cycle changes off the pill

[medanza]

I've been off the pill for 3 months after 9 years of taking it (I'm 34 years old). My first menstrual cycle was 40 days, then 33 the next month, then 34 the next--much longer than I'm used to. So here are my questions:

Does this mean I ovulate later than if I had, say a 28 day cycle? I'm using a fertility monitor that said I was most fertile on day 13 but this seems wrong considering the long cycle.

If I am ovulating later, will this hurt my chances of getting pregnant?

I have had no breast tenderness whatsoever at any time these three months like I did on the pill and prior to that, plus a very light period. Does the lack of breast tenderness in particular mean I'm not ovulating?

[findinghumility]

I'm not familiar with that fertility monitor.  Anything worth using if that's all your using should base itself virtually exclusively on readings not cycle length.  Ever woman and circumstance can be so different that yes, in theory you could be ovulating later if your cycle is longer, but you could just as easily have a longer luteal phase.  Plus if you have an irregular cycle and the monitor is basing itself on your previous cycle that reduces effectiveness even more.  The "average" time of ovulation would be 10 -16 days before your period begins.  So while it is possible you ovulated later then day 14 it's just too hard to tell without more reliable signs.  Sorry i'm not being able to give you a more precise answer!  Hang in there!

[medanza]

Thank you. So would it be safe to say that with a longer cycle, I am probably ovulating later than say, day 14 of my cycle?

The reason I ask is I'm using the Ovacue fertility monitor. It told me last month that day 13 was the highest fertility day--but that was based on a 28 day cycle. Now that I've registered it as a 34 day cycle, it's giving me my highest fertility readings later in the cycle than before. (It's supposed to respond based on your saliva, but it seems to be responding more to the number of cycle days I put in there). Just trying to figure this all out.  

[findinghumility]

After 9 years it may take a while to get things back to "normal" for you.  Ovulation wise the concern would be if you are ovulating super early which it doesn't sound like you are, or if the days between ovulation and your period are less then 10 days.  Both circumstances could negatively effect implantation. It's very possible that your progesterone is used to running high from being on the pill etc which is causing a bit of delay in your period coming.  At this point I would just keep an eye on things and not worry about it.  You have to give your body a couple more months to try and work it out and get readjusted.  

The breast tenderness is not a factor at all.  Some women have it, some don't.  It doesn't mean one is ovulating and one is not. And even if some women see it every month they could skip that sign one month and still ovulate.  

I would start charting various signs even casually, especially around the time you are getting positive reading on your fertility monitor.  A more common problem after bc is getting proper cervical mucus since the bc pills can sometimes damage the cervical crypts that produce mucus needed for sperm to survive long enough to conceive etc.  

Good luck to you!