How does the pill affect fertility?

Hi, I found this board a few months ago but have only just joined.

I'm 31 and we have been ttc since March. I came off the pill in Feb after being on it for over 10 years.

Have just finished my 5th cycle and with no success. For 4 of these 5 cycles we have been using an OPK but I have not tried charting.

I know it is still early days, but I can't help feeling disappointed. When we first started trying I thought it would be relatively easy to get pregnant, now I can't understand how anybody gets pregnant by accident and starting to loose hope of it ever happening.

It doesn't help that my cycle lengths seem to be all over the place at the moment. I had a shorter cycle of 25 days a few months ago, followed by a couple of longer ones of 30 days at which point I thought things were settling down but now I seem to have gone back to 25 days. I never know at the end of each cycle when to expect my period.

Is this normal and can I expect it to settle down soon do you think?
Posted: 18/07/2006 11:03

Hi Nicola
Welcome as a new joiner!
You'll find lots of wonderful members here with experiences to share.
First of all - it is amazing how long your body can take to adjust to all kinds of things like coming off the pill.
You're still well within the average amount of time it takes any couple to conceive so don't reach for the brochures about 'assisted conception' just yet!
Certainly the changing lengths between periods doesn't help when you're hoping to find an optimum time to try each month, though at this stage it's probably best to just relax and try to have as much sex as possible. I will link this thread to a relevant conception story for you, but do also browse the home page for <a href='http://www.thinkbaby.co.uk/news/listTenByTpe/mps/articletype/6/P/1/v/2/'target='blank'>Conception and Fertility articles</a> too.
After years of being on a 31-day cycle (with two kids - one at 34 and the other at 37 - and concieving the second just one day after a period had ended), I changed jobs about 18 months ago. My periods suddenly went on to a six-week cycle for about 3 months and now for the first time in my life I'm a regular 28-day girl.
So even though there are some accepted theories about what's most likely to happen during conception - don't feel worried if your body isn't doing things by the book!
Have you had a look at our downloadable chart?
Posted: 18/07/2006 12:48

I had a quick look earlier on. At the moment we are using the Clearblue fertility monitor (at great expense, I know!) and thought this would be enough and I am only just considering charting as well. What puts me off slightly is having to take my temperture at the same time each morning. In the week this would be no problem but I do like to sleep in at weekends!

I'll have a look at the article, thanks.
Posted: 18/07/2006 13:36

Hi Nicola

I temp and use a boots digital one, i set my alarm everyday for 5.30am and just stick it in my mouth and then when it has finished reading it beeps at you (wakes me up again) and then i pop it to the side and go back to sleep, it will then hold the reading for a day, i just turn it back on and it will flash up quickly.

Hope this helps. x
Posted: 18/07/2006 16:55

Hi Nicola, I second Natty, using a digital thermometer really does make things easy, you can take your temp without properly even waking up, after a couple of months I didn't even need to set my alarm, I would just wake up naturally, take a few seconds to take the temp and then go straight back to sleep.

I'm a big fan of charting, I learned so much about my body while doing it and felt really in tune with what was happening.

Good luck!
Posted: 18/07/2006 21:58

i took my implant contraceptive out, last year june,and yet am not pregnant,what can i do?
Posted: 09/11/2006 09:41

i took my implant contraceptive out last year june , and yet am not pregnant
Posted: 09/11/2006 09:43

it took me off depo (contraceptive inj) over 2 years and drugs to kick start my periods,then I was on clomid a fertility drug for 6 months and living by my diary,day 11 or 16 did it for me,dont give up i was close to my doc said it would be ivf next then i got pregnant. good luck
Posted: 26/11/2006 19:42