What hormone is the highest amount at the time of ovulation?

Natural menstrual cycle time frame and chances of conception after stopping the pill?

• I have been on the pill for 7 years, so I haven't had a "natural" cycle experience in quite a while. My fiance and I aren't actively trying to get pregnant, but decided it's fine if we do, so we just continued on with our usual sex life, but now without Seasonique. (By the way, "usual" may not be the right word, because sex has been SO much better in EVERY way now that I'm off that pill!) The last day I took the pill was Saturday, January 28th. I had a very, very slight, barely-there period that week (I bled lightly for a whole month on the Seasonique, and I have lost 15 lbs in a pretty short amount of time, so I'm not surprised my period was very slight.) I believe my cycle returned to normal again in a matter of days. Last Saturday, I discovered a lot lot lot of discharge - the same kind I was used to seeing at seemingly random times, but about 4x the amount I've seen in the past. After researching, I found that meant one of two things: I'm pregnant or I'm ovulating. I was sure that because I saw such a large amount unlike ever before, I should test for pregnancy. They were negative, so I chalked it up to a very special post-pill ovulation. If my period remains on the cycle my birth control went on, I should get my period sometime between now (the 29th) and the first week of March, though that would be only a few days to one week away from what I believed was my ovulation. I can usually tell my period is coming 1-3 days before the blood starts, and right now there's no sign of it, but I'm not certainly jumping to any conclusions yet. So pretty much what I'm wondering is which is more likely: That I should get my period within this week like I would have on the pill, or should my period come in in two weeks due to ovulation? Is it possible for my ovulation to be closer to my period than the two week norm? Do you think the increase in discharge was caused by ovulation? I've exhibited no other symptoms and the discharge ended two days after it started. My last week or so on the pill was messy with the timing, and I think I missed one pill entirely, and I was having sex during that time. I was also having unprotected sex all this week (the discharge ovulation sign was Saturday morning, and my fiance and I have been "getting it on" daily since Sunday afternoon.) Assuming the ovulation happened as I suspect, did my fiance and I get freaky during a time with higher likelihood of conception? I apologize for the length, but I figure I should include all the details so you can understand my situation. I know these are probably questions a lady should already know the answer to, but I never would have thought two weeks ago that I would not be taking the pill now! I've never been in this situation before and it's a bit perplexing, but still great. Thanks for any input!

• Answer:

  I understand why the long story, and will try to answer. 1. What makes you think your cycle went back to a normal natural cycle in a matter of days? That is actually very unlikely. 2. When you quit the pill, it is very common to experience all kinds of hormonal symptoms that can seem like ovulation, PMS or pregnancy. That is the most likely cause of your discharge. 3. There is absolutely no reason why you should remain on the same schedule as when you were on the pill. The pill completely suppressed your natural cycle. It can take up to three months for your natural cycle to start up again, and it will most likely have nothing to do with your cycle on the pill. 4. If your discharge WAS due to ovulation (it's possible but not very likely) you can expect your period about two weeks after it stopped. The time between ovulation and next period is actually one of the few things in a natural cycle that is more or less fixed. 5. The time right after quitting the pill is just a confusing hormonal mess. There is no real way of knowing whether you ovulated anywhere close to when you think you did. The combination of withdrawal due to pill hormones leaving your body and your own hormones trying to level out and start a new cycle just clouds the picture beyond recognition. But if you DID ovulate and DID have sex close to ovulation, your chance or pregnancy would be average: about 20%. Edit: And that gynecologist was right. That is why we are warned against missing pills when ON birth control. After all, when on birth control we are obviously trying to prevent pregnancy and anything that decreases the reliability of the pill is a bad thing. However, that does not mean it is actually LIKELY instead of merely POSSIBLE to get your natural cycle back mere days after quitting the pill. "Far too great a risk when trying to prevent pregnancy" is not the same thing as "excellent odds when trying to conceive". Far from actually.