my being unable to get back on track with my cycles/hormonal imbalances. I was only diagnosed early this year and haven't been able to get on top of it yet. Am thinking about trying an elimination diet to see if I can get it under control in hope that may help.

OPK is fainter again for me but I did have a temp spike today after a slight dip yesterday. I'm thinking it's probably just an abnormality but will see what tomorrow's temp is doing x

@MintGreenLife I have IBS as well and I have food intolerances. You are more than welcome to send me a private message if you have any questions

@Trying4one ohh brilliant - not that you have IBS, but that you're open to chatting about it. I will most certainly do that, just as soon as I've worked out how to send you a private message!

Hi everyone. Just jumping in the chat😊 my and my partner have decided TTC our first been off my mini pill for 7 weeks no withdrawal or AF yet have taken numerous tests and all negative ☹️ I’ve also trying to track to see if I’ve been ovulating but don’t look like it yet. How long did it take for everyone’s periods to get back to normal?

@MintGreenLife check out the tummy diaries on insta - I love her take on IBS! She's good at reminding people how mental health affects IBS - eg stress. I had IBS for years but it weirdly stopped around 3-4 years ago and I have no clue why.

@MelAl89 welcome! Most of us here were on the combined pill but we've got ladies here that are over 6 months in and still don't have regular /ovulatory cycles I'm afraid.

Check out my chart at 9 DPO ladies - had a big dip yesterday and today I had my highest temp yet this cycle I think. I know it means nothing but I'm always a bit hopeful that this is it 🤞

Oh and most importantly - I have no pre AF acne yet! First cycle in six months I reckon that's happened!

@Juno231 now that's a great looking chart! You must be thrilled! I have my fingers crossed your newest high temp means what we hope it means!! 🤞🤞

Is anyone on here getting the acne from coming off the pill? And anything that helped it? My skin has never been like this before.

Hi ladies. Hope I'm okay to post and join in? I think i might have seen a couple of you on the preconception planning group!

I've read through as many comments as I can. But there are quite a few 😂

I'm waiting for my first AF following my withdrawal bleed from stopping the Mercilon pill about 2 weeks ago. It seems like everyone ranges on how long that first cycle was - did anyone have a reasonably "normal" cycle length straight away?

I was planning to TTC from Dec to avoid the Christmas drinking season, but given it all looks like it might be quite boring I'm tempted to just start trying post my first proper AF, whenever that may be!

All I'm doing at the moment is BBT tracking. Literally no clue what any of it means given I havent had a period yet but hoping it might give me some insight. So far I've just had a large drop though overnight, no rises so no ovulation yet! Taking pregnacare too - appreciate some say it ain't great for them but had high reccomendations from friends about it helping their cycle so giving it a go 🤷‍♀️

Apart from OPKs, BBT tracking and vitamins, any other signs/things to look out for?

I'm bored already of waiting and I havent even started trying yet 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

@Lovebug06 I went on the pill at 15 because of my skin. I come off the pill and even though I don't have as many spots as the 15 year old me, I am definitely more spotty 🤦 I keep getting small ones under my jaw line and hair line with an occasional big one in my face 😭🤣

@MelAl89 Welcome and congrats on starting to TTC. I can imagine it's frustrating waiting for AF, you're in the right place though, lots of advice and experiences here.
I was on the combined pill so had withdrawal bleeds, they weren't proper periods but my cycles so far have seem to be ok, 24 days, 27 and then a 29 day cycle. At the moment Im think Im one of lucky ones but still so new off the pill, Im still nervous that it can all change.

@Juno231 Ah thats a good looking increase, hard not to read into it all but that looks good :)

@Lovebug06 I can't say Ive noticed a difference in my skin, had a period chin spot on my first AF but nothing since. A few pimples but that was all normal for me.

@AMS19 Hey Ive put my cycle lengths above, mine have been ok so far but it varies so much. Id so just go for TTC, Christmas looks a bit uncertain so wouldn't hold back. I don't track temp, just use the cheapie OPKs strips alongside the clearblue ovulation tests and also taking Boots own folic acid and VD and thats it. Haha, its so easy to get bored and impatient 🙈 xx

@Juno231 thanks so much, will check that out. That's brilliant you don't suffer anymore. Mine just started around two years ago. To be honest I think it was stress that triggered it, but I've been fine for the best part of this year stress wise and it's stuck around.

Your chart looks awesome! And great news about the acne. Keeping my fingers tightly crossed for you. I thought I might have ovulated as had a biggish temp spike Friday night, but it's back down again now 🙄

@Lovebug06 how long have been off the pill? I'm six months off and my post-pill acne has just set in with a vengeance. I've got loads of under the skin spots all over my forehead and chin, plus proper red and sore spots on my forehead, chin and between my eyebrows. I've never had acne in my life, not even as a teen so this is new to me 😔

@Flowerkm thanks very much. Your cycles looks fab! Very lucky! Must be so nice it all being predicable each cycle. I've got a dull ache on the left-side of my lower stomach and had a temp drop but haven't started using OPKs yet. I'm going to use them next cycle. I hadn't planned to use clearblue as they are so expensive - do you think the cheap ones do the job okay? Or is a CB one definitely needed?

@AMS19 No worries at all :)

Yeah, my pain would be a dull stitch like pain a few days before ovulation and then the day off O (I don't temp so symptom spot) I have such bad cramps for a couple of hours and Im sure thats ovulation.
You'll be fine with the cheap ones, i use those all the time and then when i start to see a darker line i use the CB ones for 2-5 days depending on peaks etc.
I managed to have a pack last me 3 cycles and still had 4 left so Im making them last as they are pricey. They're only good to show the run up to ovulation and to up DTD but if you're DTD every other day it doesn't matter as you're already doing it :)

@Flowerkm amazing thanks so so much!! As I say I havent even TTC yet, had sex today using condoms so I'm just more intrigued at this point. Obviously once I've had my first proper AF and start trying it will become even more important but ideally if possible after a month or two, once I know when I usually ovulate, I'll stop BBT and OPK testing and just make sure I have sex over the normal days 🤷‍♀️
I bet that last a month and I'll become to obsessed and start it all again 😂😂😂
How long have you been trying?

My OPKs have been getting fainter over the last few days, so think my body thought about ovulating a few days ago but didn't quite manage. Can't help but feel a bit low this week, am starting to worry slightly there might be something else going on that's stopping me from getting back on track post-pill and that this is going to be a struggle for us 😔 Totally not what I expected when I came off the pill.

@AMS19 I think thats a great idea, similar to what Ive done, we've only tried for 1 cycle as the first 2 we also used protection just while my cycles got back to normal and just finishing my period now and will try again :)

Im tempted to not track as well this cycle just to see, it is stressful and Ive had 3 cycles where i ovulate between CD13-16 so i have been thinking to do just have sex more and not track as i put pressure on myself. Its funny, i say this as well and i know Ill be tracking to see 😂

@MintGreenLife Im sorry you feel like that :( see what your temp does over the next few days but its very similar to your last cycle.
I wish there was something i could say to help you feel better but i know it must be worrying. Hopefully the bloods can give you a clearer picture whats going on and give you some answers. Xx

Thanks @Flowerkm I think before I had hope that I was just getting back on track post-pill, but starting to feel like now 6 months have passed with no improvements there must be something else at play. Just a bit scary urgh. How are things with you? Have you finished AF yet? Xx

@Trying4one I went on the pill at 13/14 I got the odd few but generally was lucky with my skin. Feel like I've got my teenage acne at 28! Hairline, around my temples and my forehead are the worst. A few on chin /cheeks/nose. Seems to go up and down over the month I guess depending on hormones.
@Flowerkm you may be lucky and not get it, hopefully not. Not everyone gets it, my SIL and DM didn't
@MintGreenLife I am just finishing my 8th month (AF due today). Mine came quite quickly after I came off the pill. It really gets me down sometimes. It does say its hormones going a bit mad and will calm down but no sign yet. I have loads of them under the skin ones too, tried a few things but nothing has helped so far. Doctor can't prescribe much of TTC too. Not sure what to do or if there is anything that can help 😂

@MintGreenLife :( rubbish isn't it? You always expect a few months of up and downs but 6 months you must be feeling fed up. I really hope it improves for you soon. Im ok thank you, AF is on her way out, 4 days so far and the last 2 have been pretty light tbh, hopefully by tomorrow/Tuesday Ill be off :)

I tried mentioning to my OH about not tracking on OPKs but instead DTD every other day and then daily during days 13-16 and he just says 'well what if Im not in the mood? If it happens it happens' and thats really annoyed me!! He does want a baby but is sooo much more chilled than me, i want to try hard each month but trying to calm myself for his sake as i don't want the pressure of it but it doesn't just happen that easy. Maybe Im just in a bad mood lol! Xx

@Lovebug06 @MintGreenLife I went on the pill initially as a teenager as I had horrible painful spots generally between my eyes and round my nose where the pores are larger but also needed it for contraceptive purposes. I also got put on acne medication which worked an absolute treat. (I used that for about 6 months but then the pill really did help after that) Even now I use acnecide gel twice a day to keep them under control. I now only get a few blackheads on my chin that turn into uglier ones occasionally. Have you tried acnecide?

@Flowerkm super early days for you then! Isnt it funny how impatient you get with it. I havent even started yet. Is this your first? So exciting!!

@MintGreenLife I'm so sorry you are feeling down. I know I'm still new to it all but I totally get how frustrating and disheartening it must be. I know so many people in the same boat and it is super tough! Have you had any tests? Sending lots of positive vibes your way ♥️

@AMS19 Very early days yep, our first. So exciting, but also nerve wracking with covid but can't put our lives on hold as this could go on for years xx