Coming off the pill and trying to conceive

[Sehan]

Hi guys
Got a question about the pill and how long it should take for my cycles to become more regular. Basically I have been off the pill for 7 months and my cycles have been very irregular anywhere from 34 days to 52 days and I have no idea if I'm actually ovulating or not, which doesn't help when trying to time BDing.
We have been trying to concieve since christmas and I am charting (for 1st time), currently up to day 44, with possibly ovulation on day 24 (not 100% sure about EWCM). I am not sure what to do next I am finding it really frustrating :( having such irregular cycles when I was really regular before goin on the pill 6 years ago. These q's have probly been asked before, but I just need some advice on whether there may be a problem and that I should see a doctor for tests etc, or just keep charting and keeping my fingers crossed.
Thanks guys:wave:



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[MrsFingersCrossed]

Hey!

My cycles were also irregular after the pill- after about 60 days of nothing and dr telling me to wait for my cycle to find a pattern- I tried vitex!

After being on it for 7 days it looks like I finally o'd on cd67 and got a :bfp:- so it is possible!!!

Still very early and I hope it sticks- but I just wanted to give you some hope!!!

[arty1]

While reading your post for I moment I thought I might of posted this. I am the same as you. Before going on the pill 6-7years ago, I will regular, like clockwork with an average of 28-30day cycle.

Now after coming off the pill and first natural cylce in Nov 08, I have had; 1 39day cycle, only 1 "normal" cycle and this cycle is still going (44days). I am trying to chart my Mucus but find it is difficult and this cycle not much change at all...?

I agree and I don't know if Im ovulating either as EWCM was not really present this month. Im thinking though, if my period doesn't come soon (e.g. when it has been 2months) too maybe see the docter and see if they can give me something for my period to come? Hopefully to get my body back in whack again.

[HoopDeeDoo]

Maybe you could get some cheapy OPKs from ebay? That way you have a back up way of predicting ovulation?

[Sehan]

hey thanks guys
Congrats MRS fingers crossed it makes me feel a bit better hearing about your bfp. Arty1 I think we are having a similar thing and I'm now on day 45 been having cramps on and off now for about 4 days but no AF so i'm going to the docs today for a checkup. Thanks hoopdedoo I'm might try that too, at least I will know even if only for piece of mind.:)

[jussi]

If you are charting your temperatures that should give you more of an indication than just CM. CM can be checked internally if you can't get enough to tell externally. If you are charting your temperatures you should see a thermal shift the day after ovulation, and the temperatures would stay high until you get your period. This is useful if your periods are irregular as it gives a hindsight view as to when you ovulated, so you know when to POAS or when to expect AF.

[kylnor]

Hi Sehan,

I have been off the BCP for 12 months & TTC for this long. My cycles are still irregular! Anywhere from 67 days - 35 days though they seem to be getting better. BeforeBCP my cycle where like clockwork also

I started charting in September and have found it invaluable, took a cycle or 2 to fully understand but could soon see patterns like that i got tender breasts before o and the whole EWCM thing. I started using opks in Dec and these have confirmed o for me, without FF I would be clueless to when I ovulate!

I waited until 10 months of irregular cycles before i seen my GP she ran blood tests to check hormones firstly and then sent me for an internal ultrasound, this showed that I had PCOS, I would recommend you see your GP just to check everything over she also checked things likes my rubella immunity.

Hope that your cycles work themselves out soon and you get your BFP

[Sehan]

hey guys :)
Thanks for your replies jussi and kylnor I think I might try temping as well, although its hard to do it it the same time every day when I'm doing my night shifts but I will give it a go. Went to the docs yesterday and had heaps of blood tests done, having a pelvic u/s today to check for PCOS. Kylnor were you recommended any treatment for the PCOS?
I still haven't got AF had light spotting yesterday and now have been having cramps on and off for about 5 days now, very frustrating:hair:
Keeping my fingers crossed everything is ok and my periods will get back to normal soon.

[AliyahsMum]

I have 1 daughter who is 2 and a half who was conceived really quickly within a month. Now after coming off the pill 3 months have not had m period at all. Am really worried as we are trying for another baby and am worried we won't be able to fall pregnant. I don't want Aliyah to be 4 b4 she has a little brother or sister. Please help, is this normal?

[Sehan]

Hi there Aliyahs mum
I don't think that is normal, I would go and checked out by your dr just to make sure. I got a normal period within 4 and 1/2 weeks after stopping the pill, my cycles have been really irregular since then. Were your periods regular before you went on the pill? and before you had your daughter?

[kylnor]

Hi Sehan,

I have had no recommended treatment yet have been refered to gyno my appt is 16th March so a few weeks away.
Temping is good for confirming ovulation as temp rises after o FF will give you an ovulation day after 3 consecutive high temps in a row, at first i got caught out a few times thinking I had o'd and FF changing my o day :hair: but now after charting for months I know roughly what my temps rise to and using opks help too.

[AliyahsMum]

Hey
Sehan Oh really now you've got my worried. I thut it was normal not to get your period for a while after you come off the pill. Can anyone else shed light on the matter? I was pretty irregular b4 I had my daughter. Thut if I had gone more than 5 months without it I should go to the doctor. Maybe I should book in sooner. Don't know what to do.

[Sehan]

Sorry to worry you aliyahs mum but it could just be the pill getting out of your system apparently it can take up to 12 months so I found out the other day. It wouldn't hurt to see a dr anyway even if it is just to be reassured that everything is ok. I'm waiting for my dr to ring me with the results of my blood tests and u/s I had yesterday very nervous!!!:no:

[jussi]

Hey Sehan Oh really now you've got my worried. I thut it was normal not to get your period for a while after you come off the pill. Can anyone else shed light on the matter? I was pretty irregular b4 I had my daughter. Thut if I had gone more than 5 months without it I should go to the doctor. Maybe I should book in sooner. Don't know what to do.

My mum didn't have a period for a year after one of my sisters was born, but it didn't stop her from conceiving the other two of us, so I am pretty sure it is nothing to worry about, although if you are worried it's best to see a doctor even if it's just to put your mind at ease.

[Pregnor]

When I came off the pill to TTC I had irregular periods too. After about 6 months, we decided that maybe the time wasn't right for us now, we weren't ready to go for testing or anything. So we thought we'd book a holiday and stop trying. We fell pregnant the next month! Ooops :laughing: We had our healthy little baby boy on xmas day, and we never got to go on the holiday...
Just wanted to share and let you know that its not necessarily a bad sign. :D

Good luck!

[brooke83]

When I went off the pill (after 9 years), my cycles were a little longer than I had hoped - around 33-34 days. I went to see an acupuncturist and started taking herbal supplements. Since then, my cycle has been 27 or 28 days. Not sure if it works for everyone but could be worth a try.

[teenie]

My advice - go and see a naturopath.

I went off the pill at the end of 2004 after being on it for at least 10 years:eek:. Long story short is that my body went crazy. I'd always had regular periods before I was on it, but afterwards things just went haywire. I got a couple of periods then nothing for months and months... yet I felt like it was coming constantly - sore boobs, cramps, PMT - the works. But it never came. I was a basketcase! Plus I just wanted to be pg and was freaking out that I'd stuffed up my body...

Anyway, I went and saw my naturopath who put me on a herbal formula. Within about 6 weeks my period returned and was immediately back to normal (regarding length of cycle etc). We conceived DS on the 4th cycle:yelclap:.

After DS was born I stayed off the pill, despite us wanting about a 3 year gap. I'm scared of it now! Not sure if I'll go back on it after this bub - it certainly makes contraception and my periods a lot nicer - but after my last experience I'm a bit scarred! But seriously, go to a naturopath and see if they can help balance your hormones. In my experience Drs do precious little but tell you to wait it out. Good luck:).

[Sehan]

Hey guys

It turns out that I do have PCOS, my u/s showed numerous follicles on both of my ovaries. I have a gynae appt on the 16th of april.
In the meantime I am having accupuncture and taking herbal supplements. Only been on them for a few weeks so be interesting to see if it will help, but it sounds positive from what you guys have told me. Teenie I have felt similar to you like my period was coming for ages all the symptoms then nothing for ages, very frustrating:hair:
I'm glad that the herbs worked for the both of you it gives me some hope.
:fingerscrossed: for a bfp

[hailsntwang]

I was on the pill to help minimise painful af. It didnt' work so I tried injections. Injections screwed with my body, somedays I would spot, then nothing for months, then bleed for weeks etc- so I went on to implanon which was even worse. 3 years ago I went back on the pill.

I stopped getting my period 4 months after that. One month it was normal, the next month nothing. After a few months we decided to go off the pill to see if I could jumpstart my cycles again to no avail. I eventually got referred to a gyno who suspected PCOS but I fell pregnant between my first and second visit with the gyno.

After bubs was born I went back on the pill.

I've been off it since November due to TTC*2 and am yet to have a period.

I have recently started on Vitex 1000 and Black Cohosh so I have my fingers crossed this time round.

I do believe that the pill screwed with my body and will never use any conraceptive method (implanon, injections or oral tablets) again.

Good luck to you!!:fingerscrossed:


It really is interesting to know how many people are in the same boat.

[arty1]

Do you guys think that the number of women speaking up on this forum about having PCOS and TTC are linked to contraception effects (pill, depo, implanon all screwing with our bodies and causing the fertility problems? Do you think you would have had/gotten PCOS anyway if you hadn't been on contraception for years?

[Sehan]

Hi arty1:yes:

I think I would have had PCOS anyway, i think that the pill/injections/implanon etc just mask some of the symptoms, especially painful periods and irregular periods.
None of these contraceptive methods help with regulating your hormones when you come off them though. Its like starting at the beginning again. I think PCOS is quite common lots of people I know have it to varying degrees.

[GiggleBerry]

arty- I was on the pill for 15years and I have PCOS I have often wondered if this had had a impact on my fertility...?

Vitex is a wonder supplement and is readily available...blackmores is a good brand to try.

I also went to an acupucturist/herbalist & eventually a fertility specialist to concieve my DD. Good luck to everyone.

[AliyahsMum]

Jus an update. Sorry haven't been on in a while. Been abit down bout TTC. Went to Doc and got some tests done and got bloods taken, also got a scan to see if there was something wrong with my ovaries. Apparently nothing wrong and doc told me to wait it out. haven't had my period for almost 4 months. Came off the pill on 1st Dec. Took less than 1 month with my 1st bub, now it's taking forever. Went out and bought Vitex today from the health shop. Really excited to see if it'll work. :fingerscrossed:. Any luck with any of u ladies? Wen are u all taking ur next test? Baby dust 2 all!!!!

[Sehan]

Hi aliyahs mum

I'm going to be testing on sunday if AF holds off. Thats good news that everything came back normal, sometimes the body just needs to adjust after being on the pill it can take 12 months to get back to normal. I do have a suggestion for you though which could speed up the process. I'm currently doing accupuncture once a week to ttc and taking herbs to cleanse my system, so far it has helped me ovulate (i have been dx with PCOS) :fingerscrossed: for a bfp. I know lots of people who have had this success.
Baby dust 2 u and I hope this may help:wizard::babydust2:

[BabyO]

Hello AliyahsMum,
I know we have talked about this on PM's But I saw you here and thought I'd pop in.
Its great that every things ok (cold comfort right now I know) and sorry to any Dr's out there but if they had any idea how hard it is to "just wait it out" I dont think they'd say it.
I got my first AF off the pill after 22days on Vitex:yelclap: and have high hopes for April (DH is going to be a very happy man next week) will be testing on the 22nd :babydust2: will let you know how it works out.

[hailsntwang]

ARTY1 - i believe it was contraceptives that have caused all of my problems throughout the years.

Before it all I was regular as clockwork with no issues what so ever.

I have spoken to numerous friends regarding this issue, some of which have problems of their own and who also believe it only started once they went on the pill.


I'm still waiting for AF. I have a gyno appointment on the 23rd April so hopefully something comes of it.

I do think he will diagnose me with PCOS although I think they throw that term around a little too easily these days. It's alway easier to give it a name then to do proper research into what is actually wrong (that's from my past experience anyway).

[MrsB81]

I know how you feel. I have come off the pill after 10 years. My cycles before that were pretty painful and not so regular either. I have found the first AF since coming off the pill painful as well and getting pains in my back and hip area which didnt have before. Worst thing is the weight gain since coming off though:(.
Hope that my next cycle is not as long as the last (35 days).

[Sehan]

Hi guys

Just wanted to put some positive vibes out there today. I did my hpt today and got a :bfp::yelclap:.
I'm still a little shocked. May this be the start of many bfps!!! Baby dust to you all :babydust2::wizard:

[jussi]

congratulations! that's great!

[AliyahsMum]

Sehan YAY!!! So excited for u!!! Do u no how many weeks u are? Thanks for the encouragement too. Accupuncture sounds really good and now u got a :bfp: it sounds even better haha. How long were u off the pill for?