beginning ttc protocol

sooo.... my Dh and i are looking to start ttc over the summer (julyish) and i have two newbie quesitons.

1. do i have to let my obgyn know beforehand? i am not due to go back for my annual until november.

2. how soon beforehand should i go off the pill??? im on ortho tricyclin lo, for 12 years now.

TIA

Re: beginning ttc protocol

When I spoke to my doctor last summer about TTC she told me to go off the pill about 3 months prior.

Good luck!

Re: beginning ttc protocol

You don't HAVE to speak to your dr. but you will want her to prescribe a prenatal vitamin for you!

Re: beginning ttc protocol

I've heard to come off the pill for three months prior. Its taking me more time than expected for my cycles to get back to "normal." (I was on the pill for 11 years, so I don't really remember what normal was!) You don't have to tell your doc necessarily, but as a PP said, they may put you on prenatals.

GL!!!

Re: beginning ttc protocol

I heard 3 months also, but don't go off unless you are ready for the possibility of getting pregnant! You never know!

As for prenatals I started taking them in January and DH and I want to actively start TTC in April/May. I hear it can't hurt to start early!

Re: beginning ttc protocol

ITA with PPs who said don't come off BCP unless you are ready to get pregnant or prepared to use another form of contraception.

Also, I don't think you need to tell your doctor, but you should start a prenatal (OTC or Rx)

Re: beginning ttc protocol

I'm in the same boat and just went off BC the last cycle I had which was late January. I was due for AF the third week of February, but am still waiting for her appearance. I'm already panicking that it's not hear, not because I think I "could be", but because I want AF to come and have a few cycles by July to TTC....I'd go off them since some people have different experiences with the aftermath of BC....just be REALLY careful!

Re: beginning ttc protocol

You may want to talk to your doctor simply b/c doctors have differing opinions on when to go off the pill, how to prepare, etc. I was on the pill for 8 or 9 years. My doctor told me we could start trying right away. The only thing she recommended was that I take a multivitamin with at least 400 mcg of folic acid at least 3 months before TTC. I was very lucky and got pregnant the first month after I went off the pill. If you decide to go off the pill before you're ready to TTC, make sure you use some type of protection.

Some doctors recommend waiting 3 months b/c it gives your body a chance to regulate and you'll likely have a better idea of when you conceived.

Re: beginning ttc protocol

thank you for all of your responses! see you in july! (well, hopefully not because you will all have moved on to the pregnancy board!)