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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

2 and a half years off pill..

27 replies

LibbyL92 · 20/05/2023 21:24

Hiya,

So 2 and a half years ago I decided to come
off of the pill (wasn’t to conceive) merely to improve my moods ect.

I have been with my boyfriend for coming up 9 years.
tbh looking back we were never really ‘careful’ when I came off of the pill. Both in stable jobs, live together and if I did fall pregnant then we’d be fine, although we weren’t actively trying.

we’d like to have a baby next year but I’ve suddenly been thinking for the past 2 and a half years we’ve not used any protection and I’ve yet to fall pregnant?
I’m starting to think there may be something wrong? We have unprotected sex various times a month, when I’m ovulating and when I’m not.
surely something would of happened by now?
or have I just managed to unknowingly avoid my most ‘fertile’ days?

although we’re not planning on really considering it until later next year I’m quite worried something might be wrong? Would I been unreasonable to book a doctors appointment?

my friends have all seemed to have fallen pregnant quite quickly from trying…

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AlligatorPsychopath · 20/05/2023 21:26

So you've been having completely unprotected sex at any time you felt like it for 2.5 years and haven't conceived? That is "trying for a baby".

Original poster
LibbyL92 · 20/05/2023 21:29

AlligatorPsychopath · 20/05/2023 21:26

So you've been having completely unprotected sex at any time you felt like it for 2.5 years and haven't conceived? That is "trying for a baby".

Well in theory yes. Wasn’t given it much thought and if it happened would be great.

But next year it’s something we really want to start to consider.

I know it sounds silly what I’ve written. But now we’re talking about it and it has yet to actually happen….

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AlligatorPsychopath · 20/05/2023 21:34

Unless your sex life has been quite sporadic, then yeah, I'd say it's somewhere between "possible" and "very likely" that you may have fertility issues as a couple.

Original poster
LibbyL92 · 20/05/2023 21:37

AlligatorPsychopath · 20/05/2023 21:34

Unless your sex life has been quite sporadic, then yeah, I'd say it's somewhere between "possible" and "very likely" that you may have fertility issues as a couple.

So I’m 31 and he is 34.
I guess at points it’s been sporadic. Some
months more frequent that others but it’s been 2 and a half years…

I guess I don’t really know where to go from here?

OP posts:
Pinkplasticbathcup · 20/05/2023 21:41

I would go to your GP. Explain everything you’ve just said on here and ask if there’s anything they can do. Start tracking your cycle and doing ovulation tests now

Original poster
LibbyL92 · 20/05/2023 21:45

Pinkplasticbathcup · 20/05/2023 21:41

I would go to your GP. Explain everything you’ve just said on here and ask if there’s anything they can do. Start tracking your cycle and doing ovulation tests now

Thank you.

My worry is if I leave it until next year and there is something wrong I’m a year behind of any treatment that may be needed ect.

my periods are like clockwork ect.

I assume my other half would need to also book an appointment.

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ChloeN · 20/05/2023 21:45

I was in the same boat, we did use the pull out method though so obviously that reduced the chances but I’d heard of so many people falling pregnant that way. When we actually started trying I fell pregnant from having sex once in that entire month, it was the day or 2 before ovulation so maybe we had just missed it every other month!

Original poster
LibbyL92 · 20/05/2023 21:47

ChloeN · 20/05/2023 21:45

I was in the same boat, we did use the pull out method though so obviously that reduced the chances but I’d heard of so many people falling pregnant that way. When we actually started trying I fell pregnant from having sex once in that entire month, it was the day or 2 before ovulation so maybe we had just missed it every other month!

Interesting! I’m going to start tracking when we have sex on the app. As I do log periods ect.

maybe the last 2 and half years we’ve just missed those days! But it’s such a long time…

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Cakeorchocolate · 20/05/2023 21:55

Yes I would pay a visit to the gp and get some investigations going.

But to offer a little hope, dh and I hoped to have a second child and suffered secondary infertility for 7yrs. I have a twisted fallopian tube and possible pcos but no other complications. Suddenly I'm pregnant though. So even though it hasn't happened over the past 2.5yrs, it may yet. Good luck.

ChloeN · 20/05/2023 21:56

@LibbyL92 hopefully you have and it’s all okay! It’s really hard not to worry though, hopefully when you start tracking and trying it will happen xx

Original poster
LibbyL92 · 20/05/2023 21:56

ChloeN · 20/05/2023 21:56

@LibbyL92 hopefully you have and it’s all okay! It’s really hard not to worry though, hopefully when you start tracking and trying it will happen xx

Thank you xx

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SillyOldBear3 · 20/05/2023 21:56

I was off the pill for 3 years but we used pull-out method. When we did decide to start trying I got pregnant within 3 months. I think in your position I would be reluctant to postpone 'trying' properly for another year. It seems like a long time to coincidentally 'miss' your ovulation week. Maybe start tracking your cycle and noting down when you have sex, and if you have signs of ovulation like fertile CM etc. If you notice you're regularly having sex during your fertile time, and you haven't fallen pregnant in 6 months, I'd go to the doctor to check for issues.

Original poster
LibbyL92 · 20/05/2023 21:58

Cakeorchocolate · 20/05/2023 21:55

Yes I would pay a visit to the gp and get some investigations going.

But to offer a little hope, dh and I hoped to have a second child and suffered secondary infertility for 7yrs. I have a twisted fallopian tube and possible pcos but no other complications. Suddenly I'm pregnant though. So even though it hasn't happened over the past 2.5yrs, it may yet. Good luck.

Thank you for replying. That’s reassuring!
Congratulations!! That great news.

I will give the GP a call and explain. Just don’t want them to think I’m wasting their time.

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Original poster
LibbyL92 · 20/05/2023 22:00

SillyOldBear3 · 20/05/2023 21:56

I was off the pill for 3 years but we used pull-out method. When we did decide to start trying I got pregnant within 3 months. I think in your position I would be reluctant to postpone 'trying' properly for another year. It seems like a long time to coincidentally 'miss' your ovulation week. Maybe start tracking your cycle and noting down when you have sex, and if you have signs of ovulation like fertile CM etc. If you notice you're regularly having sex during your fertile time, and you haven't fallen pregnant in 6 months, I'd go to the doctor to check for issues.

really helpful advice thank you! Will certainly do that.

as you said 2.5 years and I’ve managed to dodge pregnancy without being aware of the most fertile days takes some doing…

OP posts:
SillyOldBear3 · 20/05/2023 22:10

It depends how often you have sex too, once or twice a month would make it more likely to miss ovulation. When we started 'trying' we were having sex three times in my ovulation window. Fertility Friend is quite a good app for tracking. You could try nasal body temperature tracking too, I found it quite accurate though it takes some getting used to and also it's few months before you learn to figure out your graph!

SillyOldBear3 · 20/05/2023 22:10

SillyOldBear3 · 20/05/2023 22:10

It depends how often you have sex too, once or twice a month would make it more likely to miss ovulation. When we started 'trying' we were having sex three times in my ovulation window. Fertility Friend is quite a good app for tracking. You could try nasal body temperature tracking too, I found it quite accurate though it takes some getting used to and also it's few months before you learn to figure out your graph!

Basal, not 'nasal' 😂 x

Cakeorchocolate · 20/05/2023 22:16

They won't think you're wasting their time. If they're any good anyway!

At the time we went for investigations we had to have been 'trying' for over a year to be referred. We weren't the types to track ovulation and temperatures and never thought of us as trying more not trying not to. I used an app to track periods which guessed at when ovulation would be but with irregular periods it could only ever be a best guess.

The gp had no problem referring us as soon as I went as I'd given it over a year anyway.

Original poster
LibbyL92 · 20/05/2023 22:32

Cakeorchocolate · 20/05/2023 22:16

They won't think you're wasting their time. If they're any good anyway!

At the time we went for investigations we had to have been 'trying' for over a year to be referred. We weren't the types to track ovulation and temperatures and never thought of us as trying more not trying not to. I used an app to track periods which guessed at when ovulation would be but with irregular periods it could only ever be a best guess.

The gp had no problem referring us as soon as I went as I'd given it over a year anyway.

Really good to know. Thank you! Think I’m going to make the call on Monday, will let you know how it goes.

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Original poster
LibbyL92 · 20/05/2023 22:32

SillyOldBear3 · 20/05/2023 22:10

It depends how often you have sex too, once or twice a month would make it more likely to miss ovulation. When we started 'trying' we were having sex three times in my ovulation window. Fertility Friend is quite a good app for tracking. You could try nasal body temperature tracking too, I found it quite accurate though it takes some getting used to and also it's few months before you learn to figure out your graph!

Is that the one with the thermometer? I’ll take a look!

OP posts:
marshmallowmatcha · 20/05/2023 22:36

SillyOldBear3 · 20/05/2023 22:10

It depends how often you have sex too, once or twice a month would make it more likely to miss ovulation. When we started 'trying' we were having sex three times in my ovulation window. Fertility Friend is quite a good app for tracking. You could try nasal body temperature tracking too, I found it quite accurate though it takes some getting used to and also it's few months before you learn to figure out your graph!

Yes this and also if you're just doing it when you're in the mood you might not be in the mood at the right time. Start tracking. They will expect you to have been regularly having sex. As in frequently not just oh yes once a week on a Saturday.

Nat6999 · 20/05/2023 22:49

It took me 3 years to get pregnant despite not using any contraception of any description. That was with exh, we were both tested & I was diagnosed with PCOS, exh count was very good. 7 years later, age 44 I got pregnant without even trying, had been back on combined pill but had antibiotics & didn't think as I was using pill to stop periods, not for contraception.

Shannonz · 20/05/2023 23:46

I was off my pill for 2 years and I was exactly the same as you, not exactly being careful but not trying for a baby either.
When we did start actively trying it was the beginning of march and by mid April I had a positive pregnancy test! So you really never know. I still think to myself how the hell didn’t I end up pregnant in those two years and after only one month of proper trying I had a positive! X

Blue2020 · 21/05/2023 03:54

Its been mentioned but actively track your ovulation, I would suggest more than just cm. Opk in Premom and bbt in fertility friend is what I used. You can also note when you had sex to see if you covered your window.

blahblahblah1654 · 21/05/2023 04:00

It's a long time to be having unprotected sex and not become pregnant. Track your cycles and speak to a doctor.

Original poster
LibbyL92 · 21/05/2023 12:08

Thank you for taking the time to read and reply everyone.

will definitely do the things mentioned.

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