TTC - coming off the pill

[Kirstyls]

Hi all, I'm after some advice please. I came off the pill in April to start TTC. I had my normal 'pill break period' and then for 2 months I had a period exactly 5 weeks and 4 days apart both times. I now haven't had a period for 8 weeks. How long did it take for you to become regular? I have no idea if/when I'm ovulating and I'm getting so fed up, I know it's really not been long and I probably need to be more patient! I just want it so badly that it's consuming my brain! Just want a regular cycle so I know what's going on with my body again!

Thanks all x

@Kirstyls I had to check this wasn't something I had posted as I'm going through exactly the same thing! I came off the pill in April to TTC too, had two or three nice regular periods around about 29 days or so. Now at 9 weeks with no AF. Pregnancy testing all been negative. Intended to start ovulation testing on the next cycle but the next cycle has never come. Of course my mum got pregnant with me immediately after stopping the pill so I hoped it would be easier! It's so incredibly frustrating not being pregnant but also not cycling so not able to really plan or test or do anything about it. Please update if you do get AF or bfp, and although I'm sorry you're going through it I hope it's a comfort to know you're not alone.

Omg honestly it's like reading what's happening to me! Mine were both 40 days apart which I thought okay fine, I can deal with that as long as I'm having them and now nothing! I have had sore boobs (sorry TMI!) for about a week now and still nothing! Negative pregnancy tests, negative ovulation tests. It's just all disheartening isn't it! Please keep me updated on your journey. I hope they start back up for you asap and remain consistent.

Another thing that's the same, my mum got instantly pregnant with me after stopping the pill also. I naively thought I'd be the same!

Hi @Kirstyls hope you're doing ok. I've been away for a few days to a wedding and now I'm back tested quite a few times as missed my POAS fix! All neg of course. My boobs are starting to feel a lot fuller though and had sore nipples occasionally, my boobs have been feeling small lately so I'm hoping this is a sign my hormones are coming back, even if its just AF I'll be v happy!

How funny that both our mums got pregnant so easy, it's exactly what I thought might happen too especially as I'm a few years younger than she was! Even though I kept saying it could take ages I was secretly hoping it would be that easy for me too. It'll happen eventually though and glad we're not alone:) x

Hey, I came off the pill in December and since then have had erratic 33-50 day cycles. Initially I was against OPK testing but for the last 3 cycles it has been the best decision ever... Otherwise you're spending 2-3 weeks at a time potentially in your fertile period.

I'm under going testing for PCOS so might be worth you doing the same if it hasn't sorted itself out in a couple more months. I had no symptoms or suspicions of having this prior to stopping the pill.

It consumed my brain too at the start, my Mum was on contraception and mid-40s when she had me so I thought it would be easy.

Hey! Thank you for the reply.

I did a ovulation test this morning (clearblue digital) and I have a flashing smile which is confusing me even more because I'm not having a period! How can I be ovulating?! Unless I never actually ovulate I just get the raised hormones. Who on earth knows 😂.

Good luck with your journey! X

Hi @GHJ hope you had a lovely time away!

I did a test yesterday as my nipples are still so sore and of course it was neg. However I did an ovulation test today and I have the flashing smile which has confused me even more!

I never thought I'd say I actually want AF to make her appearance 😂 x

@akk how did you do the ovulation testing with irregular cycles? I've not had a period since June, have some spotting this morning for the first time in ages so might be AF but I've picked up some Wilko ov strips to have a try with and not used any form of ov testing before! Do you just use them every day and see when they're getting darker? I was intending to wait until af arrives to then start tracking next month so I can now vaguely where I am but I guess if I'm just super irregular now may as well get the practice in!

@GHJ so I started doing them when I thought my period was due too so I did a pregnancy test and an OPK test at the same time and the OPK happened to be positive! I've been using the premom app to track the results with the cheapie easy@home tests and have been doing 1 a day from about cycle day 7, upping to 2 a day from day 11 or 12 and there on until positive.

I think you can either have a gradual hormone surge so you see the tests getting stronger and stronger over a few days or a quick surge that lasts only a few hours or a day. Obviously if you are the latter then twice or three times per day testing is needed otherwise you might miss it. I seem to get a very slightly stronger test one day and then positive the next.

I initially opted not to test because I thought it would add so much pressure and considered it a bit over the top but after a few months realised that getting pregnant isn't as easy as it seemed and it's honestly the best thing we've done. Still not pregnant but at least we can be reassured that we are trying at roughly the right time!

@akk that's really helpful thank you. I've just downloaded the premom app so fingers crossed it gives me a pattern and makes us feel better like it has done for you! I've done multiple preg tests over the last few days I need to calm down a bit keep thinking they're squinters but DH not convinced at all so think it's extremely unlikely but obvs have no idea when AF would be due as I'm on a 9 week cycle currently. Need to probably wait a few days and calm down a bit.

Sorry if this is tmi but I've got some pink/brown discharge so something's happening. Obviously I hope it's implantation but will be a relief at least if turns into AF rather than just random spotting!

@GHJ ah I'm keeping everything crossed for you!! I've got symptoms of my period but no period! In fact my ovulation test (I use the digital as I found the other ones too confusing) is saying I'm in my ovulation window so I haven't a clue what's going on!

When I was reading up on ovulation testing today I did read that you can get a false positive ovulation test during pregnancy, don't want to give you false hope but sounds possible? Fingers crossed for you

@GHJ I've taken a test yesterday and it was very much negative! It's all just so confusing. I just want AF back so I know where I'm at!

Hi ladies any updates? My bleeding was not my period no bleeding at all today, but my tests are negative. I've attached a photo of my preg test I've just done that I've squinted and squinted at as thought maybe a glimmer of a shadow but took this after the time so not reliable anyway. Will try again tomorrow. Have LH tested last two days v low 0.08 yesterday 0.09 today according to premom but it's nice to see two lines on something 😅

When I came off the pill to TTC (I had been on the pill or the implant for nearly 10 years I think) I had my usual withdrawal bleed, then I think one normal period after 28 days or so, then 3 month gap before a normal period and then the next cycle I was pregnant. During the three month gap I got episodes of really bad cramping like my body was trying to ovulate but couldn't. I also got a couple of episodes of spotting. It drove me nuts and I read lots of random things to try and make sense of it.

According to one study if you're coming off the pill on average you conceive a couple of months after someone who hadn't been on hormonal contraception (something like 5 months instead of 3). I also read something else that suggested that eggs need 90-100 days to mature so it almost seemed like my body used up the one mature egg left after my many years on contraception then had to wait a bit, but I don't have much proper evidence for that.

@GHJ I know what you mean re the pregnancy testing... Every month I say I'm going to wait until at least 12dpo but not managed to yet. Your ovulation testing will at least stop you pregnancy testing at impossible times. One tip, wait the 5 mins, if no obvious line chuck it straight in the bin and pull it apart to destroy it if you have to so you aren't tempted to retrieve it later to check for a late line. I've concluded everyone goes through a slightly crazy phase with testing but then we need to get past it otherwise it becomes unbearable!

Why do you need to be regular to conceive?

I came off the pill the end of may and conceived 2 weeks later. We just did the deed Saturday. Wednesday. Friday for 3 weeks as per the nhs advice. You can conceive without a regular cycle.

I didnt have a period so couldn't do the when will I ovulate approach so we went with the scatter gun approach. Whilst you wait for your cycle you may aswell give it a go. 😊

@akk thanks for your message, I'm definitely having a crazy phase again at the moment with testing I think because my boobs were changing and I felt like my body was actually doing something. Test this morning I'm sure is neg though so back to the waiting again!

@Bacon88 still trying despite no AF and didn't wait to try until period after stopping pill either. Congratulations on your pregnancy, in your case you will have conceived on your first ovulation after stopping the pill which is great. I had several relatively normal cycles after stopping the pill but now been 9 and half weeks without AF so likely I've stopped cycling for some reason. Still dtd but we work long hours and some night shifts too (not typical 9 to 5!) So EOD not always practical for months at a time! Hopefully at some point will catch but AF would just be a relief to know there's nothing stopping me from having a cycle. Best wishes with your pregnancy:)

@Bacon88 congratulations! I just want AF to know exactly when I'm ovulating because at the moment it feels like I'm not. I just know my body if that makes any sense! I think I just want it for peace of mind as it's not happened so far (granted we're not trying 3x per week at the moment!)

If you’re not sure whether you’re ovulating, it could be worth tracking your BBT (basal body temperature, taken immediately upon waking) - I found this much more helpful than OPKs in working out if/when I was ovulating, but then again I have PCOS which means ovulation tests don’t work as well.

@GHJ I think the key here is that we're not patient enough 😂 I'm still showing as in my 'high' phase of ovulation but I just can't work out how! I'm hoping AF will show her face asap. I was tempted to do another test but I know it'll be neg and don't want to put myself through that again! X

@GHJ I've just been to the toilet and have some light bleeding so is this AF?! Another reason I don't trust the ovulation tests, I can't be ovulation and AF at the same time 😂
Maybe it's just some spotting and will go as quickly as it's come x

@Kirstyls to be honest I am not sure those ovulating test work. You might keep missing your egg release. Personally I would give the 3 times a week for 3/4 weeks a go. If it's too much get him to start himself off and just like insert the goods. Artificial insemination. Kind off.

Regarding the pill and cycles. I went through pubity young and by 12 was on contraception as I had really bad migraines affecting my school. So I didn't have a period for 17 years. So I wouldn't worry you are not releasing eggs it might be a more you are missing the timing. 😊

@GHJ like I just said I didnt have a period for 17 years and been on a pill since I was 12. More likely you are missing the egg release. They are only viable for 24 hrs in any cycle so the Doing the deed often is a good approach. My husband works shifts in a factory. Quad shifts so a week of night, a week of earlier and lates and then a weekend every month. So understand it can be hard but get him to do some of the work first.

Good luck everyone 😊

@Kirstyls I think AF started! Most blood I've had in ages. I'm so relieved, feel refreshed and ready to go again. Just hope it doesn't stop again. Feeling positive for a positive next cycle! Still going to go get my scan I had booked for a few weeks time to see what's going on as discomfort I've had and not cycling for 10 weeks obvs not normal. What's happened with you? If just spotting I'd re preg test as I don't think ovulation tests can tell between LH and hcg so might well be 🤞best wishes!