Post-Pill Cycle Irregularities & Fertility Concerns: What to Expect

Question
I am 26 years old. I have no children. My last period was August 18th. I stopped taking the pill on May 30th after being on if for 7 years. I didn't finish the pack. My husband and I wanted to start trying to conceive a baby. After stopping the pill my period came a couple of days later and I have had one every month. My cycle has been between 19-31 days. We didn't try the first month. I took an ovulation test this month and determined I wasn't ovulating. Do you think the pill could still be in my body or do think I should start seeking medical help. My concern is that my husband is 33 years old and we don't want to have to wait the year most doctors suggest.I have never had any trouble with my periods.

Answer
A cycle is considered normal if it is 24-35 days (from the first day of your period until the first day of your next period). A cycle of less than 21 days shows that you are not ovulating. The pill is definitely out of your system if you stopped at the end of May. If your last period started on August 18, then the earliest that you could ovulated is 14 days later, or on August 31. YOu can only become pregnant if you have sex on August 30,31,September 1, or 2. If you have a short cycle,you may have a "luteal phase defect" due to a deficiency of progesterone. I would get a  progesterone titer from the lab and discuss it with your gynecologist. The only way to know if you are or are not ovulating is to perform a basal body temperature chart or have an ovulation test on the correct day of the month. Since your cycle is so irregular, you may have taken the ovulation predictor test on the wrong day of the month and you may, ineed, be ovulating at a later time in the month.