Post Pill Cycles

[under the ivy]

Well guess who’s period arrived this morning 4 months late!

 

[Pixipoppy]

Day 43 and still no sign - as much as I am enjoying my period free life right now I also don’t want it to sneak up on me! Just want to be in a regular pattern so I know when it’s coming. (Also did a pregnant test and it was negative so that’s a weight off my mind!)

 

[Dramabyname]

I’ve started to notice I am feeling way less tired and a lot less moody I wasn’t expecting any changes like that really as I didn’t think my pill was affecting me. My husband also says he feels like I have seemed a lot happier.

It’s actually a bit upsetting to me to think I might have been adversely affected but not been aware. Some things are now falling into place for me too around when I started having certain problems (like being tired a lot, my doctor ran blood tests but couldn’t find anything) when actually looking back that was not long after my implant was removed and I started taking the pill...

For the past 2 years I have been suffering with heart palpitations, some were so bad they’d take my breath away. I had all the tests in the world done, even had a heart monitor for 2 weeks, cut out caffeine completely, reduced my sugar intake, I was put on beta blockers and nothing helped. Eventually I was told it was because of my anxiety, even though I was adamant it wasn’t. I’ve had therapy and CBT I am very aware of when anxiety is affecting me. I’ve been off my pill for 3-4 weeks now and I haven’t had a single palpitation... I just can’t believe something that I was taking everyday was causing something like that and not one person decided to mention that, that could be the cause. I didn’t even realise they stopped my other half randomly asked me a few days ago and I couldnt believe it. So I totally get what you mean about something adversely affecting you when you’re not even aware. It doesn’t seem right, does it...

 

[Ninetiesbitxh]

I came off the pill in December, had a withdrawal period as normal about 4 days after but I’ve had absolutely nothing since! Has anyone else had this happen? I’m not sure if it’s too early to be contacting the doctors to see the nurse - NHS website seems to think it should take around 3 months and obviously it’s now been 4!

Maybe just give them a call. I had my withdrawal after about 4-6 days and then I’ve had nothing since. I only stopped taking the pill in March though. It’s good to hear that not everyone’s periods immediately come back as I was worrying! Hope you get sorted x

 

[Ninetiesbitxh]

Stopped taking my pill (microgynon) 2 days ago as want to start TTC, however I am slightly annoyed as when I have missed 2 pills before you could guarantee the day after the second missed pill, I would get my withdrawal bleed without fail. Now I want to have my withdrawal bleed to kick start getting my body back to normal it hasn’t arrived typical.

Using Flo to track my cycles too, did you guys log your withdrawal bleed as a period or leave it blank until your first proper period?

Yeah I logged my withdrawal bleed as a period

 

[Pixipoppy]

Have you had the COVID vaccine in that time? There’s a whole thread on here about ladies who’s periods have gone haywire since having it!

I had mine in Jan and March, so before I came off the pill and my periods were fine at first so I don’t think it can be that? A delayed response maybe?

 

[Pixipoppy]

I’m day 40 of my post pill cycle tomorrow, getting a bit concerned now. I know I’m only a week or so late but I’ve convinced myself I’m pregnant We had unprotected sex twice in the few days after I had stopped taking it (just after I came off my withdrawal bleed). So stupid looking back. Gonna psych myself up to do a test if it hasn’t come by the weekend. Pray for me

 

[grumpycat]

I’m so glad someone has started this thread! I started taking the pill eleven years ago because I used to get a spotty chin in the week before my period, which when I look back wasn’t that bad, but at the time I thought it was awful and it could also feel painful and so when all else failed my GP put me on the pill. To begin with I took Dianette, but as you can only take that for so long I then moved to Yasmin and then on to Lucette because Yasmin is more expensive. After much soul searching I finally stopped taking it at the beginning of February as I believed it had been negatively impacting my mental health as I can trace my medal health issues back to the time when I began taking it. I can honestly say within a week I felt a cloud lift from my mind, the constant low level anxiety has gone and I only now realise how bad it was. I had a bleed four weeks to the day after I took my last pill. It may have been a proper period as I felt teary and emotional in the lead up to it. I also had more cramping than during my pill withdrawl bleeds.

Right now I have very sore boobs and in fact they have felt sore since I stopped taking it. Skin is fine at the moment, but I’ve heard that acne doesn’t return for around six months post pill. Hair is a little bit greasier and my skin is oilier.

I noticed my hair is a little greasier and skin a little bit oiler post lucette too. I had a withdrawal bleed a few days after as normal and then I think I’ve had a very very light period/spotting - it’s been a bit confusing.

I’m glad you’re having a better time off - especially with mental health. I was on microgynon years ago and when I came off that I felt like a whole new person!

I’m so glad this thread is helping a few - I feel like it’s such murky water coming off the pill abs such a big decision

 

[JLXRD]

How do you know! I never know when I’m ovulating - but I don’t think I have as only came off the pill a couple of months ago! Maybe a sports bra would be most comfortable? Sounds painful!

You probs have pixi, most people ovulate 10-14 days before their period so as you have had a period cycle day 50, you probs did around cycle day 35. Maybe earlier this cycle if it’s less!

loads of people get no pain at all during ovulation so don’t even know they are. You can monitor it through BBT if you are interested (that’s how natural cycles works to predict fertile days).

 

[Ninetiesbitxh]

Just wanted to share some tips I got on the makeup game changers thread re: my newfound oily skin.

use a mattifying primer - I’m currently using smash box photo finish
face powder - I got the Rimmel insta fix & matte

I feel like these two alone have made a big difference to my skin during the day, I can last pretty much to finishing work without looking mega greasy - slight sheen but not enough to make me feel self conscious. I also bought some ciate blotting papers (only ones available on Asos) which I used just after lunch today and the amount of oil they absorbed was insane! I’ve not used blotting papers since high school but I must say, I’m really impressed.

 

[Ninetiesbitxh]

52 days since my withdrawal bleed, still no period but I am with you all on the greasy! My skin has gone to shit, not too bad on my face but my chest is covered in spots . My scalp is flaky and spotty but my hair is greasy AF after one day. I was washing it once a week in lockdown! I’ve just bought the Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp set from Boots so I’ll let you know how I get on with that. Hoping someone who’s been off the pill for a while will share some stories about how they transformed into a stunning being with flawless skin and amazing hair after going through this rough patch. @lottiedrynan is good to follow on insta for all things coming off the pill and talks about her (positive) experience with it.

 

[glitter tits]

A few months ago I posted that I hadn’t had a period since December since coming off the pill, well I spoke to the drs this week after getting my bloods taken and it looks like I have PCOS. I am really gutted as I definitely want children but I am a bit older and still haven’t met someone and now I am in a spiral of worry that I’m never going to be able to have them

 

[JLXRD]

I’m now CD 25 of my first cycle off the pill and seriously my hair looks like absolute shit, dry shampoo doesn’t seem to help. I thought my hair getting greasy was just a teenage thing but nope turns out going on the pill was what stopped it.

I actually think the greasier skin is for sure making me look younger though, I was getting fine lines under my eyes and they seem way less pronounced. Am getting a few more spots though where as on the pill I would get 1 or 2 spots on my chin only a few days before AF and that was it.

 

[fishsticks]

I came off the pill in December. Partly to start ttc in 2021 and partly because I felt like I was a psycho. Turns out the pill was making me psychotic despite doctors telling me otherwise and I've never felt better. The only downside I've found is I've gained over a stone since stopping in December. My diet hasn't changed or exercise, etc. All the same. It's been frustrating and I still get upset when jeans don't fit, but maybe it's my body adjusting and changing to natural hormones I've suppressed for 7 or so years!!

I can definitely tell when I'm ovulating. This will sound strange, but I can feel my ovaries 'ache' and can pin-point exactly where they are. I've had this since I was about 14 up until I started taking the pill. Drs don't know why, but had scans, etc. in case there were any cysts and these came back normal. I get horrendous pains in my boobs too.

These sensations have come back since stopping the pill and they started back in Feb, so took a couple of cycles to start again. One thing I have noticed is the length of my cycle has differed every month by a couple of days, but aside from that all good so far I think?

 

[Gym&Tonic]

Yes, I logged my first withdrawal bleed as a period. It was also ages after I’d taken my last pill. Four weeks to the day. One of the many reason I came off it was because some months I wouldn’t have a bleed at all, just a bit of spotting mid month. That months I didn’t have one.

 

[PreciousVenus]

I came off the pill a year ago, for a few months afterwards I was crazy horny and furious all at the same time. I now suffer from chin acne, and also my vulva has been weird in that I get phases of the skin on my vulva and bikini line getting irritable to the touch. My anxiety hasn't improved overall but my episodes of OCD spikes have vastly reduced.

 

[JLXRD]

Main things I have noticed the last 2 weeks (today I am 3 weeks off the pill, on CD 19 officially) is a big decrease in appetite (good as I could eat non stop before ) and my hair getting greasy really quickly now the day after I wash it, it already looks gross, so that is very fun for me ha. Would say my skin is probs a bit oilier too.

 

[JLXRD]

So after the amazing amounts of energy I was experiencing since coming off the pill, I then ovulated for the first time and the energy has since been sapped out of my life.

Have spent the last 2days napping so this is a fun second half of my cycle for me

Skin is probs the best it has been in a long time though so that’s a bonus. Think the hair grease may be levelling out too.

 

[under the ivy]

Has anyone’s periods not returned after 3 months? I know it says it can take up to 3 months to return to a ‘normal cycle’ but wondered if you can go the doctors after 3 months or if they just tell you wait longer

I’ve not had mine yet and I stopped 4 months ago. Just been to see my GP actually and I’m having a blood test done.

 

[Pixipoppy]

Ever since I came off the implant last august I’m horny alll the time haha and every guy I’m like I feel terrible

Haha I wouldn’t mind if any of this was directed to my partner, but it’s not (I’m not gonna cheat on him obviously!)