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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Coming off the pill

15 replies

NewWife · 17/03/2010 12:31

Hi Ladies

I've been on the pill for 10 years and often take the packets back to back to avoid having my period.

I've heard lots of conflicting tales on how long it can take between coming off the pill and getting your period and so wondered if any of you had any advice/tales of your experiences.

Thanks!

OP posts:

sgibbo · 17/03/2010 13:31

Hi NewWife a friend of mine married last June and she came of the pill the month after her cycle is still not consistent but it's better then it was. I think it is very dependent on the person and how the pill effects you - i personally had no issues or problems when i stopped but that's because i have a 27 - 29day cycle normally

Molly79 · 17/03/2010 20:31

I came off of the pill in October and have only just had my first period so that was 5 months for me. I was so pleased to get it (even though it hurt like hell and reminded me of why I started the pill 15 years ago!) I am hoping now that it is all going to be back to normal and have my fingers crossed.
It is very dependent on the woman though, I have friends who have been on the pill just as long and they got their period straight away, one was even pregnant before her period came!

I think that had I known I would have come off of the pill sooner rather than later. Good luck and I hope all is well with you.

FelicityFlick · 18/03/2010 05:41

Hey there,

I'd echo coming off the pill asap. I came off mine in November so my cycles could have time to regulate themselves before we began to ttc properly.

After initial withdrawal bleed it was 41 days until I had a period (21st Dec) and then after that 57 days (15th Feb ) and am now on day 32 of cycle 3 so waiting to see what will happen here!

Like Molly said though, it is different for everyone but if you do come off the pill early and your periods come straight back then at least your know!

LittleB · 18/03/2010 11:46

Hi, with dd I came off the pill after 11years continuous use and some back:back packs, I had a period after 26 days, next period 26 days, then pg - tested positive on day 25, so very regular that time. Then been back on the pill for 4 1/2 years, just come off and had 27 day cycle, not sure how long this one will be, although hopefully I'll get pg instead, currently on day 19! Word of warning, both times coming off the pill I have had all sorts of strange symptoms he first month pill free; funny pelvic aches, cramps, sore boobs, really grumpy - convinced I was pregnant both times, but I think its just the wthdrawal of the pill, all gone for me by the second month though.

TrillianAstra · 18/03/2010 11:49

Depends if you are TTC or not - you might not even have your first period. Lots of people (anecdotally) get pregnant straight away.

MrsWajs · 18/03/2010 21:32

I came off the pill after 9 years first time around and took me 4 months to have a period and mood swings were atrocious! Went back on it not long after that and came off again (2 years later) last July to ttc and again terrible moods but periods were totally regular! Can't understand it personally as I was fully expecting no period for a while but hey ho! Still not bloody pregnant yet tho! Will not be going back on pill after this!

confuseddoiordonti · 18/03/2010 21:44

Came off the pill after, yikes, close on 20 years and immediately had regular 27 day cycles. Was worried about PMT etc etc but have had nothing (which was great as went on the pill initially at 15 due to this.)
Good luck!

notsotinybaba · 18/03/2010 21:51

I came off the pill after 14 years, had a withdrawal bleed straight away and then got pregnant before I had a period. I remember thinking 'ooh my periods are taking a while to come back'!! On the other hand my friends periods didn't come back for a year and she had to have an injection to 'jump start' her periods (not sure what the medical term is!!)

spilttheteaagain · 19/03/2010 19:52

I'm just coming to the end of my first period after stopping the pill. I was on a POP mini pill, and had a 3 day bleed the day after stopping the pill (withdrawal I think?).

Then about 14 days later and I started a proper 7 day heavy period with all the old pain I'd largely forgotten about.

Hoping this means that my cycle will run normally now.

Good luck whatever you do, I hope our stories help.

In your shoes I would come off the pill asap as it's the only way you'll find out what will happen, and it could take a while to get back to normal.

HoneyPetal · 19/03/2010 20:18

I'm on CD11 of my first cycle after stopping the pill following 16 happy years. I don't know when my first period will turn up obviously, but so far I've had some nasty spots, general womb-aches and lots of spotting.

Also I am trying to temp, but have a very eratic chart so far!

I'm not actually TTC at the moment but I had read a lot of stories on here about periods going AWOL for months after stopping, so I decided to come off the pill to assess my situation, IYSWIM. Am being really, really careful with barrier methods, though!!

Hi Confused!

spilttheteaagain · 19/03/2010 20:57

HoneyPetal I am also temping and for the first 2 weeks had an utterly mad looking chart and was most perplexed. Good news is it's stabilising now (last 5 days have been very similar) so hopefully yours will start making more sense to you soon.

It does appear that it's very important to be consistent with the times you temp at, so I'm sadly still having to set my alarm for 6am at the weekends...

HoneyPetal · 19/03/2010 21:36

I have a zig-zag, to be honest! Hopefully it will sort itself out in time, like you say. I had a rise of 1 whole deg F yesterday, if the temps are to be believed. Not sure I can face waking up at 7am on weekends, though!

poorbuthappy · 19/03/2010 21:45

Just a voice of caution...well not caution, more a voice of what can happen...

Came off the pill after 17 years, many back to back packets...

Never had a proper period cos I was pregnant a month later.

It can happen, and actually has also happened to my sister and mum, so perhaps there is something hereditary there too?

Jojo7 · 20/03/2010 07:50

Hi folks, this is my first month off the pill after 17 years (OMG) too.. on CD 14 today. I have no idea whatsoever what my cycle will do... I haven't started temping yet as will give it a couple of months to see what happens. Hoping for some kind of regular cycle or even better an early result (although probably this is a little unrealistic).

It's kind of reassuring to hear of the massive variety of experiences with cycles and TTC - that it can happen straight away or might take a long time, and that all of these things are normal!

queenrollo · 20/03/2010 08:05

first time - i'd been on the pill for 12 years. Stopped it in March and no period until June. Then it had no patter at all (4o-odd day cycle followed by bleed 2 weeks later then another long one). I eventually got pregnant in the December, the first month i was absolutely sure i ovulated.

This time.....came off pill in December. Straight into 29 day cycles and then this time thought i was pregnant....but no.....my cycles are up the creek again and i finally got my period yesterday on day 41.

I've started taking agnus castus again. Started taking it last time two months before i fell pregnant so hoping it will kick start my system again this time.

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