TTC after being on birth control pills

amandajmiller23 · March 2011

I was on birth control pills for about a year and a half. I just stopped taking them in November 2010. In January I started trying to track my cycle and ovulation dates,but the length of my cycle is still varying by about 4-5 days.

What is the normal length of time to get back into a regular cycle after be on the pill? If you already have children, how long did it take you to get pregnant/start ovulating after you quit taking it?

I know it varies for each person, just wondering what your experience has been

Redsoxchick · March 2011

I think you'll find this varies greatly from person to person. I was on Birth Control for 10 years and my cycles got right back on track in the first couple of months.

iluvmylab · March 2011

My first few cycles were 30 days. Then I started temping and the next two were very long and I didn't ovulate. Since then, they have been from 28 to 45 days. It took 9 months to get a bfp but I miscarried at 5.5 weeks. We are currently not trying again yet.

tkbaby12 · March 2011

I was on BC for a little over 2 years and I got off them in October 2010. My cycles have been all over the place, varying greatly in cycle length (first one was 49 days, then 30, then 28, then 42, then 24 days). I would say if it's varying by just 4 to 5 days, you're doing pretty well. If by 6 months, things aren't working right, call your dr., see what they say. I hope you get your BFP soon!

jbelle · March 2011

I was just searching for this information yesterday. Here are some quotations from a couple PubMed studies that hit on what I was hoping to know. From this study:

Major cycle disturbances (cycle length > 35 days or luteal phase of < 10 days of elevated basal body temperature or anovulatory cycles) were significantly more frequent in the post-pill group up to the seventh cycle.

And from this study:

Additionally, OC users had a later estimated day of ovulation that was statistically significant in cycle 2 and a decreased intensity of menstrual flow that was significant in the first four cycles (difference?=?-0.48 days). In random effects modeling, all these parameters were significantly different for the first six cycles combined.

Finally, regarding conception rates after discontinuing OC, this study says:

RESULT(S): Numerous studies have demonstrated some delay in the time to conception in previous users of OCs who discontinued use in order to conceive, but this impairment appears to be temporary and typically limited to the early months following cessation of OC use. Reported 12-month conception rates in former cyclic OC users range from 72%-94% and are similar to those observed in women discontinuing intrauterine devices (71%-92%), progestin-only contraceptives (70%-95%), condoms (91%), and natural family planning (92%). There is a limited amount of data on the time to conception in women stopping extended-cycle and continuous-use OCs, but the data suggest that subsequent return to fertility is generally comparable to that of cyclic OCs.

FWIW, while--as you say--we're all different, I think after 6 cycles, mine is just this last cycle coming back to normal: right on target with that first study's estimate of 7 months. The first three were as if I was still on BCP (28 days), then I had two slightly longer cycles (30 & 31 days) with light periods. My third was also 30 days, but my period has returned to my normal flow.

I'm not temping yet, but I've used OPKs and have so far only gotten one positive (cycle before last--but the last cycle I totally missed first half of my target window to test in and I did get a "close" to positive test when I remembered... so I think I missed it, but who knows).

In my uneducated (or worse, internet-educated!), layman's opinion (again, with no temps to back it up), I am guessing that my hormone levels are returning to normal just now. If I ovulated yet, it was probably only this past cycle.

sekura · March 2011

Having a cycle that varies 4-5 days each month actually is normal; I don't think that is because of just having come off BCP. Missing an ovulation in a cycle can be caused by just coming off BCP, though; it could take 6 months to a year for that to completely settle (though with most BCPs, it will only be 3 months). And some people do have months where they don't ovulate. We don't operate like clockwork; we're women, not machines

.

krisstyk1224 · March 2011

I stopped my pill in December first 2 cycless 30 days and this past cycle 32..I also got + OPK both months I tested...I thought my body was reacting well until I read this....maybe the after affects of long term BC start in the later cycles of being off?

Patches22 · March 2011

I was on BC for 5 years and my cycles went right back to "normal" 3 days after I stopped taking the pill.

This is cycle 12 for us now..

adoruhbul · March 2011

It really depends which brand of BCP, but if they're just the typical 30 day ones, it can be as early as one cycle after, to as long as 6 months before you go back to normal. Try not to worry too much, start temping to see where you are in respect to ovulation goes and go from there. Good luck, hope you get your BFP soon. -Amanda

amandajmiller23 · March 2011

Thanks so much for the info! I was going to buy a fertility kit, but I think I'll just wait a couple more months. I think my hormones are starting to get back to normal- I've been breaking out a lot, like I did before taking BCP's. While I was on it, I had a flawless complexion

Patches22 · March 2011

Yes, say good bye to those flawless skin days... I had to buy proactiv. lol.

njbride0603 · March 2011

I was on BC for 12 years came off and had regular every 28 day cycles but did not ovulate until I had been off it for 5 months and then it took us 5 months to conceive our dd

tikata4 · March 2011

a 4-5 day swing each cycle really isn't "irregular". Mine are anywhere from 26 to 30 days and have been ever since I got off the pill over 2 years ago. I was on the pill for 5 years.

BeachBlondie456 · March 2011

Just lurking, looking for posters just like you to give you some hope! I was on the pill for 6 years and went off of it after my LMP on Dec. 12th. Got pregnant New years eve. It can happen fast, but its different for everyone! GL!

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