I'm new to TTC. My last (first) one just 'happened'(aka accident). I have no idea where in my cycle I am at. From all the information that I was able to gather via Dr Google, it sounds like it should be easier than it is. My problem is that I just stopped taking my birth control pills. I started my last pack on April 26th. I started the inactive pills on the 16th of May and my period didn't start till the 20th of May. I didn't start taking the pills on the 23rd of May because we were going to start TTC. My period continued on to May 25th because of me stopping the BC. My question is this: when they say count from the first day of bleeding do I count from the 16th because that's when I finished the active pills or do I say it started on the 20th because thats when I actually started bleeding? I just want to get a handle on the date that I might ovulate. If i start counting from the 16th my dates of opportunity have already passed but if I count from the 20th my days are coming up. If anything needs to be clarified about any of the dates just lemme know.
I just wanted to add that you really should wait until you are off the pills three months if you are TTC. The risk for miscarriage is very high and something I didn't know until after two miscarriages my first three months off.
your cycle will start on the first day of bleeding. so that would mean on the 20th. there is a web site that might help you it's called http://www.fertilityfriend.com/. it's free and it has helped me out a lot. and just remember that it could take a while to start ovulating again after stoping bc. but everyone is different you could start rightaway. a lot of the time it depends on how long you where on bc before stoping. i was on for about 6 years and it took me 6 months to get pregnant with my first, yet i had a friend who was on bc for 6 years and she got pregnant the first month. so it just depends on your body. hope this helps
Another resource you may want to check out is a book called "Taking Control of Your Fertility." It is an easy read but very informative. It involves charting your waking body temperature which is very accurate at helping you to determine your cycle.
I started the pill before I got married and didn't like it. A friend's sister recommended this book to her and she passed it on to me. I've used this method for the past 8 years and have been successful at avoiding pregnancy for 3-4 years each time. It is just a matter of being responsible and aware when you are fertile. Obviously, It also helps you to know when you can get pregnant. I'm currently expecting my second.
I hope that helps.
~J.
Hi L.,
yes, fertility friend is an AWESOME resource for conception planning. To accurately predict ovulation, begin counting your cycle days from the very first day of your period with red blood flow. Your cycle may not be a regular 28 days for the first few months after stopping oral contraceptives. It is also helpful to chart your cervical mucus and your basal body temperature. You can buy a basal thermometer at any drugstore. Take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed and write it down. As for cervical mucus - you will notice a clear stretchy mucus (almost like clear snot - lovely, I know =) at the time of ovulation. Directly after ovulation there is typically no cervical mucus ..
good luck and have fun!!
Oh - also - I noticed someone told you that you wont ovulate for the first several months off the pill - this is incorrect. As long as you had ovulatory cycles before taking the pill and you have no fertility issues like PCOS or anything - you should ovulate in the cycle after stopping the pill. The pill does not stay in your body for any amount of time after it is discontinued. That is why it is important to take a pill every day to prevent pregnancy and why it is easy to become pregnant if you miss even one pill.
Just an FYI =)
Hi L.. I see Lyndsay has already recommended Fertility Friend. I second that. I've been a member for almost a year, and have been pregnant once (ended in miscarriage). My cycles are fairly regular, but after charting your cycles for a couples months, things become MUCH more clear! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sometimes after being off BC, it can take a while. I was on it for 5 years, and I got pregnant less than 2 weeks after being off it, but some woman can take years to get pregnant. I know it may be TMI, but just have "playtime" every day for the next two weeks as soon as your period is light enough for the two of you to be comfortable!!! Just keep repeating that and you should get pregnant in no time!!! You should count your days from the day you started, though. Good luck!! Sticky baby dust!!!
Often women's cycles are irregular for awhile after stopping birth control of any kind. Therefore you won't be able to know where you are in the cycle until your periods become regular. This can take several months. And usually it takes awhile to begin ovulating again.
Here is a web site that might help you understand better about what is happening in your body.
Hi L.....Ya know, I was soooo confused about the whole cycle thing and trying to decipher my cycle, etc., while TTC. I went to my OBGYN and he told me that I may not be regularly ovulating at the same time each month, and that when I'm ready to TTC, to get an ovulation predictor test kit. I haven't been on the pill in years, so I don't know exactly when you should TTC after going off the pill...you should ask your OBGYN...anyway, I used the test kit (got at Walmart for around 16.00) and to my surprise, I didn't ovulate until day 23!!! Normally, I think you ovulate like 2 weeks after the first day of your period or something like that...at first, I didn't think the test was working, because it was still not showing I was going to ovulate...until that day 23...we had sex and BOOM...pregnant right away....I had heard the tests weren't that acurate, but when my OBGYN suggested it right away, I did and we're expecting in Nov. I would ease yourself of the headache of trying to figure out when you're going to ovulate and why not give the kit a try???? :) Good luck in TTC!!!
Jackie
