Figuring out my cycle after Depo?

[Spacy]

Okay I'm now 22 1/2 lol. When I was 14 I began depo provera and did it until I was 21 with a few breaks in between. My last shot was may 2010 . I have have had issues since then. I don't really get my AF . I did briefly and it was out of control so my dr put me on a low dose of BCP , which I took for 2months and that made it a little more regular but BCP made my stomach upset and skin breakout etc... So now the fiancé and I have decided to TTC, but I still never get AF . So I bought a pack of clear blue opks . I began taking Vitex to encourage my o to come back. Also picked up some pre-seed and soft cups . But a lot of this is timing of my cycle and I have NO IDEA how to figure out my cycle since I don't have periods . I have no idea if I'm goin about this right but I was thinking I would plan it once my AF comes back from the vitex? Or do I have a cycle even though no AF? Cn i get pregnant or be ovulating if im not having my AF ( lol I'm hopeful but in doubt) I greatly appreciate any advice ,success stories or anyone who can relate . Thank you guys

 

[lmp1505768]

Okay I'm now 22 1/2 lol. When I was 14 I began depo provera and did it until I was 21 with a few breaks in between. My last shot was may 2010 . I have have had issues since then. I don't really get my AF . I did briefly and it was out of control so my dr put me on a low dose of BCP , which I took for 2months and that made it a little more regular but BCP made my stomach upset and skin breakout etc... So now the fiancé and I have decided to TTC, but I still never get AF . So I bought a pack of clear blue opks . I began taking Vitex to encourage my o to come back. Also picked up some pre-seed and soft cups . But a lot of this is timing of my cycle and I have NO IDEA how to figure out my cycle since I don't have periods . I have no idea if I'm goin about this right but I was thinking I would plan it once my AF comes back from the vitex? Or do I have a cycle even though no AF? Cn i get pregnant or be ovulating if im not having my AF ( lol I'm hopeful but in doubt) I greatly appreciate any advice ,success stories or anyone who can relate . Thank you guys

No period = no ovulation. While it is possible to get pregnant before your first period. With the exception of some rare cases, you either get pregnant,or a period. I had this issue and I believe it was because my lining wasn't thick enough to need to be shed,AND a lack of ovulation. So I lost five lbs, and drank POM juice(for the lining) and took soy. Ovulated my second month on them.

I would guess that an obgyn would run some tests for you since it has been so long,just to make sure everything is okay. You are having a cycle, just a really long one. (CD1 being the first day of your last period) I didn't ovulate until I had a period without BCP withdrawl,depo withdrawl. So if I were you, id start timing when you receive your first normal AF. Id also invest in a substansial number of OPKs. I like wondfo from amazon.

 

[CanadianMaple]

A bit off topic, but, one thing I would suggest you look into is your calcium/vit D levels too. They usually don't recommend depo on teens because it's hard on your bone density.

It sounds like you need to request CD3 blood work to see where things are hormonally. Also, they often will prescribe provera (not depo provera) to induce a normal period. It sounds like you may need something like clomid to induce ovulation.

I wouldn't use the OPKs yet. But I would suggest that you start charting your cycle. Your doctor will see a lot about what's going on (thyroid, PSOS symptoms, etc) with a chart.

There are things they can do to help, but after this length of time, I would think they should start being more aggressive toward getting you ovulating again.

 

[Spacy]

Do you guys think that the vitex will help get my AF back? My doctor doesn't want to do anything but put me on BCP , which did more harm than good. She did some blood work and said everything looks normal and would not budge from the BCP my last "mini AF" was about a month or so ago and only lasted 1 day.

 

[lmp1505768]

That's what happened to me when I tried BCP. My obgyn also insisted on that. I quit taking them bc I thought it was a little counterproductive. With such a short AF I would guess its a thin lining causing it. Its not that your body isn't trying to have a period,there is just nothing there. I would look up natural ways to thicken the lining(and increase blood flow to the area)and see what works for you. The ones I remember (other than previousl listed) are a heating pad(or hot water bottle,applied to the lower abdomen), walking/jogging, and baby aspirin(after AF, or your period will go on for DAYS lol)

If you can keep up with accurate temping, you could try that instead of opks(to save money) but since I have a 15 month old, most months I find I can't get but a handful of accurate temps. And I toss and turn all night lol

 

[lmp1505768]

And obviously, you would have that ovulation part too. But I've never taken vitex(I didn't like that it could take at least two months to really work) so I can't help there. But I really think the soy got me going! And its fairly cheap. . .

 

[Spacy]

So far I have been taking the vitex and drinking pomegranate juice to help get my AF back , and I just started temping, so I can be sure that my AF brings a O with her I'm hopeful , and trying to help my body aong a little bit . I'm on my hubby to be ( 2 weeks and counting ) insurance but I can't use it for a little longer ( 90 wait period) and 2) it doesnt cover infertility etc... Guess they don't want us having babies

 

[lmp1505768]

So far I have been taking the vitex and drinking pomegranate juice to help get my AF back , and I just started temping, so I can be sure that my AF brings a O with her I'm hopeful , and trying to help my body aong a little bit . I'm on my hubby to be ( 2 weeks and counting ) insurance but I can't use it for a little longer ( 90 wait period) and 2) it doesnt cover infertility etc... Guess they don't want us having babies

Yeah im avoiding infertility specialists for as long as possible for that very reason! Almost no one covers it, and its so darned expensive.

And just make sure the POM juice is pure(not mixed with other flavors) I personally think it tastes best anyways. They say 8 oz a day,but that can get expensive! So I start after my period, and try to drink it up to a day or so after O.

I've got my FX for you!

 

[tmr1234]

Sorry but i am gob smacked that a doc would gve you it at 14 that is so bad as it has so meany bad things that go with it at 14 your body is still growing.

I was on it for a yr befor TTC my LO and it took 12 months to get af back then 10 months to get my BFP.

I got told it is best to just let every thing come out of you body not go on any BC it is earyer said than done but the out come is well warth it.

The depo shot should be band

 

[lmp1505768]

Its hard because I see how some people are just glad kids are using BC at 14(if they are sexually active) but I don't know that a fourteen year old can accurately assess whether or not they agree to its side effects.

I was using it at fourteen, and then, I would have said "I don't care, I dont want kids! " because it was the last thing on my mind.

Now, I wish id never taken it.

But I think people need to be more realistic about what the side effects really are. How many women take depo,conceive within 12 months,drug free,and have a misscarriage or two before finally sustaining a pregnancy?from what I've seen, LOTS!

Others it seems,end up on clomid(or drugs alike)

 

[Spacy]

When i was given it at 14 i was never told much except that it was a shot every 3 months instead of a daily pill ( which i wasn't sexually active but trying to lighten my AF) . And of course i was like wow that's convenient and I wasn't thin king about kids so i accepted. Had i known then what I do now I would have looked into a different remedy. Now were wanting to have kids and im having difficulties I wouldnt normally. I agree they should be banned. I have been doing vitex for 5 days now and i started spotting a bit , only reason i noticed was from using my soft cups . but ive noticed odd jumps in temps.FX to get my AF back =)

 

[Icca19]

I feel your pain !
I started taking the depo shot at 16, I got a shot 3 times (just under a year on it)
Then it took years for me to get a period back....kinda. I was about 21 when I wanted to have kids so I went to the dr and explained how I wasn't having a period (about 2 or 3 a year) so he gave me provera to induce a period and then clonid to help me O.
We'll.....I took the provera and was susposed to start bleeding by the last pill or shortly there after....I never did. I called the Dr they did blood work and turns out I was prego but taking the provera messed something up and it ended in a M/C
About 5 months later I got prego with my son....naturally

Its hard to do esp with wanting a little one so bad but maybe going natural for a little while just to see what your body wants to do on its own, ya know

I'm a FIRM believer that depo neecds to be removed from the market, its a horrible drug!

 

[Mrs_Dutch15]

I also started taking depo at 14. I took it for 5 years, and my last shot was 3 years ago. My doc refused to do ANYTHING for atleast a year - then gave me a triphasic bcp (its supposed to be the most like a normal cycle and remind your body and jump start your cycle). The bcp worked for me, after 1 month AF was back. I am still not pg. I went to a fertility specialist about 6 months ago - they ran tests and everything is normal. I ovulate and AF is regular. I am now trying the clearblue fertility monitor but if all else fails I'll try treatment. You aren't ovulating unless you have AF. I know it's a painful wait but unfortunately it's the price we pay for taking depo. Maybe try a triphasic bcp? The doc told me it may take 3 months. It really can't "hurt".

 

[Spacy]

So after 7 days of taking vitex and prenatals I got my first period never thought I'd be so happy to have cramps in my life hahaha !

 

[Icca19]

yey!!!

 

[jess1983]

congrats on AF that is awesome

 

[Spacy]

Thanks I've been pretty excited all day I've been temping , using vitex/prenatals , and conceive + with soft cups for a little over a week and fertility friend predicts my next ovulation will be in 2 weeks .... ON MY WEDDING NIGHT I'm so hopeful. It would be wonderful if we could conceive that night . But even if I don't just getting my AF back is wonderful for now

 

[jme84]

I also started depo at a young age and loved not having periods. My last depo shot was june 2010. My periods returned in about dec or jan but then came every two weeks. In April I started taking vitex and in May and june had normal af but no positive opks. Then even with vitex cycles went back to every two weeks.
Finally went to doc after over a year he stated me on provera and clomid first cycle still no o. Will find out soon if second cycle works.
Good luck hope you get a bfp soon.
Not sure if you have seen it but there is a depo thread in the ttc groups. You can come ask qustion and stuff.

 

[Icca19]

Good luck jme24 I hope this cycle is a good noe for you!

Thanks about the depo chat room thanks!