Cycle change after pill

[Emmmmer]

Hi all,
I'm new here so thought i'd just say hi also have a few questions.
I was on the pill for just over 4 years, and stopped taking it when my period was due end of march beggining of April. Before I was the pill I had a mostly regular cycle of 28 days bleeding for about 5/6 days. Since stopping it I had a period for 4 days then had 35 day cycle. I'm still waiting this month and assume my cycle will be the same so I'm due on Monday.
So I was just wondering is it normal for your cycle to change like this?
Also finding it hard to work out when I will be ovulating . My partner and I are desperate to fall and stupidly thought it would just happen straight away so now feel alittle down in the dumps.
Any response would be greatly appreciated, and sorry for such a long post
Emma x

Hi there, couldn't ignore you.

Yes, it's normal to take a wee while to settle back into a cycle after coming off the pill. It may take a couple of months, it may take as long as six months, but it will almost certainly happen.

I did fall pregnant immediately after coming off the Pill, but that's unusual.

Hi Emma

I can really relate to what you're saying! We're desperate too, and had another disappointment on Monday when yet another period arrived...

I came off the mini pill after nearly 4 years at the end of Feb this year. From what I can remember of my pre pill cycles, they were about 30-32 days with a heavy 5-7 day period.

Since the pill I've had a 29 day, 26 day and 23 day cycle, and my period has only been 4 days each time, so yes cycles do seem to change.

I been tracking what's happening in my cycles and found that the cycle day I ovulate on is not consistent, hence changing cycle lengths, but my luteal phase (bit between ovulation and period) has been more regular (10, 10, 9). Your luteal phase is usually constant, so that might help you a bit with your tracking.

How are you trying to pinpoint ovulation?

ooh and don't worry about long posts... I can't ever seem to be succinct

I know it's so disheartening isn't it? Especially when you get symptoms that could lead to either, by I'm a strong believer that it will happen when the times right.
Well I've been checking my CM everyday since I came off the pill but not really noticing much difference to be honest, but then again I'm new to all this so not sure if I'm doing it right. Im thinking of buying a ovulation kit if my monthly comes ina few day, which I will start after so hoping that might help.
How exactly do you work out you luteal phase? I'm such a novice at all this

Hi,just wanted to say that my cycles were really long after coming off the pill,they were something like 28days,40days and 45days,i didn't do a test til day 50 in the end and it was positive,
i thought may be i wasn't ovulating at all but obviously i was,so good luck and try not to worry and just have lots of sex!

Aww thanks, and yeah that's what I said to my other half that fact that I can't pin point ovulation means we are just gonna have to sexy dance all the time so we catch the right day in end lol!!
I'm trying not to obsess about it so much as I know stress can make it even harder to fall

Emma can I recommend you take a look at Fertility Friend videos? Three videos about 25 mins in total give a nice overview of how to recognise your fertile signs.

CM is one of the big indicators, but I definitely think it's best to watch for a range of symptoms to help you be confident you're getting it right. Temperature charting I find very helpful, partly because it makes you record everything on paper.

If you get obsessed interested then this site gives more detail and explanations of what's going on in your body.

I managed to properly spot ovulation by temperature charting. Now that I know my luteal phase length (by counting the days between ovulation & period for a couple of months) I at least always know when my period is due, so I don't get caught out and I know if it's late.

Be prepared for your cycles to be a bit random for now, but if you familiarise yourself with your fertile signs at least you'll be able to Do The Deed at the right times. If in doubt, do it anyway

To reassure you though, the stats out there say something like:
If you are both fertile, healthy, shag at the right time etc there is still only a 25% chance of getting pregnant each cycle.
60% of healthy couples conceive within 6 months with no help.
80% within 12 months.
90% in 18 months.

So it's unrealistic to expect things to happen straight away, but very understandable. I did, and was thoroughly disappointed!