Recently off of the pill

[GuavaGirl]

I have a question that a friend asked me and I'm curious to see what you ladies think.

She's been on birth control for a while and wants to start TTC.  She went off around 60 days ago.  She thinks she had a couple ovulation attempts because of EWCM (which may or may not have resulted in O).  The only sign of AF was 7 days of brown and red/pink stringy...and generally light flow.  

She wants to know whether or not that would count as AF, as far as charting, and just knowing where she's at in her cycle. (I don't think she's started temping yet)   She asked if it could have been implantation spotting, but I said I didn't think it would be 7 days, more just like 1 wipe.  (is that right?)

My advice was to just make note of that "very light period" and keep an eye out for EWCM or just wait until the next AF comes, and that hopefully it will be more obvious this time.  

She said that she definitely wasn't pregnant, but I realized I didn't actually ask if she's taken a test since that very light period. (since I know some women get light periods while pregnant)

Any thoughts?

Thanks ladies.

[SilaMarila]

It is possible it was breakthrough bleeding as her body is trying to balance its hormones in order to ovulate. I would be on the lookout for EWCM and start charting/temping in order to confirm ovulation. Everyone's body responds to hormonal birth control differently. Some regulate immediately after coming of BC, and some take many months. Her body may even gear up to ovulate numerous times before actually doing so. This is why I recommend charting to confirm and to avoid confusion.

[ISISandOSIRIS]

I'd count the first day she needed to wear a pad as CD1.  As mentioned above, her body is likely still adjusting to being off the pill.  It can take some women 6-12 months to get back on track.

[Jaimee]

Yep, I agree with the pp's... regulating off the pill can take a while. For some it's immediate and for others up to a year.  Even if she's bleeding she may not be ovulating and even if she's ovulating her LP may not be of a fertile length.  I definitely agree that she should chart her period- first day of red blood flow (not just spotting) as CD 1 and then be on the look out for  creamy and/or eggwhite cervical fluid. I would recommend she temp as well to pinpoint ovulation so she knows  how long her LP is and whether she's spotting during it or not.  All these things will help her on her TTC journey since it is unlikely for her to get pg if her LP is short, if she's spotting quite a bit before AF, and certainly if she's not yet ovulating at all.   Her body has to adjust to producing its own hormones at the correct times again so often women will experience low progesterone for a while, which causes the short LP and the spotting/breakthrough bleeding. 

Implantation spotting is not common and is usually pinpricks of red blood for one to a few days sometimes preceded by pink spotting and followed by brown spotting. But some women report much more bleeding than that.  Honestly I think that a lot of what women report as implantation bleeding is in fact bleeding with pregnancy around the time of expected AF.  But most will never know for certain.

[GuavaGirl]

Thanks ladies.  I'll pass the info along.