Eight Years on the Pill for Irregular Cycles– Now Cannot Achieve Pregnancy…
Question
Hello there…I am in desperate need of advice….
My name is Janelle and my 2nd wedding anniversary is coming up on Sept 13th, that I will be sharing with my wonderful husband. Let me give you a brief overview of my history on the birth control pill. I went on the pill ( Lo-estrin 3.0 ) because of irregular periods when I was around 18 and was on it for 7-8 years straight (never went off once). I went off the pill when I was 25 and am now 26. Â Since I went off of the pill, my husband and I have been trying to get pregnant, but I have had very irregular periods since going off. I have been off of the pill for close to a year now, and have only had one period lasting 11 days (heavy flow). I have had very bad cramps for the past two weeks and have not had a period. I am very worried about getting pregnant and becoming very anxious. I get very jealous when friends, co-workers or family members share the news with me that they are expecting….Do you or anybody have any recommendations or advice for my husband and I?? We need all the help we can get. Please Please Please help me. I don’t want to go back on the pill. Please help us.
Answer
Last Updated: July 23, 2013
Birth control pills are commonly used to treat irregular periods. The cause of the irregular periods is not evaluated, and it is not uncommon for the woman to come off the pill years later with the same irregular periods—-simply delaying evaluation and treatment.
I recommend you pursue a long overdue evaluation of the cause of your irregular cycles. The first step I recommend is to see an NFP teacher, and begin charting the biological markers of your cycle. The teacher can also discuss factors which may be affecting your procreative health, such as your body mass, diet, exercise, and stress. After charting for a month or two, I recommend you take your records to a physician (there are teachers and physician throughout California listed on our website) for a thorough diagnostic evaluation. Such an evaluation would probably begin with a history and physical exam, and a targeted hormonal workup.
If you only had one period in the last year, you are not ovulating (or at most ovulated only once in the past year). Charting the signs produced by your body will not only provide you with a record to share with your physician, it will also help you identify when and if you ovulate. Obviously, this would be vital in achieving a pregnancy, especially in your case when ovulation is infrequent and irregular.
It is good that you did not wait longer to begin your family. You are still young, and while I know it is hard to see others around you being blessed with pregnancy, and feel the injustice about it not “just happening” for you, it does sound like you have some health issues which need addressing, not only to achieve the pregnancy you desire, but for your future health as well.
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