New here - need advice! Long cycle first time ever - stress?

[NCS88]

Hi all, I found the link to this site when searching for some answers online, I hope you might be able to share some of your experiences with me. For the first time since coming off contraceptive pill in September I have had (or rather am still in) a long cycle. My first 7 months of charting followed a similar pattern. This cycle my temps are erratic and normal patterns / other fertility signs aren’t happening as they normally do. Today I am on CD36 of a usual 28/29 day cycle and I still can’t fathom what my body is doing. I do have some stress / anxiety going on currently which I am trying to reduce through exercise and relaxation, but this cycle isn’t making it any easier to relax. I know so many people have irregular cycles and perhaps it seems a bit silly worrying about my first one, I just am a bit of a worrier and hope others can share their experiences and help me relax about it all. I went to the docs and they just offered a urine pregnancy test which wasn’t really what I was after considering I don’t believe I have ovulated. Any advice welcomed. Thanks everyone ☺️

[Aefemera]

Hi! I had the same. Basically what happens is that the pill makes you regular, your cycles during the pill are controlled by it. When you come off, your body adjusts and goes back to what is your “natural cycle”.

If the source is stress, you should go back to normal soon. When I had it, ia decide to do blood test.

Do the same if they don’t get back to normal xx

[NCS88 in reply to Aefemera]

Thanks for your reply. Yes I will wait another week or two and if nothing happens go and ask for blood hormone levels to be checked. Xx

[Tugsgirl in reply to Aefemera]

I agree. After coming off the pill it may take a while for your hormones to regulate themselves xx

[NCS88 in reply to Tugsgirl]

Thank you, I guess I just underestimated how long that might take! Any tips for supporting body through this process? I was 10 years on pill but only 8.5 months off of it currently x

[Tugsgirl in reply to NCS88]

I was on it ten years, probably more than that, but I guess I was lucky in that it only took a few months for my cycles to sort themselves out. I don’t really have any tips except for eating a balanced diet, perhaps take a multivitamin and try to reduce your stress. But I agree that you should get your hormone levels checked if your period is still a no show in a couple of weeks xx

[CJem18]

Hey lovely. When I was diagnosed with PCOS after being off the pill for over a year I already knew something was up. Even coming off the pill it shouldn’t take too long for them to go back to normal. My consultant also wasn’t a big fan of measuring temps as an indicator of ovulation.

Definitely go back to your doctor and push for tests. Your cycle and what is happening might be absolutely fine but if you are trying to get preggers then it’s best to check all the boxes.

[NCS88 in reply to CJem18]

Thanks for your reply it means a lot. I am TTC which is why I am a little anxious that things aren’t quite right. I have dropped my urine sample in to the docs this morning to prove I am not pregnant and when I get the feedback from that I will book another appointment and request more tests. Xx

[CJem18 in reply to NCS88]

You won’t regret pushing for more tests. It takes a while which can be painful when all you want is to get pregnant. But the anxiety definitely subsided for me when I felt like I was doing something towards getting an answer.