Hi! So, I got off the pill in February. We've been taking the normal steps to attempt becoming parents for the 2nd time but nothing is happening. We have a healthy almost 5 year old, so we are quite capable of having a baby, or at least have in the past. I was on the pill for 4 years, non stop. I'm quite convinced that it has completely messed up my reproductive health. Prior to the pill I had normal 6 day periods every 28 days. Post pill I can have a cyle of 42 days, 31 days, 27 days, there is no telling. I also spot for about 4 days prior to actually starting my period, which I never did before. I tried ovulation predictor kits for a couple of cycles and from everything I've read you should get 1 positive OPK, possibly 2 if you catch it early and on it's way back down. My OPK's are positive for like 3 days, meaning I have a very extended LH surge. Thanks to the internet I've also read that extended spotting prior to your period can indicate low progesterone levels. I'm concerned that I should see someone, but I'm afraid to seem crazy for just waiting shy of 8 months and not trying the typical year before seeking help....should we keep on trying ourselves, or should I get checked out? Has anyone had a similar experience?
Try FertilityBlend for Women from GNC for 3 months. Don't use it if you are taking any other types of fertility drugs. http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2134276&am...
Hi S.,
I say, if you are already frustrated and want some encouragement or answers see a specialist. It can't hurt. Although, it takes almost 6-8 months for your body to readjust from the hormones of birth controll. I am a registered nurse, who stays home with my 18mo old currently, and I used to work in L & D with a couple fertility specialist. My husband and I tried for almost 1 1/2 before we concieved our first baby. The specialist after about 8 months of trying were very encouraging and gave us some tips of increasing fertility. But, the best advice is to take care of yourself.
A.
i was on birth control for 6 years, got off and it took 9 mths to get pregnant. After having my dd I took birth control for maybe a total of a month and it took almost a year to get pregnant again. If you've been on it that long it will take longer to get pregnant. Also when I went off the pill my period was all crazy, I went 2 months with out having it and then it would be every other month. After having my dd in march 06 i was having it every 3 mths until i was 9 mths pp and then every 3 weeks. Good luck and quit trying, just enjoy the act and that's when it'll happen, that's way it did for me the second time around.
Depending on your age and the age of your husband you may want to see a specilist even if it hasn't been a year. I would reccomend dr Reshif at baptist. He gave me my precious little girl after 5 years of tring. He told me he wished I had come in sooner. I have debated on more, but I don't want to go through all the medicine and testings and such again. It was worth it for one, I am not sure it will be for two for me. Please remember everyone will react diffently to the medications. You may not have the same problems I did.
I agree with some of the other posts - no need to see a specialist. Just a check up would be good for now. It's not uncommon for your period to be weird after taking the pill. We tried for #4 for almost a year before I got pregnant. It happened for me when I stopped worrying about it every month. I joined a gym, lost some weight, and then got pregnant. My advice would be - have a check up at your regular doctor, then focus on staying healthy (eating right, exercise, vitamin, etc). That will get your body ready for you next baby. good luck!
Our first child I had taken the pill for 8 years before we started trying to get pregnant. It took us a full year to get pregnant. I asked the doctor during that time if we should see a specialist and what the signs were to look for. He suggested not to do a thing until at least twelve months were up. Also, it sounds like you are over planning and over thinking this process. Everything I have read and heard says you need to RELAX. If you are stressing over getting pregnant and thinking about it every second you are actually minimizing your chances of getting pregnant. My suggestion is to get away for the weekend just the two of you and have fun. Things might just happen...
Hi S.,
I've always been a believer of trusting my gut. If you feel you should see someone then go.
As for the pill - I know if effects people differently. I was on the pill for 6 years before I got off to try for our first child. Imagine my surprise when we got pregnant within two weeks! But I have heard cases like yours too - so it never hurts to talk to a professional about it.
Good Luck!
J.
I would definitely consider at least going and having some test done to determine what your hormone levels are. It could be something very simple. My husband and I tried for seven years to get pregnant, going through the whole fertility testing and process. We finally had to end up doing in-vitro fertilization and happily wound up with a wonderful baby boy who is now 2 1/2 years old. I would highly recommend Dr. Eli Reshef at Bennett Fertility Institute at Baptist Hospital. He's an awesome doctor. Good luck with everything.
It's very common when you are on the pill for that length of time to have your period out of whack for quite some while afterwards. Eating or drinking soy products can help bring your progesterone levels into balance. Take a visit to your local health food store for some teas or supplements to help you out here. Be sure to take your iron and B vitamins also. I went through a similar thing with the pill after I had used it all through college. Granted I wasn't trying to have a baby so it was easy for me to not be too worried. Be patient with your body. It's just still out of balance now.
I had this problem when I decided to get pregnant. I was on birth control for a LONG time, and then decided to have a baby. I tried for almost a year, and thought I could not have kids. After a year, I finally got pregnant. My doctor said some people it will take 6-12 months to get over taking birth control for so long. He also told me to try for at least a year before looking for medical help. Hope this helps.
As others have said it's not uncommon for your cycle to be nuts for quite sometime after going off the pill. Things happen while your taking it. Changes in thyroid, weight, blood sugar, other hormones. You don't need a specialist to make sure your body is getting all the right hormones. Go to your doctor and ask for your levels to be checked, a Full panel of tests. You'll also need to take a look at your weight which could be affecting the quality of your eggs and your ability to ovulate. Did you lose the baby fat from your oldest child? Are you eating take out on a regular basis instead of cooking? Have you gained any weight in the last year?
Look I know that fat women have babies too, I am one, but it took 12 years to carry a 2nd child to term because of my weight, physical and mental problems. After him I had one miscarriage with a psychologically damaging d&c and an ectopic before I delivered his "playmate" 3 years later.
Now to get things right in your head. You're body isn't going to concieve if you aren't really prepared for it and the biggest ovulation blocker is stress. Stress causes us to gain weight and not eat right and all the other nasty stuff you hear on the news. So as of right now you need to prioritize, do you have to finish your degree? Do you really need the extra income your job provides? Are you able to actually sit down by yourself for 30 minutes a night and take time for yourself? Do you have an extra 20 minutes a night to read to a new baby? Are you reading to your daughter 20 minutes every night? No you cannot read to both of them together, you'll have to have 2 separate times as well as 10 minutes each for bath and grooming. Are you also working out 30 minutes each day?
You have to think realistically about all of those questions. And here are a few more? What's your debt load? Are your credit cards paid off? Do you have more than just your untilities to pay each month? Are you financially secure enough to take the maternity leave? Who pays your insurance premiums/which job? Because if it's yours well you could be stuck paying for the full premium even your own while you aren't actually working? Did you know that once you take time off from school you'll have to start paying on your student loans?
Consider all of this before you even ask your doctor for those blood tests. The older you get the more your hormones get out of whack.
I think you should work on getting your appointment now. Sometimes it can take a little while to get in to see a fertility specialist. So you could be at about 10 months before you actually see the doc.
There are health reasons, in addition to fertility, that should also spur you to see the doctor. Many things can cause your hormones to be out of whack, and having your hormones out of whack can cause you to feel terrible. So if you are worried about not waiting the typical year, you could just say that you are concerned about the spotting and the irregular cycles. You can throw in that you are trying to get pregnant, but getting your hormones on track is really the issue. Getting pregnant just might be an added benefit from that.
Good luck and hope it works out!
