https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:14:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-264123 Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:54:36 +0000 marionberry 264123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped BC and had a perfectly normal 28 day month after that, but then the months after only lasted 24, 25, and 26 days. See a pattern?! lol. I wish I would've been charting earlier, but I recommend charting from the beginning of getting off the pill for sure! @Modern Daisy, I bought the Fertility Monitor and it has been a God Send this month. I'd totally recommend it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251845 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:58:23 +0000 Smurfette 251845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have any symptoms after stopping BC. Got my period 27 days later, with two days of spotting before, which I never had before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251819 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:44:17 +0000 Bookish 251819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just stopped last month (beginning of July) at the end of my pack and had a normal period/withdrawal bleed. I will say that the first month off BC was not very fun for me. I had terrible mood swings the first week, bad cramping all around my ovulation date, and my cycle ended up being 35 days long. Today is day 2 of my next cycle and I feel SO much better. I didn't even have cramps or my usual menstrual migraine! I hope it goes easy on you! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251752 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:01:06 +0000 autumnlove 251752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped BCP last month and I didn't get a withdrawal bleed. My period resumed 24 days later. I have been charting so I can get into the routine for the months ahead! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251731 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 09:46:49 +0000 HappyJax 251731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the input! I was leaning towards staying put in my cycle and leaving my first day of AF as CD1 and disregarding the spotting. Seems like that's the concensus! Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251697 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 09:21:00 +0000 Modern Daisy 251697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you should keep CD1 at the start date of your period despite the spotting. It's very difficult to determine why spotting happens, it can mean a variety of things. If it continues go see your doctor. But regardless, it's normal to have complete wackiness happen for the first 6 months after you stop the pill.</p> <p>Investing in the digital Clearblue monitor might be a good idea, my Gyno actually highly recommended it! I would have bought it if I hadn't been diagnosed with PCOS - which makes OPK's pretty much useless. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251665 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 08:55:03 +0000 Foodnerd81 251665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have more spotting since stopping BCP too. Like Mrs Green Grass, sometimes my period goes for a few days, stops completely for a day, then another couple of light days. In any case, just enter it in your chart as spotting, but keep the first day of your period as cycle day 1. The first cycle will be pretty crazy in terms of temps anyway. I don't use OPKs, so no personal experience, but it seems like they might just be a waste in the first cycle since you have no idea how long it will be. I'd wait until the next one and just chart your temps and CM for now. Then next cycle, you will have an idea of what to look for and when to start using them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251498 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 04:09:44 +0000 looch 251498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped BCP in 2007 after being on it for 10 years. It took a few months for my cycle to normalize too, I would say it was at least 4 months, but before that, it took awhile for my first real period to start, at least 2 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251435 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:45:39 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 251435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know whether it's withdrawal bleeding or not, but always count the first day of red flow as CD1. I never spotted before coming off BC, but then always did for a few days before my actual period started. I also sometimes would completely stop after 3 days and then have another day of flow (CD5). It really takes a while to start to figure out what's going on. You can start OPKs right away if you want, but they'll be easier if you have a pretty solid idea of how long your cycle is. Mine took quite awhile to normalize (like 7+ months) - it was between 27 and 40 days, but usually around 30. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251322 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:38:35 +0000 SleepyMonkey 251322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice on the spotting but after going off bcp my skin became greasier and my hair shedding picked up a bit temporarily. And my cycles were all wacky for a couple of months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251307 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:28:25 +0000 Mrs. Blue 251307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Coming off BC can just be a mess! If you're charting your BBT, you should do it the whole cycle, starting with the first day of your period, not the spotting you're having now. Youay have bleeding/spotting for a lot longer than normal your first cycle off. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of OPKs, unless you're usig the digitals, because they can be hard to read and tell if it's really a positive. If it were me, I would just chart the first cycle while your body regulates and then try OPKs next month. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-after-stopping-bcp#post-251299 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:21:34 +0000 HappyJax 251299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just stopped my birth control pill. My last pill was the placebo on Saturday. My period ended on Sunday but today I started having some spotting. Is this withdrawal bleeding?</p> <p>I was charting as of the first day of my period (today is cd7) but i am wondering if I need to start charting from the end of this possible withdrawal bleeding? I would like to start using opks but this has thrown me and I'm not sure when to start using them....</p> <p>Any thoughts are appreciated. Also, did you experience any side effects after stopping bcp? </p>