Getting Your Period When You're Trying to Conceive

Getting your period when you’re trying to get pregnant can be frustrating. The two-week wait (the time between ovulation and your expected period) is full of hope and anxiety. You may spend those days taking note of every early pregnancy sign. You might even feel pregnant. You're sure this month will be your month.

Maybe you imagine taking a pregnancy test and finally seeing a positive result.

And then...your period comes. It's disappointing. And heartbreaking. Even if you've gone through this over and over for months, it still hurts.

If this was a fertility treatment cycle, the emotional distress can be even greater.

Here's how to cope when Aunt Flo shows up at your door.

It’s completely normal to feel sadness and frustration when Aunt Flo arrives. But you don’t want to be feeling that sadness and frustration during your entire period.

It can help to schedule some time for sadness.

You might tell yourself that you’re going to get all of your tears and pouting out on the day you get your period. And that on the second day of your cycle, you’re going to do your best to move forward.

What if you’re still feeling the sadness on day two? Don’t just push it aside.

Instead, try “scheduling” maybe 15 minutes for letting out the tears.

It may seem unusual, but scheduling your emotions can actually help.

Menstruation is a great time for extra self-care.

Maybe you set aside scented lotions or soaps. Light some candles. Dim the lights and spend time drawing, knitting, or doing whatever hobby you have that you enjoy.

This isn't wasting time. It isn't silly to take extra care of yourself when you're feeling down. Actually, practicing self-care is one of the best ways to start to feel better.

You may have a strong urge to gorge on junk food. You may have a strong urge to gorge on junk food. This is partially due to hormones and partially due to stress. A better choice is to make yourself an extra healthy, feel-good dinner.

You might decide to make a meal that takes more effort than you normally have time for. Maybe you'll look up a new recipe to try.

You shouldn't deny yourself chocolate completely, but it’s all too easy to eat tons of junk food when you’re feeling sad, which may lead to regret.

This may sound a little weird, but investing in cloth menstrual pads helped me cope during a miscarriage.

I figured if I had to bleed, I was going to bleed in style. They made such a difference in how I felt.

• LunaPads
• GladRags
• Heartfelt Bamboo Reusable Cloth Menstrual Pads

These days, I'm a big fan of menstrual cups. They can also make your period more comfortable.

You're already having a difficult time emotionally. Might as well be physically comfortable!

• DivaCup (Pre-Childbirth or Under 30 Size)
• DivaCup (Size 2, Post-Childbirth or Over 30 Size)

Though tempting, taking multiple pregnancy tests during the two-week wait before your period is late does not make getting your period any easier.

Once you do get your period, you may regret wasting the tests and throwing away money on them.

Perhaps the only thing worse than feeling depressed when you get your period is feeling alone with your sadness.

Don’t keep it all to yourself.

Call up a close friend who knows about your troubles trying to conceive. It always helps to talk to someone about how you're feeling! Connect with other women who are struggling to conceive through online forums and groups.

You might also consider seeing and speaking with a professional counselor, especially one with experience with infertility clients. Speaking to a counselor helped me find my way through two-week waits, disappointing periods, and stressful fertility treatments.

Though your period signals the end of one cycle, it is at the same time the beginning of a new one.

The idea of yet another cycle can feel overwhelming. However, a new cycle is also another chance, a new hope. And, maybe, this period will be the last one for the next nine months.