Cycles before TTC

amiec-2 · October 2016

Apologies if my question doesn't belong here, please let me know if not. Still kinda new here so please be kind! :-)

Is is it wise to come off hormonal birth control massively in advance of TTC? My date for TTC is in June and I was thinking of coming off my contraceptive implant in Jan so I can have (hopefully) at least a few periods, with a hope that I will find it easier to track my cycle.

How long in advance of TTC did you come off hormonal contraception, if applicable?

Thanks in advance!
xxx

lulu1180 · October 2016

First of all, individual posts like this are generally frowned upon as there is usually a better place to post them (in the questions section of the WTO or TWW threads). Also a lot of questions can be answered by using the search function.

That being said, there is no right or wrong answer to your question. You can come off BCP any time you want and start charting your cycles so you have a better idea ahead of TTC what it looks like and when you ovulate.

I would suggest reading a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility as it explains in great detail a woman's cycle and how it is best to track when TTC.

beachbunnyxo123 · October 2016

To each their own but I do think it would be a good idea to have some time to get to know your cycles. If you have a certain timeline in mind you can always TTA while coming off BC until you are ready. I came off before actively TTC to prepare a few months before. Read the newbie guide, lurk, and read of copy of taking charge of your fertility. If you plan on sticking around you can use the search function to see answers to questions like these and also participate in the WTO/TWW thread and post questions that come up on those daily boards

thatcma · October 2016

I second everything @lulu1180 said and want to add:

Read the pinned read this first post at the top of the tread if you haven't. Also lurk a lot if you aren't sure about jumping straight in. Just read the daily threads and get the hang of the place.

This is a wonderful community full of welcoming women who can give great support, as long as you give it back.

SaphireSweetie88 · October 2016

In addition to what PP have said, I will say I would recommend being off any sort of BC for at least 6 months before TTC. I was off for 2 years or so before actively TTC

saralee797-2 · October 2016

^^what they said. This is not something we can answer for you because every body is different BUT for what it is worth I really wish I came off sooner and started charting. It's not as easy to get KU as people make it seem and I quickly realized I did not know my body at all after 10 + years of BCP. Also taking charge of your fertility is worth its weight in gold.

LadyMillil · October 2016

Keep in mind that while it can take you awhile to get back to normal after BCP, you can get pregnant right away, so if you aren't ready to TTC you should use a different method to prevent.

I ovulated about 2 weeks after stopping BCP and my cycles returned to normal right away. I didn't go off BCP until we started to TTC.

SaphireSweetie88 · October 2016

Here's a link to the thermometer most ladies here use (another member just shared it with me): https://www.amazon.com/MABIS-Digital-Thermometer-Temperature-Planning/dp/B000O6YCZY?th=1

Here's a link to Taking Charge of Your Fertility book: https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Charge-Your-Fertility-Anniversary/dp/0062326031/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477020019&sr=1-1&keywords=taking+charge+of+your+fertility

laurad75 · October 2016

Welcome. I second reading TCOYF - that book opened my eyes to so much I didn't understand about my body and my cycles. I recommend stopping your BC ahead of time to figure out your true cycle and just be sure to use other forms of protection. I went off 3 months before TTC and I wish I had done it sooner.

amiec-2 · October 2016

@lulu1180 sorry if my post wasn't appropriate, I al finding it hard to get to grips with all these acronyms and where to post so sorry for that. I find it hard to search forums as I'm using the site on my phone. Didn't mean to annoy people.

Perhaps my question should have been something along the lines of 'how many months before TTC did people come off BC'. I know everyone's different just wanted a general idea of what other people have done. Thought it might be too early to start looking into cycles etc but I guess not! Will check the book out and try looking around a bit more

Once again I really didn't mean to frustrate people which is why I put the first sentence in. Sorry if I have.

Thanks :-)

amiec-2 · October 2016

@laurad75
Thank you for the welcome and advice :-)
@SaphireSweetie88
Thats so helpful, thank you
@LadyMillil
That's really helpful, I'm hoping that my body will get back on track quickly! Good to know, we were def going to use barrier methods.
@Saralee797
thanks, great to hear other's advice and experience.

glitterfish-2 · October 2016

I went off 1 year before trying, 6 months before our wedding, and the side effects were no fun (especially the acne EVERYWHERE right before the wedding), so I went back on until right before TTC. Obviously 10 months into this I wonder if I should have sucked it up the first time!

lulu1180 · October 2016

@AmieC I wasn't trying to shame you so I apologize if it came across that way. I know you weren't simply disregarding the rules for the hell of it. It was more of a for future reference kind of thing. You were extremely respectful of the community in my opinion especially with your responses

artemis618 · October 2016

***TW: loss mentioned***

I went off of bc after my January cycle to ttc after our wedding in June (and used condoms). I tracked periods but didn't start temping/OPKs till July. It "worked" sufficiently in my July cycle, so I never tracked an ovulatory, non-KU cycle - so as a result, I don't really know how long my luteal phase is (and more info can be helpful - especially when I don't have a lot of time having just turned 39).

Now in my first cycle after loss at the beginning the month, I do wish I'd temped a couple of cycles before ttc so I'd have a better idea of my "normal," but I understand first cycles after loss can be wonky anyway.

So I'd recommend temping a couple to a few cycles before ttc if you can manage (I get up at 5:45am on weekdays so it's sort of annoying on weekends - and anything extra during wedding planning can seem kind of annoying - at least that was my excuse). If you plan on temping, that is (it is generally the only way to confirm O on your own).

NYTino24 · October 2016

I got off in December and we used condoms until right before our wedding in July, but we didn't start really trying until this cycle because we were delayed by Zika exposure. I was on for 9 years and skipping placebos for the last 6 months. My hair fell out for like 9 months and then my body finally started to get used to regulating itself. I am so glad I started charting cycle length 10 months ago, temping 5 months ago, and doing OPKs 5 months ago because I have an idea of how my body works. It is still unpredictable at times, but ladies here have taught me to pay attention to secondary signs. Hope this helps along with the BBT, TCOYF, and lurking / participating in WTO/TWW thread recommendations when you are ready.

[Deleted User] · October 2016

I got off HBC a long time - over a year - before TTC because I hated being on it and we were married and we would have been happy to get pregnant but preferred not to. So we used condoms/ FAM until we were ready to officially TTC.

I am not bothered that this post is on the page. It's a question posed to the whole board, not a specific TWW/WTO question. Not to mention if you're not TTC yet then you wouldn't be on those boards anyways!

RunRestRepeat · October 2016

I stopped BCP at the end of July, intending to NTNP in August and then start trying in September. I really wish I had stopped them sooner - my August cycle was completely normal, my September cycle was early, and my October cycle was late. I feel like I'm just starting to figure out my body and I'm two months into trying. Then again, every one will react differently, so who knows!

JuneRoseRuby · October 2016

I stopped BC well over 2 years ago, at least a full year and a half before we TTC. My cycles are still wacky, but that was the whole reason I went on BC to begin with when I was a teen. I just wish I had documented cycles better before TTC to understand why my cycles were o wacky. Even though I have been documenting now for about 10 months, I still don't know whats going on but I love looking at my data!

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