Post Pill Party - Pool Party

[TheDaydreamBelievers]

In the shimmering summer heat, we need to head for the water to cool down and relax. Bring your inflatable flamingo, your romcom read and your sunscreen, cause it's time for a pool party!

Welcome to the 12th post pill party thread. We are here for women who have recently come off the pill... and women like me who not-so-recently came off the pill! Share and get support with the highs and lows of TTC.

I can see these people rockin' up with their cossies on:

Ladies already at the soiree:

@ChinChilly
@Juno231
@CharWils
@Moocher90
@MissM94
@MissC07
@Kay00
@TheDaydreamBelievers
@pineapple2021
@Theosmommy2011
@Lovebug06
@WhirlingD
@Carolinesturn
@Tillybabs
@redclueless
@Cams50
@sunshinedaisybuttermellow

@Moocher90 oh hun I'm so sorry to hear that. It certainly isn't impossible to get pregnant with low egg reserves but I would consider IVF as a priority.

Check your CCG's criteria though because unfortunately you have to have a certain AMH level to be considered under the NHS as I believe it's 5.4 where I am.

I know BPAS are meant to start up a not for profit IVF service for those unable to get it on the NHS in autumn this year so it's worth signing up for their newsletter to keep in the loop about that.

Thanks Ladies, I am going to look at places abroad.

@Juno231 I remember you recommending some places if I remember correctly! I’m currently looking in the Czech Republic.

Oh no @Tillybabs hope you feel better soon.

@Kay00 ugh! Hopefully fertile week is a bit early or late! Or you can sneak off a few times! How long is your grandpa staying for?

@Moocher90 oh I'm so sorry. I would definitely start looking at your options. Hopefully you can be referred as a priority.

I'm on holiday, mostly without internet, which is why I have been very quiet. Just wanted to say @Moocher90 I'm really sorry and sending all my thoughts to you.

@Moocher90 sorry to hear about your test results 😔 good that your looking into your options though, abroad or as @Juno231 said loads of places offer payment plans, we couldn't afford IVF outright at the mo, our house also zapped our savings and continues to do so 🙄

@ChinChilly I’m just scared if I wait for nhs they are going to say they won’t use my eggs and will only get 1 round of ivf. I saw my current ccg says 3 years trying to conceive and 1 round of ivf but amh has to be over 5.4pmol/l and I don’t meet that criteria. I have emailed a few places in Czech Republic as I’m concerned if I leave it any longer I won’t have any of my own eggs left. DH had agreed to use some savings we have to pay for it.

@Moocher90 I'm so sorry to hear about your test results. I hope you find the option that's best for you soon.

@Moocher90 it's a crappy situ to be in but you're being proactive, find out all your options whether that's abroad or over here. Tbh you will wait forever for the nhs (no disrespect to the nhs) but everything is just taking forever at the moment. Once you have all your options, costs/travel etc just do what is right for you, if becoming parents is something you both really want it will be worth all the time, money and stress.

So I am speaking to a clinic today in Prague. Will see what they have to say. But I hope if all is good that maybe I can get the ball rolling for my next cycle or the one after.

@Moocher90 Reprofit in Prague is the one often mentioned on mumsnet - if you check the infertility board you can see what people have written about it there. Copenhagen was another option as they are at the forefront of IVF in Europe (10% of their children are born via ivf) and are much cheaper than the UK as well.

@Moocher90 I'm so sorry for your results 😞 but so glad there are options for you. Good luck with Prague today x

Hi Ladies,

I hope you don’t mind me joining…

I’ve been watching this thread and a 1000 older other ones just trying to make myself feel better & to desperately see positive results of other people in the same boat as me. I have Blood tests booked for Thursday AM so feeling extra anxious so i decided to make an account to talk it through and to hopefully feel less alone.

In short I’m nearly 32, came off the pill last November (2020) after being on it for 11 years (Microgynon/Rigdevon) After my withdrawal bleed my first real period came on Boxing Day being a 54 day cycle.
2nd cycle took 63 days
3rd cycle 36 days
4th cycle 39 days
All 5/6 days- normal/heavy flow.
Since then nothing- I’m now on CD100! I feel so down and worried something is wrong. I know you should never Google but it always gets the better of me and Ive read some really scary things.
My & my partner arnt trying to conceive at the moment (withdrawal method) but I came off the pill as I wanted to give my body a break and prepare to maybe start trying next year.
Im definately not pregnant- tested twice.
I did have my first covid vaccine CD49 so not sure if this has anything to do with it or if I’m just clutching at straws.
I know it can take a year to settle down but over 3 months with no period is starting to worry me. Although irregular I did have 4 real periods to begin with so I don’t understand where they have now gone. Last weekend I did have 2 days of spotting so I thought AF might be on the way but nothing. :(
I do have blood tests booked for Thursday but I’m so anxious and worried…I would love nothing more than to be able to have children so the results really worry me.

I’ve seen a couple of you ladies are in the simular boat to me so I just wanted to vent as I don’t think my partner quite understands the stress and anxiety it’s causing me :(

The pressure us women have….

I look forward to any response - thanks all

@HeavenlyHoping welcome hun. I think there are fine ladies in here who can relate to what you're going through. I have also heard the vaccine has affected periods. When I had my 2nd jab on Friday the nurse asked me if it had affected my period and said it's something that has been reported.

But if you were already cd49, maybe that's not the case.

But try not to worry too much. I know that's easier said that done. I hope you get some answers soon from the blood test but it's worth remembering that it does take a while for our bodies to get back to normal after having been on the pill for so many years.

I've been off it for a year now and still finding changes to my cycle.

Thanks ladies for the messages about Covid. I don't have any severe symptoms but am just quite tired and my muscles ache.

@HeavenlyHoping sorry I meant there are a few ladies in here not fine ladies haha

@HeavenlyHoping Welcome! Your story sounds freakishly similar to mine!! I came off the pill Microgynon/Rigevidon in November 2020 and have had a 41, 42, 45 and 36 day cycle. I'm now on CD106.... 😣 I also had both doses of my vaccine (one CD25 and the other CD82) But have had a blood test and internal scan and have been diagnosed with PCOS. There is lots that can be done for PCOS though so I'm trying to be positive, although some days harder than others!

@Moocher90 how did you get on with the clinic in Prague?

@HeavenlyHoping welcome 👋 I think a few women have had wonky cycles post pill, it definitely takes a while for things to settle down, something they don't warn you about.

Thanks @Tillybabs - trying to keep positive! Thank you for responding- it’s nice to feel you have somewhere to talk.

Hi @MissC07 - I’ve actually been following your particular story and thought your story is near identical to mine. Obviously it’s not nice for you either but it does bring some comfort I’m not alone. When were you diagnosed with pcos? I’ve read so many things online and basically self diagnosed myself with it but the only symptom I have is the irregular periods so I’m not sure. When I discussed with my doctor my lack of periods for 3 months she did ask if pcos runs in my family. My mum and nan were both irregular apparenlty but never diagnosed so possibly could of been. My doctor went on to say because I’m not ‘hairy’ it doesn’t sound like pcos but to have my bloods checked for thyroid and hormone and go from there. My bloods are Thursday so I’m getting really anxious. Did your bloods show anything or was pcos only diagnosed from an internal scan?
Do you have other symptoms?
What advice have you been given or next steps going forward?
Sorry 101 questions but I’m so glad you replied on this thread as we are currently living the same stress :(

Thanks @ChinChilly - i know, it’s rubbish… I’ve read 1000 threads but most threads are irregular cycles under 50/60ish days - I know it’s not nice for anyone but I’d actually be happy with 60 days right now … I think 100 days was my breaking point today :( - I just want AF to arrive…I’ve done my stint haha

@ChinChilly thanks for asking. I have sent all my paperwork over to them and I am going to be booked in for an online consultation. I think from there we will decide what cycle we will go for to do ivf with isci. I have this cycle to try as I’m only CD8 but I do not envisage getting pregnant but got to be in it to win it.

Feeling more positive that my own eggs should be possible as I am young so the quality should be good but as I only have 4 follicles I am not sure how many eggs I will make but atleast if there’s a few eggs retrieved then we can do FET if ivf doesn’t work so not another cycle of IVF which will work out half the price.

I’m worried as I don’t ovulate regularly so ivf is probably the safest option as I could continue to try for another 6 months but if I don’t ovulate regularly I am wasting precious time and may get of the stage where I can no longer use my own eggs. Better to be safe then sorry I think.

DH is very supportive and is like let’s just book it for your next cycle in September. I never thought at the age of nearly 31 I would be in this position.

Been reading up on the clinic and reviews which seem to be good and very positive with many woman falling pregnant on their first cycle of ivf. My DH knows someone who went to Prague for ivf and both times were successful. They now have two children

I had a telephone appointment with my gp today about my random bleeding. I know they won't do anything from a ttc pov because it's only 4 months, but I thought it would be good to get it on record.
Because I've had hpv on a previous smear and am on yearly recalls they are referring me for a pelvic ultrasound and probably going to refer me to gynae.

@HeavenlyHoping hope your bloods are OK Thursday. Do you know what they are testing for?

Hi @Sunshinedaisybuttermellow - I think thyroid, hormones, & sugar level aswell.
I think the sugar was because my bmi is quite high for my height. I’m only a size 14 but apparently I’m ‘obese’ according to my doctor. Alway nice to hear…

@Moocher90 it all sounds positive, I think you are doing the right thing.

@HeavenlyHoping I can only imagine how frustrating it must be. I've been fairly lucky with my cycles they've been every 29-31 days since I stopped the pill in June 2020, I've been unlucky with MCs unfortunately

@Sunshinedaisybuttermellow sounds like good progress!

@heavenlyhoping welcome! I have been diagnosed with PCOS but don't have any other symptoms either (we don't all extra hair growth!). In fact all my blood tests came back OK too (apart from my AMH levels which were high), so I was diagnosed through a scan in the end.

@sunshinedaisybuttermellow it sounds like a good thing you have been referred then, get checked as a just in case xx

@moocher90 the Prague clinic sounds really promising, and it's great that you have the chance to use your own eggs xx

@HeavenlyHoping So my bloods were taken on CD70 (I think they are supposed to be taken early on in the cycle) which showed abnormalities. I was also fortunate that my GP referred me for an internal scan which showed lots of follicles on my ovaries. Unfortunately after telling me I had PCOS my GP has been pretty useless. I'm waiting for my private medical to kick in at work and then I'll ask for a referral to go privately.
I remember when I started my periods (when I was 14) they were irregular then but I can't remember much else. I wish I'd paid attention back then!!!

@ChinChilly I’m so sorry to hear that, I hope luck comes your way soon!

@Kay00 yeah I feel I’ve self diagnosed already. I’ve read lots of positive stories from PCOS sufferers though so I guess it’s not the worst outcome, I’ve defo scared myself with worse. I’m just confused as although slightly irregular I still had 4 periods straight after the pill, then they just dissapeared for 3+ months… does that sound like pcos? I’m still in hope it’s just my body settling down 9/10 months on….

@MissC07 Oh no, that’s poor of your doctors really- hopefully privately you can get more help.
I’m the same - I barely remember what my periods were like back then really - Can I ask how old you are?
So what happens now- you just wait for AF to arrive?
Are you actually ttc at the moment?