What would you do?

omgladypirate · February 2014

So, I have a few questions that I was hoping you ladies might have some experience with/knowledge of. I am 28 and I have been off of birth control (Nuvaring) since last Sept and my cycles came back normally right away. I am actively trying not to get pregnant and plan to go back on BC soon. I went off hoping it would help with some emotional issues/anxiety/low libido but nothing changed. DH and I have discussed TTC and would like to start this fall, which would make me 29 when we TTC. I thought about having one more cycle off BC and trying ovulation predictor kit just to make sure I'm ovulating and things are working before I go back on BC but am going back and forth as to whether or not this is a good idea. If there are any issues I'd rather know about them now and not later because I'm not getting any younger. Am I being ridiculous? Would doing this even tell me anything?

Also, are ovulation prediction tests a guarantee you actually will ovulate? If, for example, someone has PCOS do they gear up to ovulate, get a positive and just not actually ovulate? Or do they never have the hormone surge and therefore never get a positive? Or would a person with diminished ovarian reserves get a positive but it doesn't matter because it's one of their last eggs left/or they're out of eggs but the body still gears up anyway?

Sorry if this is a silly question and/or doesn't make any sense. Basically, does anyone here think it's a good idea to try OPKs to put my mind at ease before I go back on BC or is it useless (won't really tell me anything anyway) and not worth the effort? I don't want to try self diagnosing or anything. I also don't feel the need to go to a doctor at this point, especially since I'm not having any signs of fertility issues. What would you do?

P.S. I don't think temping would be a good option for me, as I work weird and varying hours and wake/sleep different hours on different days.

Thanks in advance!

sparklingdiamond · February 2014

I have PCOS and OPKs did work for me. But, I had irregular cycles and didn't know when I would ovulate, so I could've hit my fertile window before getting a positive. I also did have a couple of cycles where I would gear up and it would get almost positive, but wouldn't quite get positive.

I think it's best to use them while also temping because then you know for sure if you are ovulating.

rccola1981 · February 2014

If I were planning to start ttc in the fall, I would do natural family planning until then and skip hormonal birth control. The opk scan be a useful tool, but will only tell you if you have the hormone surge consistent to ovulation, not the quality of ovulation. That being said, given that you have no reason to suspect issues, they should be sufficient.

BruinsBabe33 · February 2014

If I were you I would not go back on any hormonal birth control.

omgladypirate · February 2014

Thanks so much for the responses so far! I'm glad you guys understood my long winded question and I really appreciate your responses!

As for going back on BC, this is a good point. My thinking was that since going off didn't seem to really do anything (my cycles came back pretty much like clockwork) going back on for a little while shouldn't do much harm, right? Also, my hormonal acne is out of control since going off (it was bad even on BC, now it's just awful) and PMS symptoms seem to worse. I am not completely opposed to staying off of hormonal BC, just like the convenience and less acne/PMS factor. Was also disappointed that I still cry at the drop of a hat and find sex painful/unappealing since going off of BC so I felt like there was no point in staying off of it.

cinderin · February 2014

I got off BCP and we were TTA, so we used condoms. That's what I would do. Fall will be here pretty quickly.

rccola1981 · February 2014

If sex is painful, that is something to see a doctor about, earlier you just said you had low libido; which is less concerning. This may sound weird but try washing your face with vinegar-it made a huge difference for me in my acne.

LuckyAngel07 · February 2014

I was on Nuvaring before TTC. But before I ever went on BC, I had irregular cycles, and that pretty much was the case after going off it. It took me a year and a half after going off BC to finally get pregnant, but we were working with other issues (late ovulation on my part, possibly some MFI as well).

It can take up to a year for your body to completely normalize after going off BC, so while your cycles may have come back very regularly right away, other hormone levels and such might take longer (your skin may clear up after a little longer; mine went through a bad period after a few months off).

I agree with PP that if sex is painful, you should talk to your gyn. If you're very dry, it's possible you won't produce quality cervical mucus, which is essential during your fertile window in helping YH's sperm get through your cervix.

If you have no other indications you might have fertility issues, don't borrow trouble worrying about it. Your age at this point really isn't a factor at all.

lilliesandvino · February 2014

Go to doc if sex is painful. That's something to be concerned about.

OPKs will only tell you if you have a surge, not if you have ovulated. I'd probably use condoms until fall f I were you.

omgladypirate · February 2014

rccola1981 said:
If sex is painful, that is something to see a doctor about, earlier you just said you had low libido; which is less concerning. This may sound weird but try washing your face with vinegar-it made a huge difference for me in my acne.

Vinegar? I will try this! Thank you!

RockABye · February 2014

I agree with pps.. I personally wouldn't go back on hormonal birth control and would chart to avoid. But that's just me! As for OPKs, I have PCOS and they're a waste of time and money for me.. I don't ovulate 99% of the time though, but I'd still get false positives. On the medicated cycle where I used them, I got false positives and hadn't ovuated and then when I DID ovulate, I never got a positive. Sooo who knows. There are a LOT of women out there who DO have success with them though!

All that to say... good luck lol

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