https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 02:16:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-cycle-off-birth-control#post-569731 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:48:07 +0000 derevival 569731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Period. I looked into this when I was going off BCP and learned that when it is extra dark, that's your body getting rid of old blood. I personally think the body needs time to adjust after being on hormones for so long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-cycle-off-birth-control#post-566650 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:46:38 +0000 Emsmems 566650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lindseyinnyc I know what you mean! Looking at this board has helped me a lot! Makes me feel like I'm not going crazy!! I wish I would've gone off sooner too! Problem is, you have to be ready for it to happen the first month, just in case!</p> <p>@Berdine I was also on it for 10 years straight. My doc said there is no difference being on it a year or 10 years, everyone just re-regulates differently. He told me to go off the pill 3 months before we really wanted to try. Problem is, once I got DH on board and we decided this is right for us, we both want a baby NOW... So I will be patient for 3 months, but then I might get crazy! Haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-cycle-off-birth-control#post-566458 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:34:20 +0000 LindsayInNY 566458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@berdine - I was on it continuously for 12 years (no breaks whatsoever). I would take two packs straight so basically 6 weeks or so between periods. If I went too long, I'd start spotting which I figured was my body telling me it was time for AF. Which is why I thought I'd regulate pretty quickly off BC. I went off of it after my last pack in December - so I took the placebos and had AF the week of December 10. My first cycle was 40 days, I spotted a little before AF but fully bled starting January 16. No AF this month yet. If I knew this would happen, I would've given myself a couple months to regular before TTC. It seems like the majority of people have weird cycle lengths for the first couple months/cycles. So if, hypothetically, you wanted to start TTC next January, I'd go off BC early fall and give yourself a few months off it and use condoms? Also, fwiw, a lot of people noticed symptoms off BC. I've been lucky (knock on wood) and aside from a little pre-AF breakout, haven't noticed much of a change. Oy, sorry so long!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-cycle-off-birth-control#post-566441 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:29:33 +0000 LaughLines 566441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNYC how long have you been off BC? Also, how long were you on it?</p> <p>I've been on BC for 10ish years and don't plan to TTC for another year, but wondering how early I need to stop taking the pill </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-cycle-off-birth-control#post-566413 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:21:54 +0000 LindsayInNY 566413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Emsmems - Tell me about it... If I knew going off of it would be this annoying, I would've done it sooner so that my body had time to adjust. This board definitely helps me realize I'm not alone in this but I also get paranoid that I'm not ovulating or that something else is wrong with my cycle now, LOL! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-cycle-off-birth-control#post-566389 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:14:39 +0000 Emsmems 566389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you! I think I just needed someone to say what I was thinking! BC was good when I needed it, but it does mess with the body so much! Glad I'm off of it! Thanks ladies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-cycle-off-birth-control#post-566016 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:59:53 +0000 LindsayInNY 566016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would probably count it as AF also. I went off BC in December also. My first cycle was 40 days and I spotted for 2 days or so before AF fully came (never had that happen before). I'm on cycle two post-BC now and CD28 with no AF. I heard/read everyone else's story but was "convinced" my body would adjust much easier. Apparently not! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-cycle-off-birth-control#post-565933 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:05:12 +0000 Charm54 565933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would also count it as AF...my first two cycles off BC were 26 and 25 days and lighter than usual, then they progressively got longer until they evened out to 30 days. My body was all wonky going off the pill and it did take a few months for me to feel normal again! </p> <p>Welcome and good luck TTC!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-cycle-off-birth-control#post-565878 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 06:15:22 +0000 StrawberryBee 565878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have much advice to give, but just wanted to say welcome! I don't think i need to tell you that our bodies can be a bit wonky coming off of BC. I think I would count that as AF, since it came at the right time and with all the right symptoms. Hopefully next month will bring a more recognizable AF! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-cycle-off-birth-control#post-565781 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:24:52 +0000 Emsmems 565781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Alright ladies, I have been doing a lot of looking around on hellobee but this is my first time posting! I want to get your opinions!</p> <p>I went off birth control (after 10 solid years) the end of December. My "period" (withdraw bleed some call it) started Jan 5. So then, around CD32 (Feb 6) I got spotting, some frank red blood when going potty/wiping for about a day or 2, then brown spotting, then nothing by 5 days. Had bad cramps and was moody, like when I was on BCP. My "period" while on the pill always lasted 7 days and was pretty heavy the first 2-3 days. </p> <p>So my question is, do I count that as AF? I was not charting or temping, I just wanted to see what my body did. Now I'm tracking CM (currently sticky), but waiting to temp to see if I have more of a real AF this month. I did take a HPT just in case with BFN. </p> <p>Any ideas/thoughts welcome! From all the posts I've read, all you ladies are awesome and intelligent and inciteful!</p> <p>Thanks! </p>