Coming off desogestrel, what to expect?

[ThatKindHelper]

I was initially on the pill about 12 years ago, and then 5-6 years ago I switched to the mini pill desogestrel as I was getting migraines. I would always have a regular bleed on the first pill but haven't had any bleeds at all on desogestrel, and prior to taking the pill altogether I was regular as clockwork. My husband and I are now trying to conceive, it's been 5 weeks since I stopped the pill and there is no sign of any cycle movement at all. I have had tender breasts but that is it. I am probably being impatient as it has only been 5 weeks but I do suffer with anxiety so it would be nice to hear some stories from others who may have had a similar post-pill journey as it is a daunting experience not knowing what to expect. Thanks in advance :)

Not too similar but not too different, I was on a different mini pill (sorry I really can't remember what it was!) prior to 2021 when we started TTC and I don't think I got any sort of a regular cycle for a good few months but did kind of eventually fall into some kind of a normal cycle and fell pregnant after 11 months.

October 2022 I went on desogestrel, didn't ever really get into a regular cycle and would go months without getting even the smallest hint of a period, came off it November 2023 TTC, got a 2 day bleed, then a week later got what I suspected to be a regular period and then had absolutely nothing throughout December.

So my periods up to now have been
November 24th
January 8th
February 9th
Also worth mentioning that I can't remember for the life of me the last period I had prior to November.

I also suffer from anxiety and have been on pins the past few months with this but please try not to stress too much about it, it's normal for it to take a while for your body to get back to 'normal', especially after being on it for so long x

i was on the same pill for years. I stopped taking it last year and it took 6 weeks until I got a period. I then didn’t get another period, but was pregnant 7 weeks later. Unfortunately that ended in miscarriage, but totally unrelated.
I was also worried when it was weeks and I hadn’t had a period, but it just takes time. But time feels like forever when you are waiting!

Sorry forgot to say - reason I'm adding my most recent periods is to show that this time round they seemed to regulate themselves pretty quickly!

Thank you, and I’m glad you’ve managed to get back into some sort of rhythm quickly this time so I hope all goes well. I was reading blog after blog online that says ‘you WILL get a withdrawal bleed in the first week’ or ‘you WILL get back to normal within 1-3 months’ and it’s just so worrying because the minute you don’t get anything you feel you aren’t ‘normal’. I guess it’s just a waiting game which is hard when you’re impatiently waiting to try for your first x

Firstly, so sorry to hear about your miscarriage.
But I agree, time does feel like forever when you are waiting and this will be our first try so there’s even more of an anxious build up! I’ve already spoke to my husband and agreed we will continue to try as normal, but focus on other hobbies etc in the meantime and just hope nature takes its course shortly. Thanks for sharing x

Thank you - wishing you all the luck x

I have been on the mini pill since 2014 (specifically desogestrel since 2016). I have never had a regular period in my life, though luckily I had no symptoms on the pill other than my periods completely stopping.

I stopped taking it in Jan 2020 to start TTC, had a withdrawal bleed a few days later then a real period at beginning of march then fell pregnant the following month. I started taking the pill again straight after the birth and again had no periods. I came off the pill mid November 2023 to start TTC again, didn't even have a withdrawal bleed but found out I was pregnant again 5 weeks later.

I know that they say it can usually take 3 months for cycles to regulate and some people can take up to a year, so don't panic if it takes a while...it doesn't mean anything is wrong! Though saying that, my experience was true to the information leaflet in the box that said you can get pregnant as soon as you stop taking the pill!

It took me 3 months to have any kind of bleed after stopping taking it! No withdrawal bleed. Whereas when I came off the normal pill 5 years earlier I had a period immediately and then every month until I conceived.

once I had my first period off desogesterol it was like clockwork every 5 weeks and I conceived on my 3rd cycle, and am now 34 weeks pregnant 😊

Thank you, wishing you the best of luck with everything 🥰

Sorry I should've clarified, in November I came off my pill at the end of the month, so my bleeds were not withdrawal related so it's not necessarily true that you'll get that. If I was to have a withdrawal bleed it definitely would've been December and again, I had nothing.

I completely get what you mean, but just remember all bodies are different so it may just take some people a little longer to rid it from their body, whereas some people may fall into it straight away. There's no set normal 🙂

Also TTC can be a stressful process, so try your best to enjoy the journey and have fun! x