AF Question! I'm a little confused after going off BC...

[Rein]

Hi guys,

I'm 26. My common-law hubby and I have decided we want to try for a baby. We started trying in November; so far, no luck. (I went off of the BC in October.)

I have always been worried that perhaps I am infertile. It's my worst fear.

I have been on BC since I was 16. I temporarily went off of it at 19 but had huge acne break outs and then went back. I don't really know what my cycle should look like naturally. When I was on BC, my AF only lasted 3 days with the first two days having the most cramping and blood.

Now, I'm getting 6 day ones. But. It's weird! They're...brown! They start brown! And are mostly spotting! I read what brown blood means (ie; old blood probably not expelled from the last cycle.) and that brown usually happens at the end of your AF. (The brown is from the start for me and lasts most of the days!) They're very light with not much cramping. It should end tomorrow or the next day and it's been 4 days already with mostly brown (and not much!). Today, I finally seen a lot of red, which is what I consider to be a "normal" AF.

I think I need to go to the doctor but is there even a chance I'm actually ovulating? Is my body still "off" from being on BC all of those years? Or have I always had an underlying condition?

I'm trying to relax. I just hope that I'm actually ovulating! But with these weird, mostly brown and very light AF, I'm unsure now. And I'm not sure if it's because I'm now off of the BC or if my body was just messed up this entire time!

I've read that one's body could sometimes take a long time to adjust after being on BC for so long.

 

[Flueky88]

My cycles are finally getting normal, I stopped at the end of April. My periods actually were shorter at first. I usually only have brown spotting the last day of AF. Maybe you should try doing bbt to determine if you are ovulating. I think it would give you peace of mind about ovulating.

If you do bbt, get a special basal body thermometer (they are usually with pregnancy tests instead of with other thermometer), temp at the same time every day, do not drink, talk, or do any activity (other than reaching for thermometer), you must have at least 3 hours consecutive sleep for it to be accurate. I temp orally but some temp vaginally. Also, stress and alcohol can effect your temps. You can check fertility friend for more tips.

I hope that you can determine soon that you are ovulating. I know how hard it can be. I didn't have a period from end of May until mid August last year and my mind plagued me with thoughts of infertility. Good luck

 

[2ducks]

Hello! It can take some time when coming off BCP for your body to regulate. You haven't been trying long (although it feels that way for you) so it is too early for a fertility doctor but there is no reason you can't go to your OBGYN to get checked out and address your concerns. In the meantime I highly recommend that you start temping and charting to confirm ovulation (if you aren't already).

 

[Rein]

My cycles are finally getting normal, I stopped at the end of April.

If you do bbt, get a special basal body thermometer (they are usually with pregnancy tests instead of with other thermometer)

Yes. Brown blood is new to me and seems to be consistent with me going off of the BC. At first, I tried to calm myself by saying that my hormones are simply out-of-whack. But this has went on many months now! Right now, my AF has finally hit "harder". I am actually happy about that. But the length of my AF has increased since last month. Last month it had lasted merely 5 days. I am now at 6 for this month. So, it would appear that I'm slightly not stable!

I am definitely tracking now and hoping thar the brown is the actual start of my AF. I'm glad to hear that it took you so long to stabilize as well! That is a relief!

I have ovulation tests ready although they are dollar store ones so who knows if they are accurate at all? I may start checking BBT though so that I can see if I'm actually ovulating or not.

 

[Flueky88]

Is it brown blood the whole time usually? Or just at the start of it?

Yes, I heard so many stories that it only takes a month or two, maybe 3. I felt awful but found out I wasn't the only one.

They should work fine, just be sure that the test line is as dark or darker than the control line. I use the wondfo off amazon and they are cheap. I have a digital that I confirm with now. Just because I'm a little OCD

I will say that I've read you can have a surge and not ovulate and that's why bbt is recommended. I had it recommended to me for awhile and thought it would stress me out but I like the confirmation personally.

I think you might want to ring your Dr if you are concerned about the brown blood. She or he may want to run a few labs. I went to mine dr in November and discussed my long cycles so she ran a TSH and prolactin level. They were fine, but it helped ease my mind

 

[Rein]

Is it brown blood the whole time usually? Or just at the start of it?

Yes, I heard so many stories that it only takes a month or two, maybe 3. I felt awful but found out I wasn't the only one.

They should work fine, just be sure that the test line is as dark or darker than the control line. I use the wondfo off amazon and they are cheap. I have a digital that I confirm with now. Just because I'm a little OCD

I will say that I've read you can have a surge and not ovulate and that's why bbt is recommended. I had it recommended to me for awhile and thought it would stress me out but I like the confirmation personally.

I think you might want to ring your Dr if you are concerned about the brown blood. She or he may want to run a few labs. I went to mine dr in November and discussed my long cycles so she ran a TSH and prolactin level. They were fine, but it helped ease my mind

Urgh. I have anxiety calling the doctor because I had done so frequently within the two years. I have bowel issues + anxiety. It's as though once I figure out one issue, another pops up!

But it does worry me. My biggest fear is infertility. As time progresses, I get more and more concerned.

This month's AF has been so strange! Last month, my AF lasted 4 days with like 2 really red days! This month, I had brown discharge for 4 days followed by 2 or 3 heavy days. It's been over a week now and I'm still seeing brown. So weird.