After Birth Control [UPDATED: Pregnant!]

Like.Australia · 08-25-2011, 09:38 AM

Hi all - Not 100% sure this question belongs here since I'm not yet pregnant or a parent, but.. I figured I'd get the best responses from the ladies that frequent this particular area.

Anyway, I've been married for a little under a year and the hubs and I have started talking about babymaking. We decided I'd come off BC last cycle, so my last hormonal pill was July 23. I had my normal "period" on the 26th, but nothing since. I've done a couple of tests and both were negative.

My question is this, for those who have been on BC and come off in hopes of conceiving - when did you get your first "normal" period and what did your cycles do from there?

NaturalBeauty79 · 08-25-2011, 11:32 AM

I was on birth control for almost one year. my periods remained the same like they were when i was on bc... every thursday last week of the month..

Amneris · 08-25-2011, 12:10 PM

I've never taken hormonal birth control, but from what I've heard, it varies greatly. I know people who had a regular cycle right away and people who took months or years to go back to normal.

Were your cycles regular before you went on bc? I've heard that that can make a difference.

Good luck!

Like.Australia · 08-25-2011, 12:11 PM

Yes, they were regular, but that was 8 years ago. I don't think I've ever wished for my period to come before. How annoying.

Thanks for the good luck wish though.

Jaynee · 08-25-2011, 12:20 PM

It can take a while for your periods to really get back to normal, I think it took my friend about a year to fully be back to normal.

I recently was off BC for 3 months by accident (didn't order my refill in time...won't do that again!) but I was off of it for so long because I never got my period in those 3 months. Finally, I went to the doctor and she said as long as a pregnancy test came back negative, I could start back up immediately. So I have no idea how long it would have taken for me to finally get a period. FWIW, I went on BC at 19 and before that my periods were anywhere from every 30-60 days, so they've never been regular.

Like.Australia · 08-25-2011, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaynee

It can take a while for your periods to really get back to normal, I think it took my friend about a year to fully be back to normal.

I recently was off BC for 3 months by accident (didn't order my refill in time...won't do that again!) but I was off of it for so long because I never got my period in those 3 months. Finally, I went to the doctor and she said as long as a pregnancy test came back negative, I could start back up immediately. So I have no idea how long it would have taken for me to finally get a period. FWIW, I went on BC at 19 and before that my periods were anywhere from every 30-60 days, so they've never been regular.

Thanks Jaynee.

I went on BC at 18 for contraceptive purposes. My cycles started on or about the 20th of every month. I never tracked because it wasn't terribly important to me (like it is now!), but I do know it was the 20th, so my cycles were likely 29-31 days. I am just hoping they return to that quickly.

Amneris · 08-25-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Like.Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaynee

It can take a while for your periods to really get back to normal, I think it took my friend about a year to fully be back to normal.

I recently was off BC for 3 months by accident (didn't order my refill in time...won't do that again!) but I was off of it for so long because I never got my period in those 3 months. Finally, I went to the doctor and she said as long as a pregnancy test came back negative, I could start back up immediately. So I have no idea how long it would have taken for me to finally get a period. FWIW, I went on BC at 19 and before that my periods were anywhere from every 30-60 days, so they've never been regular.

Thanks Jaynee.

I went on BC at 18 for contraceptive purposes. My cycles started on or about the 20th of every month. I never tracked because it wasn't terribly important to me (like it is now!), but I do know it was the 20th, so my cycles were likely 29-31 days. I am just hoping they return to that quickly.

How important is it to you to know exactly when you conceive? (To me, that's very important as it can really help with issues that may arise re: the timing of your pregnancy - to know when you are actually full-term, post-dates etc. and to not have issues with ultrasounds and measurements being wrong.) I say that because you could ovulate at any time and then only find out you are pregnant later, so I'd probably use a barrier method until I get a period so I can chart - in fact I'd even advise charting a cycle or two first if you're not in a rush before actually consciously trying.

Like.Australia · 08-25-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amneris

Quote:

Originally Posted by Like.Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaynee

It can take a while for your periods to really get back to normal, I think it took my friend about a year to fully be back to normal.

I recently was off BC for 3 months by accident (didn't order my refill in time...won't do that again!) but I was off of it for so long because I never got my period in those 3 months. Finally, I went to the doctor and she said as long as a pregnancy test came back negative, I could start back up immediately. So I have no idea how long it would have taken for me to finally get a period. FWIW, I went on BC at 19 and before that my periods were anywhere from every 30-60 days, so they've never been regular.

Thanks Jaynee.

I went on BC at 18 for contraceptive purposes. My cycles started on or about the 20th of every month. I never tracked because it wasn't terribly important to me (like it is now!), but I do know it was the 20th, so my cycles were likely 29-31 days. I am just hoping they return to that quickly.

How important is it to you to know exactly when you conceive? (To me, that's very important as it can really help with issues that may arise re: the timing of your pregnancy - to know when you are actually full-term, post-dates etc. and to not have issues with ultrasounds and measurements being wrong.) I say that because you could ovulate at any time and then only find out you are pregnant later, so I'd probably use a barrier method until I get a period so I can chart - in fact I'd even advise charting a cycle or two first if you're not in a rush before actually consciously trying.

I would like to know when I conceive, but it isn't something I've considered in terms of the issues you raise. I will think about that though.

I'm not in a rush, but I wouldn't be upset if it happened sooner rather than later.

I've looked into BBT and CM charting and Ovulation predictor kits. I think I will probably try one or the other once my period starts.

I used to get ovulation pains before I went on BC, so I suspect I will get them again, which is good for this whole process as well.

Butterfly_Curlz · 08-25-2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Like.Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amneris

Quote:

Originally Posted by Like.Australia

Thanks Jaynee.

I went on BC at 18 for contraceptive purposes. My cycles started on or about the 20th of every month. I never tracked because it wasn't terribly important to me (like it is now!), but I do know it was the 20th, so my cycles were likely 29-31 days. I am just hoping they return to that quickly.

How important is it to you to know exactly when you conceive? (To me, that's very important as it can really help with issues that may arise re: the timing of your pregnancy - to know when you are actually full-term, post-dates etc. and to not have issues with ultrasounds and measurements being wrong.) I say that because you could ovulate at any time and then only find out you are pregnant later, so I'd probably use a barrier method until I get a period so I can chart - in fact I'd even advise charting a cycle or two first if you're not in a rush before actually consciously trying.

I would like to know when I conceive, but it isn't something I've considered in terms of the issues you raise. I will think about that though.

I'm not in a rush, but I wouldn't be upset if it happened sooner rather than later.

I've looked into BBT and CM charting and Ovulation predictor kits. I think I will probably try one or the other once my period starts.

I used to get ovulation pains before I went on BC, so I suspect I will get them again, which is good for this whole process as well.

I only starting charting my temps after I missed my period. I generally run a very low temp and I knew I was ovulating the day my ex and I had sex bc of CM. I even told him 'hey I'm ovulating" and he said yea right. Lol. He was proven wrong when my period was late and a week later I showed him the positive test.

I took temps for a week straight from the first day of my missed period and they were all high but I knew I was pregnant bc of the CM I experienced that day. As far as when I got pregnant, it was exactly 3months after I was off birth control. My periods were never normal except for when I was on BC but I also never had ovulation pains on BC so when I got off I knew my periods were back to what they originally were when I started experiencing those pains again.

HTH

Amneris · 08-26-2011, 01:09 PM

I get O pains too, sometimes worse than my menstrual cramps, but they aren't necessarily reliable for achieving or avoiding pregnancy because they can happen prior to O or after O when the egg is already gone, not necessarily during and not necessarily coinciding with CM. You really need to chart to tell if they are helpful.

Like.Australia · 08-26-2011, 03:10 PM

Well, I ordered a BBT thermometer and some OPK strips. Here's hoping all goes back to normal soon!

catmando · 08-29-2011, 12:45 AM

Sorry that I jump as a community newbie in, but I could advise you the book from Toni Weschler: TCOYF

I practice this method of fertility awareness, exact name Symptothermal Method, since more than 7 1/2 years . This method works in both directions: avoiding or achieving pregnancy

Like.Australia · 08-29-2011, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmando

Sorry that I jump as a community newbie in, but I could advise you the book from Toni Weschler: TCOYF

I practice this method of fertility awareness, exact name Symptothermal Method, since more than 7 1/2 years . This method works in both directions: avoiding or achieving pregnancy

Thanks, I actually ordered it the same day I ordered the bbt thermometer. Hopefully both come soon - I used our regular household thermometer this AM. (period started yesterday - yay!)

mad scientist · 09-01-2011, 12:05 AM

I was on the BCP for 9 years.

When I went off the Pill, I purposely went one cycle without trying to conceive just to see what my "normal" cycle was like. I charted using TCOYF and although my cycle was almost 6 weeks long, it did follow the normal pattern. I charted again the second cycle and was able to determine when I was fertile and we conceived.

I can't recommend TCOYF enough! I have always had long and unpredictable cycles and thought for sure that I would have difficulty conceiving. It turned out that my crazy cycles were in fact completely predictable using basic fertility charting. Both of my kids were conceived pretty quickly.

curlykristx · 09-01-2011, 01:11 AM

when I came off the pill took me about three months to get on a regular cycle and I was prego at the six month mark.

Like.Australia · 09-01-2011, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad scientist

I was on the BCP for 9 years.

When I went off the Pill, I purposely went one cycle without trying to conceive just to see what my "normal" cycle was like. I charted using TCOYF and although my cycle was almost 6 weeks long, it did follow the normal pattern. I charted again the second cycle and was able to determine when I was fertile and we conceived.

I can't recommend TCOYF enough! I have always had long and unpredictable cycles and thought for sure that I would have difficulty conceiving. It turned out that my crazy cycles were in fact completely predictable using basic fertility charting. Both of my kids were conceived pretty quickly.

Thanks for this, mad scientist. I hope I'll be as "successful" as you were.

Like.Australia · 11-28-2011, 11:58 AM

So.. It's REALLY early, but I just had to tell someone. I found out that I'm pregnant today!!! (For anyone who knows me on facebook, please don't mention it yet.

)

Amneris · 11-28-2011, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Like.Australia

So.. It's REALLY early, but I just had to tell someone. I found out that I'm pregnant today!!! (For anyone who knows me on facebook, please don't mention it yet.

)

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!

Like.Australia · 11-28-2011, 12:28 PM

Thanks, Amneris. And thanks for your words of wisdom a couple months back.

ruralcurls · 12-05-2011, 08:22 AM

Congrats!!! So exciting.