Period talk: Questions and advice

Sarah Jones70 said:I was on Yasmin and stopped taking it about two months ago... my first period came right on schedule, but now my second one is already a week late. Plus, I'm dealing with nausea and some pretty intense ovarian pain—basically all the usual symptoms I get right before my period hits. Is it totally normal for things to be this delayed after quitting the pill, or is there something actually wrong with me? 🙂please help!!!!!

I can't give you a definitive answer, but I'm in the exact same boat. I quit hormones too—I was supposed to get my period around October 25th, and still nothing. Honestly, I haven't had a single "normal" cycle since I stopped, aside from that one immediately after finishing the last pack. And I am definitely, one hundred percent not pregnant.

I picked up my prescription right after starting the pill, then had to grab another one because my cycle was running a day or two late... now I was expecting my period around November 2nd and it’s just nowhere to be found. Between the constant nausea, the irritability, and this nagging ache in my ovaries, I feel like I'm losing my mind. I’m pretty sure I’m not pregnant, but the fact that my cycle is being this unpredictable is honestly driving me up the wall.

Sarah Jones70 said:I ended up getting my period after starting the pill... and then I got another one right after that, though it was a day or two late. Now, I was supposed to get it on November 2nd and still nothing... I've been feeling nauseous and really jittery this whole time, plus my ovaries are aching. My period just won't show up, and honestly, I'm starting to lose my mind a little. I'm pretty sure I'm not pregnant... I guess I'm just more frustrated that it isn't arriving on schedule.

Ugh... I wish I were in your shoes, being only ten days late... mine is LATE BY TWO MONTHS!!!
I feel like I'm going crazy... I went to see my OB-GYN for some advice about a month ago, and she told me it’s perfectly normal when you're coming off birth control, so I scheduled a follow-up appointment, but it isn't for another week! I'm seriously losing it; I was so certain it would arrive before my appointment, but now it feels like it's never coming. I've already taken two pregnancy tests, both negative! But still, nothing. I mean, I get those occasional twinges in my ovaries or a little stinging sensation in my abdomen every once in a while, which gives me a tiny glimmer of hope, but then it just disappears again.😠

I just really needed to vent...😢

Sarah Jones70 said:I got my period right after starting the pill... then I got another one shortly after, which was only a day or two late. Now I was supposed to get it on November 2nd and still nothing. I've been dealing with nausea, feeling super jittery, and my ovaries are aching. My period just won't show up. It's driving me insane. I'm pretty sure I'm not pregnant, but it's just annoying that it's this late.

When I quit the pill, it was only three days late. Honestly, my cycle went back to normal, just like it was before I started taking them.
My issue is that I restarted the pill on the very first day my period showed up, and now the bleeding won't stop! The first day was incredibly light, but by the second day, I was throwing up constantly. It slowly tapered off until the fourth day, but just when I thought it was over, since the fifth day, I've been getting this heavy spotting every single morning. Just in the morning, then nothing the rest of the day.
I'll wait a few more days, and if this doesn't quit, I'm heading to my OBGYN (it's day 8 today and it happened again this morning).
What do you guys think is going on? 😕

Linda Cook58 said:Man, you have it easy if you're only ten days late... I'm staring down a two-month delay right now.
I feel like I'm losing my mind. I went to see my OB-GYN for advice a month ago, and she told me this was standard when you're coming off birth control, so I booked an appointment—only to find out I have to wait another week just to be seen. It’s exhausting because I really thought I’d get some answers before then, but nothing seems to be happening. I’ve already run two pregnancy tests and they were both negative, yet there's still no sign of anything. Every once in a while, I feel this slight twinge in my ovaries or a little poking in my abdomen, which gives me a flicker of hope, but then everything just goes quiet again.😠

Just needed to vent...😢

The twinges in my ovaries have been going on for two weeks now, and honestly, I'm reaching my limit. If you're feeling frantic after two months of waiting, I can only imagine the mental toll a sixty-day gap takes on you. Jesus Christ, I just hope things settle down for me soon. I've heard through the grapevine that it's perfectly normal for your cycle to go haywire after stopping hormonal therapy, but knowing that doesn't make the uncertainty any less maddening.🙂

Hi everyone.
I started my period two weeks ago, and it still hasn't stopped.
Last week, I went to see my doctor because of some kidney pain, and she diagnosed me with pyelonephritis. She prescribed some Cephalin capsules. My urine tests showed mucus and bacteria, but everything else came back normal.
Do you think this prolonged bleeding could be linked to the pyelonephritis? I should also mention that this past month has been incredibly stressful for me, and I haven't been eating regular meals at all.
There were times when I’d go several days only eating two or three meals total.
I'm 17 years old and I am not sexually active.

I’ve got zero clue about those meds you were taking—can’t say if they're linked to bleeding this long—but usually, heavy flow is just some hormonal imbalance acting up. Honestly? Just go see a gynecologist. They'll probably order some blood work to check your levels or maybe just give you something to stop the cycle altogether

Just so you know, my fibroids showed up while I was still using a Mirena coil. Between one stubborn fibroid measuring 73x42 and a clear cyst on my ovary at 21x22x32, I was 46 years old when two different doctors gave me the same recommendation: just take out the whole works—uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

Lisa Thompson said:I started dealing with fibroids right when I had my Mirena inserted, so just a heads up on that timing... And because of one pedunculated fibroid—about 73x42—plus a clear cyst on my ovary measuring 21x22x32 at age 46, two different doctors both recommended a total hysterectomy, including the ovaries and tubes, the whole works.

As for me, they actually just took out a pedunculated fibroid this year (via laparoscopy using a morcellator), it was about 80x25 and sitting outside the uterus... It had been growing for a few years now. I’ve been getting checkups every couple of years with three different gynecologists—some private practices and some over at major hospitals in Chicago—and I even grabbed a few extra opinions based on my scans. At first, back when it was way smaller, everyone was telling me it absolutely had to come out, but then finally, once I made the call to get it done, my current OBGYN and the surgeon who actually did the procedure told me I didn't really need to go that far and that I could potentially still get pregnant and deal with it after having a baby.
Still, honestly, I'm just relieved that thing is finally out of me 🙂
I've heard such a massive range of stories regarding fibroids... for some women they cause all sorts of issues depending on where they're sitting, while others just live with them forever without ever needing surgery. I don't know what your specific situation is looking like, but if the doctors have laid out their reasoning, maybe you should just listen to them... or maybe go hunt down one more opinion? Maybe there's a way to avoid losing the ovaries? But then there's that cyst—I mean, I really don't know how big of a deal that actually is in the grand scheme of things.
The thing about fibroids is that if you're predisposed to them, there's a pretty high chance you'll end up with a bunch more later on...
Maybe they're just thinking that since you aren't planning on having more kids, doing the full procedure now will prevent future headaches. Come to think of it, a ton of women I know from my neck of the woods—mostly older than you, like my mother-in-law, my neighbor, my godmother...—have had at least a hysterectomy, and some even had their ovaries removed. They all say it's not the end of the world.
Ugh, looking back, I've used way too many "maybes" so I don't even know if I'm being helpful here or just making you more confused...
I really hope everything works out okay for you—it probably isn't as terrifying as it seems when you first find out.

Thought I’d jump in here and share what I’m dealing with. I was on Yasmin for about a year, but after some issues with them, I stopped. It’s been three months since then, and my period has been coming every month—cycles usually run about 30 to 34 days. Well, it was supposed to start on the 13th, but I had unprotected sex on the 1st and 2nd... Now my stomach is cramping, I’m feeling nauseous (though nothing yet), and my temperature has been hovering between 98.6 and 99 degrees every day. My moods are all over the place, and I’ve been eating way more than usual lately. Plus, I’m hitting the bathroom every 3 or 4 hours, and I’m definitely waking up at least once a night to go. I took a test this morning, but it came back negative. Should I just wait a few days to see if my period actually shows up? If it doesn't, should I try testing again? I’m not sure if it’s too early for a test to catch anything, even though if I am pregnant, it would be about 2 or 3 weeks along. I’d really appreciate some advice... I’m terrified of taking any medication if it turns out I’m actually pregnant. Thanks.🙂

My cycle is completely out of whack, and I’m dealing with constant light spotting every single day (literally can't live without a liner)... anyone have any clue what's going on? I finally scored a gynecologist appointment in two weeks, but I’m gonna lose my mind by then.

Linda Cook58 said:Ugh... lucky you, yours is only ten days late... mine is TWO MONTHS LATE!!!
I am seriously losing my mind here... I actually went to see my OBGYN for advice about a month ago, and she told me this was totally normal for someone coming off birth control, so I scheduled a follow-up. But the appointment isn't for another week! I'm freaking out because I was so sure I'd get my period before then, but now it feels like it’s just not happening. I've already taken two pregnancy tests—both negative! But still, nothing. Though, I do get these little twinges in my ovaries and some light cramping in my abdomen every once in a while, which gives me a tiny bit of hope, and then... nothing again!😠

I just really needed to vent...😢

Honey, I am right there with you... When I saw my doctor about a month and a half ago, I had just finished my cycle on day 39. The ultrasound showed that my ovaries were looking a little "polycystic" (if that's even the right word). I'm also off the pill; I stopped taking them back in the spring...
Since my period used to be super regular, she told me to just wait two or three months to see if everything would just reset itself naturally, but here I am waiting for day 50!! OMG 😲

At what point should I actually start worrying and take action if my period just won't show up?? 🤷

I’ve been feeling pretty anxious for the last few days. I have never actually had a Pap smear done, and I’m starting to think it might be high time...
In the past, my cycle has always been pretty regular, usually landing every 28 to 29 days, though this last one showed up a couple of days early. I probably wouldn't be nearly as worried if I hadn't noticed these tiny traces of blood—just a few drops, really—out of nowhere last night (though it actually happened two days ago). I had shaved right before heading out (no cuts or anything), and then my boyfriend got a little carried away with touching me, which was actually quite painful. After that, I noticed the bleeding.
On another note, my right leg swelled up about a month ago (maybe it was just from those tight compression socks?), and I deal with frequent aches in my legs and lower back. I suppose I should wonder if there is any connection between those symptoms and the thing I'm too nervous to name, or if I'm just letting my anxiety run wild. Any advice would be appreciated.

I didn't quite catch what you were getting at here

Look, going to get a Pap smear is definitely the right move—smart, even—but let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill. It’s really not as scary as it sounds
There are probably a million different reasons why you're feeling this way

What’s actually eating at you? What are you suspicious about? Can you be more specific about what’s bothering you. A little blood in a sample or something else?🤷

If you haven't gone in for a Pap smear yet—and you're sexually active—you really ought to get it scheduled... It doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong, but doing it for preventative care just gives you that peace of mind...
If I hadn't gone—this was my first partner, by the way—I might not have caught whatever it is I'm dealing with in time (still waiting on the results to come back)

Here’s the situation:
I’ve been on birth control for about two years now, and I’m just wrapping up a two-month break. I’m planning to start back up on my pill in about five days—basically, right when my next period is supposed to show up. If everything goes according to plan (and let's face it, things rarely do), I should be seeing my period maybe a day or two before New Year's Eve—assuming the usual 21 days of pills plus those 3 or 4 days of waiting. The thing is, I have a trip coming up, and I really don't want to deal with my period while I'm away. So, I'm looking to delay it.
If I decide to skip the break and just keep taking them:
- Should I extend the cycle by just a week, or go ahead and finish a whole extra 21-day pack?
- Has anyone else had any weird side effects from skipping the placebo week? So far, everything has been totally fine 🙏—no issues at all, aside from some cellulite—and even during this little break, my cycle arrived right on schedule (though we'll see if that consistency holds up). I really don't want to mess with a system that seems to be working perfectly fine...
- Does it matter if I jump straight into the next pack immediately?

There’s also a chance I won't even need to do this—if my period decides to show up early (within the next couple of days 👍) or if it decides to take its sweet time (maybe in 11 days or so 👎). But, better safe than sorry, right? I'd rather be prepared for any scenario... ☕

I actually went in yesterday myself. Just take a breath and go. Even though this is my first partner, my doctor suggested I get checked out just to be safe. What you mentioned doesn't necessarily mean something terrible is happening, but honestly, it’s better to go than to sit here stressing and overthinking until you're worked up over nothing. Go see them and let us know what they say.

I’m dealing with pretty much the exact same thing; I get these ovarian cysts that seem to burst right during my period, and then during ovulation, I'll deal with some spotting. My back aches almost every month depending on how bad the cysts are, and my breasts get tender too. Aside from getting a Pap smear, it’s probably worth scheduling an ultrasound, though at the end of the day, your doctor is the one who actually knows what's going on.

Thanks so much for the input. I’m planning on heading in for a private consultation next week. As of today, there isn't any blood to speak of, though I am seeing a lot of white discharge that looks more yellowish, and I find myself running to the restroom quite frequently. My main issues right now are lower back pain and occasional abdominal cramping—it feels almost like a dull ache that radiates down into my legs. I guess I'm just feeling pretty anxious about all of this...