I am a 24 year old woman, who just recently got married to the man of my dreams. We recently decided that it was time to get off the birth control and to try starting our own family, so I have been off the pill for 2 months ( I had been using the pill 5 years prior). I have heard that woman can get pregnant as soon as they get off the pill, while for others, it takes longer (i.e 3-6 months). I am a very patient person, but not knowing if I am pregnant is driving my crazy. Here's why. Because I was on the pill, I knew the exact hour that my period would start. This month (Oct) I was to get my period on the 21st, but instead I began bleeding on the 20th in the morning... more than 24 hours before I should have. I bled heavily the first day and then it petered off to a brownish colour the next, and now the 23rd I have nothing. My periods usually last 7 days.. yes... I am blessed with long periods.. lol. Now I don't know what to do... is this implantation bleeding(IB) [ I know IB is not common in pregnant woman, but could this be what is happening with me?]

Honestly I personally do not think it is implantation bleeding because implantation bleeding is not heavy as a period. As far as taking the pill so long and not being on it any more. It is quite possible that your periods will change quite often. Not to the exact date and even come week later, week earlier and so forth. As far as trying to get pregnant. Even for a couple that has had no birth control there are times where it may take up to a year to get pregnant. For my wife and I, each time we got pregnant it took approximately 6 months to get pregnant. She is not on any birth control because it would not work for her anyway with the medication that she takes.

Joe

Thanks, Jesushelper... That makes sense. I guess that when you are so used to having your periods on an exact timeline, that when it deviate you wonder if you are pregnant. Again thanks for the info and I guess we'll keep trying if I'm not pregnant.
Thank you:o

Cat, please read this about implantation bleeding.

Understand that you went off the pill, so your body is no longer used to the synthetic hormones that the pill was providing. Your body will take time to adjust back to your normal natural hormones.

After being on the pill for 5 years this may take some time. So, please be patient, it will happen when it is meant to be.

Thanks J_9... I read through your post this morning about implantation bleeding and the information helps. I can see that the "implantation bleeding" question is on a lot of women's minds and that you and many others have probably answered a tons of questions that all lead to the same answer and could probably be solved if people would just read through your answers. But in all honesty, I believe that people will still continue to ask the same questions because, on some level, it helps! It helps to know that people out there care enough to answer a question that is importnant to you, whether it be repetitive or not. It helps because it may be that you are part of a minority, whose body doesn't respond the same way as others may... a one in a million! It helps because it brings a part of humanity back into conversation... a type of humanity that shows that people out there really do care about what you are going through and want you to get the best information possible. Not just a message that is meant for everyone, but a message meant JUST for you. :)

Yes, Cat, implantation bleeding is a never ending question. However, many people who are not "educated" in the matter still hear of this term. I myself was not "educated" about implantation bleeding until a few months ago. That is when I wrote that "sticky."

I do prefer to answer each question individually, as your thoughts are right, each person is an individual and circumstances vary according to each person.