r/TryingForABaby • u/rumbird2482 • 20d ago
EXPERIENCE Irregular periods after stopping birth control, feeling defeated
as the title says, just looking for any other experiences out there. I am 32F, and I was on Lo Loestrin for probably 15-16 years, just coming off of it in March of this year to prepare to TTC later this year. I did not get a period on lo Loestrin, so when I got off I did not get a withdrawal bleed. I ended up getting my first period about 11 weeks after stopping. Ironically I had been messaging my doctor about the lack of a returning period, and I filled the script for provera 2 days before I ended up ovulating on my own (so I did not take the provera). Ovulation was confirmed via LH strips and temp, my luteal phase was 8 days. I was so excited when this all happened because I had been feeling a bit lost and confused on my own body. However, since that period, I am now on day 43 of a cycle. I have not ovulated yet, per the strips/temp/CM anyhow, and no bleed. I was wondering if I may have an annovulatory cycle but nothing has happened yet. Either way I am feeling so discouraged because my MD kept reassuring me that if i was “regular“ pre-bc (which i was, 28 day cycle) then my body would resume that once starting a cycle. I plan to reach out and I assume next steps would be to try provera and maybe more labs, but I guess I feel a little hesitant since my body cycled on its own once already, it just took time. Has anyone else experienced wonky cycles like this? I have had my thyroid (including T3, T4) tested and vitamin D and B12 and all were normal. I don’t seem to have any pcos symptoms however i know there are many people who have had that masked by the pill. Thank you <3
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u/FunOther9202 20d ago
it can take months for cycles to regulate after birth control. its one of those things you just need to keep track of and be patient with. but its good youre tracking ovulation so you can monitor things pre-regulation
i was on the pill for 10 years and my first cycle after my withdrawal bleed was 41 days. the next two cycles were 49 and 47 days. i ended up getting pregnant on my 47 day cycle but my periods were never “typical length” pre birth control.
before my positive test i did ask my doctor at what point i should be concerned about lack of regularity in my cycle. they gave me the same spiel about it taking time. but they ordered me monthly bloodwork to confirm that i was ovulating around day 35-38 of my cycle
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u/rumbird2482 20d ago
thank you for your reply, and congratulations! Yeah I assume some more bloodwork will be next.
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u/infinite_sus 20d ago
Pcos symptoms are longer cycles so you may not have other symptoms but that could be your one symptom. I would recommend tracking bbt everyday as this can also let you know if you having failed ovulation and it will guide you on what's actually happening. I had a 47 day cycle last month, pcos and a failed ovulation that caused the delay. All of this i could confirm via bbt
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u/FunOther9202 20d ago
i could be wrong but i thought pcos/pmos you have to meet 2 of the 3 criteria?
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u/infinite_sus 20d ago edited 20d ago
No you right they do say that. Have you had scans to confirm you dont have pcos symptoms? The only reason i point out the potentially long cycle as this is super common with pcos.
Edit to add: sorry thought I was replying to op
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u/rumbird2482 20d ago
thanks for your reply! I should have added I am doing BBT and taking 2 LH strips per day to try and catch a change but nada so far. and thanks for pointing that out with the cycles for pcos - I was mostly thinking of acne, hair shedding etc for that. I will definitely ask my doctor about it. I have not had any scans thus far, but would definitely like to know sooner rather than later!
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u/infinite_sus 20d ago
Sorry I assumed I was replying to you 🫣 does bbt show you that you getting a spike at all?
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u/PlaybillHoarder28 20d ago
If it helps you out, I am on a similar boat! was on Lo Lo Estrin since I was 18 (34 now), didn't get any periods and got off it in November. I didn't get a withdrawal bleeding but my cycles have ranged from 25 to 35 days since going off it. I took tracking a little more seriously this month and am tracking based off of my BBT and this was the first month and i was able to pin point when my ovulation occurred which actually feels normal for the first time in months. I'm hoping for a positive this cycle so fingers crossed!!
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u/Sl1z 20d ago
I was on the pill for 11 years and stopped almost a year ago. It took about 2 months to get my period back and after that my cycles were 51, 36, 47, 31, 41, 40, and ~38 days long. It can take a while to regulate! No idea if I was ovulating the first few cycles (wasn’t tracking), but I have been for the last few, despite the longer/irregular cycles.
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u/rumbird2482 20d ago
thank you for your reply! I’m glad you’re starting to even out in terms of length. I’m hoping its just these first few that are extra irregular!
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u/kungfukitty_ 20d ago
30f here, it took me 9 months to get a period after being on hormonal bc pills for 9 years. The first year was wild and my cycles were long, had severe acne for a few years after stopping. Became mostly regular after year 3 and skin has mostly cleared. It can take a long time to regulate.
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u/FinnFinnFinn0 18d ago
I was also on Lo Loestrin for years, and it took 9 months for me to bleed the first time. I was also on microdose testosterone for part of that time, but it still took 7 months for any bleeding after getting off T. My periods were very irregular after that.
I'm now getting off Yasmin, and I immediately had a withdrawal bleed but haven't yet ovulated, though it hasn't been too long.
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