[MizLiz]

Hi everyone,

I also posted this in a TTA thread but thought that I might also get some input here, too...

I'm pretty new here and have a question that hopefully you will have an answer for. I have been on the Minipill for about 2.5 years now (my dd is 3 yrs) old and I'm really not enjoying the side effects it is giving me... my cycle is all over the place (my cycles vary from 12 to 73 days now!) and I am still bfing my dd and would like to go med free. My dh and I are thinking that we will ttc next winter but I'm planning on stopping my pills within the next couple of weeks and and would really rather not get pregnant before then.

We are planning to use condoms all the time for awhile until I can get the hormones out of my body and (hopefully) get on some form of a regular cycle. How long has this taken other people? I'm guessing it will take more than a month but this is pretty new territory for me... Has anyone else experienced such crazy cycles as a result of the minipill? I have been on the pill for something like half of my life now and I think my body has had enough! Any comments would be very welcome...

Thanks!
MizLiz

 

[TiredX2]

First, I am really surprised that you have been on the mini-pill that long.

IMO, once you start having cycles *at all* it is time to use a different birth control method (because that often means that the mini-pill is no longer fully supressing ovulation).

I was on the mini-pill w/DD from ppcheck-up until she was about 11-12 months old. I wasn't great about taking it the same time every day, though, so I wasn't *really* on it most of the time. My periods were very screwy for the next year (21-43 days) and then I got pg with DS. That said, we started using FAM when I went off the mini-pill and then go pg the first month we "tried" 11 months later. Have you been charting at all? Do you already notice differences in Cervical Mucous?

With DS I didn't go on the mini-pill and my periods have been fairly regular since they came back (around 25 months pp).

 

[MizLiz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiredX2 First, I am really surprised that you have been on the mini-pill that long. IMO, once you start having cycles *at all* it is time to use a different birth control method (because that often means that the mini-pill is no longer fully supressing ovulation).

I'm not sure why you find this so surprising... could you explain? I do understand that once cycles start it means that ovulation is happening. From what I understand, though, the minipill only partially supresses ovulation, it also changes the uterine lining and thickens the mucous to make a conception "unfriendly" environment... I also understand that the minipill is less likely to cause problems with breastfeeding and is very effective (upwards of 94%) and those were some considerations that were very important to me when I decided to go on it.

Any recommendations for non-hormonal BC other than condoms (we aren't crazy about them)?

I haven't been charting yet but do have a thermometer and am picking up a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility this week. My CM doesn't seem to change at all since I've been on the minipill.

I am really curious to find out how long it took women who had been on the minipill to get on something of a regular cycle... I feel like my body is pretty out of order right now and I'm not sure if it will take two months or six months or however long to be able to use FAM effectively - partly because I'd like to have some confidence that I know what is going on with my fertility and partly because I don't want to have to use condoms every time I have sex until I decide I'm okay with getting pregnant again!

Thanks for any input!
MizLiz

 

[Alison]

Liz, could you go off the pill and use condoms (or some other method) until you figure out your cycle? We've been using FAM only (well, FAM and withdrawal as our backup!) for almost two years now with no problems, but my cycle is so regular you could set your watch by it, which I think makes it easier for us. When I went off the mini pill (which I only used for 2 mos when Andrew was tiny) I was back to normal within a month. You've been on longer than that, of course, but I don't see why it should take much longer than the month to get the effects out of your body. We also (briefly, to be honest) used a diaphragm. Putting it in was a pain, but once in you couldn't feel it, at least neither of us could. So it beats condoms that way. I think it you stuck with it, it would get easier to put it in as well! The only problem with a diaphragm though is cost--it wasn't covered under my insurance, and cost about $50. I'm betting that your DH's insurance isn't any better than mine, unless the university has an awesome insurance package, and since nothing else is awesome about them as an employer, I'm doubting it!

Alison

PS my offer holds for the TCOYF book as well if you want--I got 40% off that one by ordering through work!

Alison