Post # 1

Member
118 posts
Blushing bee
We began TTC in August so I went off BC after 15 years. Prior to going off I had a 28 day cycle. In September, I had a 28 day cycle and thought I was lucky and it would continue that way. That wasn’t the case. I started spotting 18 days later and got AF after 49 days in November. The day after AF started I went to the bathroom and saw a very large clot. I panicked and called the doctor. He assured me that it wasn’t a M/C because I had I taken a few HPTs and had two blood tests done leading up to the 49 days and they were all negative. It has been 40 days and counting since my LMP.
Can anyone give me any insight into how long it took for your AF to regulate after coming off BC? We have been TTC since August and it’s hard to determine when I’m ovulating because of the large gap between periods.
Post # 3

Member
3080 posts
Sugar bee
The first question a lot of us will ask if if you are charting…not sure how much insight it will give you into a really long cycle, but in general that’s one of the best ways to start to know your body and cycle. And it should definitely help you figure out when/if you ovulate.
I regulated within a couple of months, so that’s not helpful to you, but I have read about quite a few women who take a year+ to regulate.
Post # 4

Member
1893 posts
Buzzing bee
It can take months for some to get back to normal. It took my body 2 months to get my period after I stopped BC and I never really did regulate, from 36 day cycles to 24 , all over. That’s why I was getting frustrated bc I couldn’t pinpoint my O date, OPKs didn’t work for me. I got my BFP after 5 cycles of trying and praying
Post # 5

Member
118 posts
Blushing bee
@kate02121: I haven’t really started charting yet because I don’t want to become obsessive since we’re just starting. Last month I drove myself crazy with “could be” symptoms and then after 49 days AF came. Also, I don’t fully understand it. I did take my temperature with a regular thermometer for about a month and a half but it pretty much stayed the same so it didn’t help me much. If you have any tips I would love to hear them.
@graygodess20: Congrats on your BFP! This may be a stupid question but does a cycle = AF? I haven’t really done a lot of looking into this because I will drive myself nuts.
Post # 6

Member
1893 posts
Buzzing bee
@smrlovingrl: yes! And thank you! I would also suggest reading taking control of your fertility.
Post # 7

Member
9795 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I came off BCP at the beginning of July after having been on it for 16 years. I ended up ovulating within 2 weeks so I got pregnant right away. I’m not sure if my cycles would have been fully regulated or not, had I not gotten pregnant. Obviously ovulating within a normal time seems to be a good sign. I was very irregular when I went on BCP (at 13 though) so I was afraid when I went off my cycles would return to what they were.
I know it can take months though to return to normal. I would suggest charting! At least then, you can get a better idea of what your body is doing (ovulating or not). You need to pick up a specific thermometer for that.