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I just got off of the pill two weeks ago, so we're NTNT. When did your period come back normally and how did you know the hormones were out of your system?
Technically, the hormones leave your system pretty quick if you were on BCP - that is why you have to take them every day.
As for your first question, I think the important thing to remember is that everyone is different. My cycles resumed to their pre-BCP length and regularity right away, but I know some people go for months without ovulating. If you go more than 60 days without AF visiting, I would call your doctor.
(Also, I know you said before that you didn't want to chart, but it your cycles are really wacky it can help you know when AF is expected - you don't have to use it to TTC.)
@septcabride: oooh you remember me, lol
I am slightly cramping right now, so that's why i was trying to figure al of this out. My persiod were pretty much on point before the pill, so I don't have to worry about that. It's just that, on the pill, I would start cramping halfway into my pack, which would be about now. I was trying to figure out if this is a normal one or hormone induced still. I am kind of confused. Unless, my body is just keeping with the new rhythm. Also, what is AF?
It varies per person. For the past X amount of time you have been tricking your body with artificial hormones. So any bleeding you had experienced while on BC was not actually a true period. It can take some time for your body to adjust to it's natural state as it's supposed to be. For some, it's a month.... for others... it's a year or more. There truly is no "normal" and even after 2 months you'd still be considered in "normal" time frame....
Sometimes women can also experience cramping with ovulation... which BC doesn't necessarily prevent. Most function by not allowing the egg to implant by thinning the uterine wall... which would be my bet if you cramped mid way on BC as well...
@KLP2010: oooh I was kinda confused as to why I was "ovulating" while on the pill. I knew that it felt like it, because I have always been able to feel mine. I just wasn't sure why it was actually doing it lol.
My cramps have always been horrific...sweating, throwing up, exruciating pain, dizziness, etc. I am just not excited about it all coming back. I had bad pain while on the pill, but nowhere near like off it. oh NO!!
@linguo42:oohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I am new at this. Thanks! (slaps forehead)
@PrncssDva: LOL. You're not the first to wonder what the heck people were talking about. I've been using the term Aunt Flo for years; sounds a lot nicer telling DH that Aunt Flo is in town rather than, "I'm on the rag, BEWARE!" ;)
@linguo42: I knew about Aunt Flo..i just didn't put it together with the letters. Duh, PrncssDva!
@PrncssDva: Ah, okay :) I've met plenty of people who had no idea who Aunt Flo was at all!
I have to agree it varies by person. For me i am completley back to normal periods my first one after i stop taking the pill. And the hormones leave your system super fast thats why you have to make sure you take them daily. Thats how women get pregnant missing a pill or two.
I'm 10 months off and I thought it was pretty normal, but it's still fluctuating, grr. I've had 2 40's, 6 30-32's, and then this last month was 27! The first period off was 32 days, which seems pretty normal. The hard part is that you don't really know for awhile whether it's normal or not.
I was on Loestrin (a low Estrogen pill) for 11 years.
Also, the cramps are definitely worse now. I haven't had any of those truly excruciating days, but the first day is much stronger and much heavier than when I was on BC : (.
I have no business being on the Babies board, but I can tell you that when I went off BC (Nuvaring, it was making me hormonally insane), my period came back bang on time, perfectly normal. As in, I had the ring out on the usual schedule and had the normal breakthrough bleeding or whatever it's called, then didn't put a new one back in, and then around 28 days later (my usual natural cycle length, and also enforced non-natural "cycle length" while on BC), got my period.
Personally, I knew the hormones were out of my system because after a week, I stopped crying all the time for no reason and started to feel like myself again. Yaaay, negative synthetic hormone interactions! Anyway, all I'm trying to say is that for some of us, at least on low-dose BC, things can get back to normal really quickly.
I came off the Pill mid-February after seven or so years and after having my withdrawal bleed my cycles have been 35-30-32 days respectively.
If you were regular before going on BC then I'd suggest you should still be regular now (based on what I've read on various boards and forums).
I got off the pill in February, and my cycles have returned to almost normal. The only thing that is still lengthening is the luteal phase. I've read (and I'm now taking) that Vitex/Chasteberry/Angus Castus helps regulate hormones post birth control. And, I also take Evening Primrose Oil at the beginning of my cycle to help with the cervical fluid, but another effect of it is that it helps with cramps. Just don't take it after ovulating if you're trying to conceive. Best of luck!
Varies for everyone. I am 6+ months off and still really wonky cycles and I have to go see a RE because it looks like I am not ovulating. My SIL went off hers and got pregnant within 6 months, so everyone is different.
From what I have heard, if you were extremely regular before you went on BC, odds are that you will return to being regular immediately. I know two people who went off BC and 14 days later were ovulating, and 14 days after that were getting a positive pregnancy test. At the same time, if you were irregular before going on BC, you will continue to be after going off. Of course there are exceptions to every rule.
I myself have never been regular, and have been off and on BC for the last 10 years. It seems like every time I go off, it takes about 6-7 weeks to get my first period, and then the next cycle is shorter (although still not consistent and probably still longer than 28 days). This last time, my first cycle was 47 days. The second cycle I ovulated on day 19 (thereabouts) so my cycle would have been about 33 days.
WOW so many differences. I was only on the pill for a little over a year. I hope mine goes back quickly...even though I am NOT looking forward to the excruciating cramps!
I went off in December after being on for 5 years, still haven't had AF come to visit.
@PrncssDva: If you begin to chart, either to TTA or TTC you will know the "DAY" you begin your period. i.e. you can take all kinds of pain killers before symptoms hit and avoid the down sides... Also, do you have any kind of condition which causes that bad cramping? If so, there are a lot of great treatments available other than just masking the symptoms with BC. The BC does absolutely nothing for any problems, it just covers them up so you don't have to deal with them...
I went off Loestrin in April after being on it for 2 years (was on various other BC before that for the previous 10 years, so 12 years on BC in total), and AF came back just like clockwork about 28 days later. I always had very regular periods (although it's kind of hard to remember, being as I'm 30 now and the last time I was off BC was when I was 18!) but it seems that my body went back to normal fairly quickly.
I haven't tried charting yet but I'm thinking about it; hubs was SO disappointed when AF returned again after month 2 of NTNT and so I think we need to start being a little more proactive.
Best of luck! :)
@KLP2010: I didn't get on BC to stop the cramping. I was just mentioning the horrible cramping, as sort of background info. I have not been diagnosed with any particular condition that causes them. I have found something called dysmenorrhea and it kind of gives a name for them.
What exactly is charting anyway? I have always kept up, in my planner, when my AF comes. Is that the same thing? I knew when to expect it before the pill and of course while on BC too. I would just count up 28/30 days from the first day of the last cycle. I just don't want to do the temps, most fertile days, and cervical fluid stuff.
@Miss Root: I was only on the pill for 13 months. I have also been still slightly cramping off and on for about 2 weeks now. If I were still on the pill, AF would be due this weekend. I guess we'll see what happens.
Everyone seems to be different. I went of Loesterin after 13 years in May and 30 days later AF. My cycle has seemed to be normal, but it was also very regular beofre BC. Since I hadn't actually had AF for two years due to my pill it kind of freaked me out at first.
Good luck ladies TTC
It's funny that this thread popped up again because I'm getting the leg cramps I remember from my original non-BC AF today. I'm thinking that my period may come sooner than later as I originally imagined. Next Wednesday would make it a 28 day cycle, but I'm thinking that it's going to come sooner. We'll see. Actually, the biggest test will be after July's to see if August will regulate itself. Either way, this feels like new ground because next week would be my off week with BC with a "period" starting on Thursday.
Just wanted to chime in here. I've been off the pill for 2 months, and so far things seem to be very regular. 31 and 30 days, both with ovulation signs just after the end of week 2. And these are my first natural periods in 13 years! The weird thing is, back in the day I went on the pill b/c I had very bad cramping during my periods, and that symptom has yet to return. I'd love to hear if anyone else has had that happen. The only really annoying symptom that I've had since coming off the pill is headaches before and after my period, which are definitely hormone-related.
@skibobrown: I'm pretty sure that I got ovulation symptoms two weeks after going off the pill a la mucus. It sounds like I'm right on track to a normal, non BC period. The leg cramps surprised me today, but I counted and it seems like I'm in line for a real period soon!
@carrieknitscake: Leg cramps? Wow..I've never heard of that.
@skibobrown: I have notice more headaches lately too.
@carrieknitscake: I wish that i could figure out wht mine was doing. Did you read the most recent comments (above yours)?
@PrncssDva: If you're only two weeks off of BC and cramping, it sounds normal. I was cramping a lot in the first two weeks off of BC. Last week, my nipples were extremely sore. This week, I'm getting my leg cramping which to me indicates I'm close to a period. Nearly a decade ago when I wasn't on BC, my cramps both manifested themselves in the correct anatomical location and in my legs. It's like sore crampy legs after a run or something along that line. The pain goes to about my kneecaps and stops, basically in the thighs. I remember this from when I was without BC. Today, it's like memory lane going "Oh, I remember these cramps." Honestly, I think you're fine. Also, don't count on when you got your "period" on BC as happening now off of it. The timeline is now different. I should be feeling gross next week this time on BC, instead, it's happening today indicating that it's sooner than before. So, I'm not taking much stock in my BC "period" timeline. For now, I'm not charting, but keeping an eye out on my cycle length, so I have some idea of its pattern. Then, I'll chart for best days to try.
I was regular right away, which is surprising because I wasn't regular before. I was charting when I got off bc. I used TCOYF and a basal thermometer. We were NTNT and just seeing what would happen.
@carrieknitscake: I am in week 3 off the BC now. I have been cramping, off and on, since last week. Ugh! I don't feel so strange now...because my nipples (not my breasts) have been so sore. I was like what in the world! I also have been having headaches. oooh I see what kind of cramping you mean, in your legs, now.
@trugem: I still don't fully understand what "regular" means. Did you go right into having AF around the smae time that you would have on the pill? Or are you counting like the next two AF's when you have about the same number of days between? That's exactly what we are doing...NTNT and just letting it happen.
I was so excited to see that you are pregnant!!
Can anyone tell me what charting entails? I have a full question about 6 or so comments above.
@PrncssDva: I used TCOYF.COM/ Taking Charge of Your Fertility book. I found the book on amazon. I took my temp every morning and was able to tell when my cycle was coming, when I ovulated, and that I am pregnant.
@trugem: oooh. See, those are all the things that I don't want to do. I kind of want to just let things go. I think that I will feel better once I have my firts AF off of the pill. Well, i say that for now lol
@trugem: I've read the book, too, glad to see that it was beneficial for you!
Mr.ND and I think that I'll get off BC after my next annual visit. We'll be TTA for at least 2 years, but like the varied responses have shown, who knows when the body will regulate (after ten years or so of HBC) so I would like to have plenty of time to adjust and get used to natural cycles again.
*related question - I hope to stop taking my pills about 7 months or so before our wedding. Did any of you gals have clear signs that your hormones were shifting back, like weight gain or loss or skin issues? I know it's unique to each individual, but I'm hoping that the consensus is that even if I do experience some changes they'll regulate out by 5 or 6 months.
@NDBee: What is TTA?
From other threads that I've started I remember some saying that they had weight gain and acne after getting off BC. I have already lost a little weight and have had headaches.
@PrncssDva: Trying to avoid. You can use the methods and info in Taking Charge of Your Fertility to track your periods, body changes, ovulation, etc., and use that info to either avoid being together around fertile days (or using protection such as condoms, etc) if you're TTA, or to have unprotected sex while you're most fertile to achieve pregnancy, if you're TTC.
It's the whole temp taking, fluid tracking charting gig, but really, it takes me no more than 2 minutes a day and I love knowing what's coming and when. I've got a handy iTouch app that does most of the charting work for me :-)
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