Newbie here!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Newbie here!
6
Fri, 07-25-2003 - 3:43pm
Hi y'all!

Just trying to meet anyone w/ words of wisdom or other ladies just starting out, like me! Here's some background:

I finished my last cycle of BCP in April so May was my first "natural" month in almost 9 years! Although my hubby and I are not pursuing pregnancy, we are allowing nature to take it's course and just see what happens. I was relieved to get my period on 5/31, mainly because I thought for sure AF would be MIA for a few months. Anyway, I got it and then didn't get it agan until 7/14, which means I currently have a 44 day cycle! Ick! So charting is very difficult since I don't fit the 28-35 day cycle, but Im hoping things will normalize in the next few months.

I'm really confused though. In my readings I've noticed some MD's say that BCP's do not affect a woman's cycle and that when she goes off them her normal cycles resume. When I speak to women though they insist that period normalcy can take months...can any of you lovely ladies help me here?

Also, I've noticed since I've been off the pill that I sometimes get sharp pains in my lower right pelvic area and I swear it feels like an ovary pulsating. It's sharp and quick and tends to go away after a few hours...then I won't feel it again for a few weeks. It's really strange and of course my paranoid brain thinks that I must have cysts, or that something is wrong. Anyone experience this before? Im seeing my ob/gyn in a few weeks, but Im hoping to hear something to ease my mind.

Anyway, happy thoughts for all!


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Fri, 07-25-2003 - 3:55pm
Hi Kim...I don't have an answer for you but I wanted to say Welcome. I don't chart so I would be of no help there, however I did just come off bcp and I get odd pains and cramps also terrible mood swings and weird emotions. Your body does need time to adjust to the different hormones. So I hope this helps but I'm sure there will be some informed ladies replying soon! Good luck to you!!

Kelly

TTC1 C1 CD29
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Fri, 07-25-2003 - 4:20pm
Of course after posting I am now reading many other posts from women whose cycles are just as sporadic as mine so Im feeling a little better! ;-)

The sharp pains...I worried about that so I'll be patient and hope to hear from some of you regarding that.

Conception is a very emotional process. As women, we assume that it's our natural right to be able to conceive. We watch some conceive without a thought, and others who struggle. It's hard for me to assume that this will come easily since I've never been prego, but then again I've also been very careful since I started having sex. I guess that's why I finally went off birth control. I want to see what my body can do before I start stressing about trying to conceive. Mind and body definitely work togther.

Anyway, I'm ready for a baby if it happens, but okay to live life with my hubby and my cat for a while too!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2003
Fri, 07-25-2003 - 4:26pm
Welcome to the board! This is a great place to be. My doctor told me that it can take 6-8 months after stopping BCP or nursing for cycles to return normally. And by normally, I think she was mostly talking about your body producing a viable egg with all the other stuff in working order too, such as sufficient lining, LP length etc. (Having cycles that are a consistent length does not necessarily mean that your cycles are normal yet.) However, I have heard of women getting pg immediately after stopping. So, hopefully it won't take so long for you.

If you want to, you can still chart, even if your cycles are variable and long. Charting might actually help you determine when you O and what's going on.

Good luck!

Christy

TTC2 C3 CD25 10DPO

BFd big sis for 14 mths. Hope to nurse Kyle even longer!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-30-2003
Fri, 07-25-2003 - 4:41pm
Greetings!

I get those pains too...if what you are experiencing is the same as mine, then it is your O (Ovulation) pain! (Also called 'mittleschmirtz' sp?) I can feel it for several days, however. For me, it's basically the follicle maturing and the corpus luteum releasing the egg. If you only feel a few hours of it then it is likely you are feeling the end of the process...the actual release of a mature egg. However, I am certainly not a doctor and would recommend you see yours, as you have planned...just to put your mind at ease :) I actually started feeling these pains and was afraid I had cysts, or something of the sort...nope, just O pain!

Cheers!

Lori

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Fri, 07-25-2003 - 4:49pm
The last response reminded me of what happened to me a few years ago. I was having weird painful sharp pains in my side and lower stomach. I even went to the emergency room it got so bad and they told me I was "o'ing"...which wasn't possible b/c I was on BCP. I went to the gyno and there wasn't anything. I actually ended up having gas pains. I am lactose intolerant and it had just caused severe pain. Not to scare you but just letting you know that it may not be cysts, it could be "o" or something like gas or is how your body is just reacting to the change. Again, I hope it helps some!!

Kelly
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Fri, 07-25-2003 - 4:51pm
Im actually experiencing the pains right now and have been since yesterday afternoon....not constant, but definitely happening. I have a twin sis who had to have an ovary removed because she had a huge cyst wrapped around it. Ever since then I've been a nut every time I feel anything unusual.

Im glad to hear there's someone else who gets these pains and I can only hope it my follicles firing away! We'll see what the doc says anyway.

I'm so happy I finally got my butt posting! It really helps to hear different experiences.