Looong question

Jasonandmeredith

Hi all,

I have been taking the pill consistently (back-to-back - no placebo pills) for about 3 months. I stopped taking it August 9th, and on August 15th I started spotting. Not to be gross, but it wasn't red - it was kind of brown and not heavy. It stayed light for 3 days and then stopped all together. I jumped the gun and started an OPK last Friday - of course it was negative on Friday, so I took one Saturday...the line was still very faint, but darker than Friday. Same thing Sunday, still fairly light but much darker than Saturday's. My husband and I had intercourse early Sunday morning, so I know it was basically "insurance sex" just in case I was going to ovulate. Took one yesterday, and there was no line at all. Is it possible that I didn't start ovulating and the test was a fluke? I'm supposed to start testing tomorrow (based on an ovulation predictor) but since last Saturday, I have been having cramps every day, lower back ache and I'm exhausted all the time. Have any of you gotten pregnant the month you stopped the pill? And if so, did you experience any of these symptoms (cramps, weird results on an OPK, etc.)? My breasts aren't sore, but maybe I'm just so early in the pregnancy that it hasn't gotten to that point yet.  I know it's too early to take a pregnancy test.  Any advice/similar experiences would be appreciated.

Dr.Loretta

OPKs are tricky things. For some people they go from nothing to positive and back to nothing within a day or 2. For others they slowly get darker, go positive, then immediately go blank. Did you ever get a positive (test line darker than control line)?

You may also want to start charting your cycles. Taking Charge of Your Fertility and fertilityfriend.com are good resources. They can confirm that you indeed ovulated.

The symptoms you mention could be pregnancy-related, or they could be standard PMS symptoms. There's no way to tell until you test. I'd wait until your period was late to start HPTs.

GL

Gilene2011

I saw your post over on TTGP and all I can say is wow to some of the comments. Yes I did get pregnant with my son the same month I went off the pill, but I was charting and kind of thought when I ovulated. This is my first time using OPKs so I can't help much there. When I did get pregnant I tested with blue dye preg test and they both said negative. I waited a couple more days and started getting weird feelings they definitely weren't cramps though. That's when I bought a clear blue digital and it was BFP. Also my boobs were not tender until the third trimester. I hope that helps some.

Jasonandmeredith

I posted the question here because to be honest, the people that respond here tend to be less "snarky" (read "rude") than on TTGP board.  Thank you both for your responses!! I didn't get any lines that were darker than the test line, which is why I'm thrown off a little about these cramps and stuff.  I did get pregnant last October (with an IUD in place, no less) and when I started to miscarry they estimated I was about 5-6 weeks - I did the math and figured out that my breasts had only started to hurt when I was about 4 weeks along.  I have no idea what's going on, but I figured I would ask just in case.  Thanks again for your nice and informative responses. 

Jasonandmeredith

Just another bit of (kind of gross) info - today when I wiped after peeing my CM was definitely the same consistency as egg whites.  Oh well, I guess I should just wait and see at this point.

Dr.Loretta

Yes, at this point you should wait and see.

FWIW, these types of questions are typically considered "fishing" for someone to tell you whether you're pregnant or not. They have a long history on the boards, and some people just react badly to them, for various reasons. Unfortunately none of us can tell you what's going on with your body. So like you said, wait and see.

GL

SamsMom11

Most do not get pregnant after just coming off the pill but it is possible, as is getting pregnant while on the pill.  Ovulation should not occur until after you first normal menses.  Brown spotting is not considered a menses (period)  Remember when doing your OPK's and calculating your cycle, cycle day 1 is your first day of full flow.  If you have a few days of spotting and count those days it can really throw you off.  Technically you ovulate 14 days prior to your next menses so based on a 28 day cycle you would ovulate on day 14...26 day cycle on day 12 ect.  As others have stated...tracking your period is a great tool, making sure to note spotting, color, changes in cervical mucus, mittelschmerz (ovulation pain) and days of intercourse.  Hopefully this information will be a mute point.  Good luck.

Dr.Loretta

SamsMom11:

Technically you ovulate 14 days prior to your next menses so based on a 28 day cycle you would ovulate on day 14...26 day cycle on day 12 ect. 

Not necessarily true. Many people have a longer or shorter cycle than 28 days, and their ovulation can be early or late on a regular basis, or once in a blue moon. Hence the reason tracking can help you figure out what *your* cycle is like.

SamsMom11

Dr.Loretta:

SamsMom11:

Technically you ovulate 14 days prior to your next menses so based on a 28 day cycle you would ovulate on day 14...26 day cycle on day 12 ect. 

Not necessarily true. Many people have a longer or shorter cycle than 28 days, and their ovulation can be early or late on a regular basis, or once in a blue moon. Hence the reason tracking can help you figure out what *your* cycle is like.

I concur...menses/ovulation trends differ by individual and the average is not always the norm.  Wouldn't it be nice to think everyone ovulated a fertile oocyte on CD 14.  There would be ALOT more happy pregnant ladies.   

Dr.Loretta

SamsMom11:

Dr.Loretta:

SamsMom11:

Technically you ovulate 14 days prior to your next menses so based on a 28 day cycle you would ovulate on day 14...26 day cycle on day 12 ect. 

Not necessarily true. Many people have a longer or shorter cycle than 28 days, and their ovulation can be early or late on a regular basis, or once in a blue moon. Hence the reason tracking can help you figure out what *your* cycle is like.

I concur...menses/ovulation trends differ by individual and the average is not always the norm.  Wouldn't it be nice to think everyone ovulated a fertile oocyte on CD 14.  There would be ALOT more happy pregnant ladies.   

And TTA would be SO much easier!

SamsMom11

and alot more sex for moms and dads of newborns...woo hoo!!