Coming Off the Pill.

A common question asked amongst women who are trying to conceive (TTC) is "how long after coming off birth control (the pill) does it take for my cycle to regulate itself?"

The problem with that question is it varies from woman to woman, so no one answer can apply to everyone. A few things that should be considered when asking how long it will take for your cycle to regulate, is how long you were on the pill for. There does seem to be a common trend amongst women - those who have been on the pill for years will probably regulate at a slower rate than those who only used it for weeks or a few months. Another point to consider is how long after you come off the pill does the hormone start leaving your body. With the pill, it stays in your system for much longer than other contraception does (i.e. the implanon will be out of your system within 72 hours whereas it will take at least a couple of months for the hormones the pill produces to be out of your system).

It's not uncommon for women's cycles to be all over the place after coming off the pill and it's also normal not have a period for months (which can be frustrating if you want to chart your cycle because you are TTC).

Some women are lucky and they will have a period within just a few days or weeks and their cycle will regulate itself in record time, but once again, there are several things that affect how long it will take for your cycle to regulate.

With the pill, patience is required. You probably won't get pregnant soon after coming off it. Expect to wait at least a couple of months, but it usually does take longer that a couple of months for everything to return back to normal. Don't be disheartened - just find the strength to wait it out.

The Implanon (Contraceptive Implant).

According to many women, the implanon isn't a good form of contraception. I've heard complaints about women gaining extreme weight while on it, but the most popular/ common reason for disliking the implanon are the irregular periods that it causes. Some woman have found that their periods stopped fully whilst on the implanon which can be quite worrying and on the other hand some women have found that they've bled practically everyday since having the implanon fitted.

I personally feel that the implanon has been a good form of contraception for me because although my periods are nonexistent, I prefer it that way because I don't have to worry about irregular and spontaneous bleeding. I chose to get the implanon fitted because it's a long lasting form of contraception and because once taken out, your cycle apparently goes back to normal straight away.

I do realise that everyone is different, so although I have heard that I will have a normal period soon after implanon removal, I have also heard stories about women's cycles being all over the place for up to a year. Nonetheless, I haven't personally experienced any side effects of the implanon and I am content with it. As a word of advice, I would get the implanon taken out a couple of months before (trying to conceive) TTC because every woman is different and although some women's cycles will regulate itself immediately, others might take longer.

Patience is a Virtue.

When you are trying to conceive (TTC), it can feel like it's taking forever to get pregnant. A lot of women get upset, angry and frustrated when they are greeted with a period every month, but remember that there's only a 25% chance of a young healthy couple conceiving every month. There's only a small window every month in which to fall pregnant, so it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when you are ovulating.

It's important to know your body thoroughly so that you can make accurate predictions and give yourself the best chance of falling pregnant. Try not to be disheartened when your period arrives - remember that it can take up to a year to conceive even if you and your partner are in perfect condition and perfect health.

If after a year of TTC you still haven't fallen pregnant, you might want to check in with your doctor just to make sure there aren't any fertility problems involved and your doctor may be able to provide you with advice on how to maximise your chances of falling pregnant.

Keep yourself occupied when waiting for your period to be over, when waiting for your ovulation time to come and when waiting for pregnancy symptoms to arrive. It can be hard when you are particularly eager and anxious to know what's going on with your body and you might cause yourself unnecessary stress.

The Question About Spotting.

A lot of women say that when they experience implantation bleeding (spotting), they see a small light pink patch. Other women say they see a small dark brown patch, almost like dried blood.

So for people who are trying to conceive (TTC), it gets confusing when telling if they are spotting or just getting closer to their period. The question of spotting is pretty simple: it varies from woman to woman. It's difficult to tell if you are about to start your period or if you are experiencing implantation spotting, so if you think you are pregnant, don't rely on spotting as an indication that you are pregnant.

It's important to look out for other pregnancy symptoms because some women don't even experience spotting when they are pregnant. Look out for cramps, nausea, tender breasts and of course your missed period. Relying solely on spotting could lead to disappointment because there could be so many reasons for you seeing light pink or dark brown spotting.