I am 28 years old and have been off of Ortho-tricyclen for seven cycles now. I was on it for about 12 years straight. These past three months I have been having one or two days of spotting (brown or red discharge) about four to six days before my period starts. My cycle has stayed relatively regular (29 days, ovulation at day 14) except for last month, my period was four days late. I don’t have a short luteal phase as it is about 14 days long. The past couple months I have had major pregnancy type symptoms (sore breasts, blue veins, ring finger swelling, bloating, acne, severe lower back ache, quick weight gain in mid-section and thighs, etc) but then I spot 3/4 of the way through my luteal phase and then have my period. The first day of my period is heavy and severe cramps that will wake me up in the middle of the night having to take Advil for the pain. I went to see my GP (my DH and I are ttc three months now) and she figures I may have a hormone imbalance (low progesterone/estrogen dominance) and that it could be aftermath of being on the pill for so long. She won’t refer me to an ob/gyn or get blood tests for another three months as she feels that my body will regulate itself as it is just starting to get used to making its own period/cycle instead of relying on the BCP (even though I went off seven cycles ago). She thinks that I may have fertilized eggs but that they can’t implant due to the progesterone deficiency. It bothers me to think that she will just let the eggs continue to abort without helping me. It’s very frustrating and sad. This could easily go on for another three months (maybe three more babies lost). Can you please provide some advice as to what I can do or what I should tell my GP? In Canada, we must be referred to an ob/gyn so I can’t make my own appt. I could really use a second opinion.
Off the pill after 12 years of use, trying to conceive
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Last Updated: July 23, 2013
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