Stopping the Birth Control Pills

[Willing and Unsure]

So, I think I'm actually going to go through with this and stop taking them for awhile. I already went through the routine of talking to the doctor and all, and I just dont think she knows a whole lot to be able to answer this question I asked her very well (especially since she didnt answer it very well).

So, here goes.. For those of you that have stopped taking the pill, were there any changes to you (mentally, emotionally, physically, etc.) that were unexpected or that I should keep in mind as possible things that might happen?

 

[Norajane]

I did not notice any unusual changes, although my period did get heavier over time. But the pill had made my normal periods light, so that was to be expected.

I never actually had any problems with the pill (no weight gain or lack of sex drive or lack of lubrication or mood swings or anything at all, really), so I'm not surprised nothing really changed when I went off.

Good luck!

 

[SweetErika]

I was on them for about 8 years before stopping to give my body a break, and didn't expect:

-Having WAY more lubrication

-An increased libido

-Fewer headaches

-Feeling better overall

-For it to take so long for my body to adjust and cycles normalize (8 months to a year IIRC)
-My periods aren't vastly different off the Pill. I thought they'd be far heavier and more painful. While they may be a tiny bit longer sometimes, the flow and everything is just about the same

-There's relief in not having to remember it or worry when I forget I'm talking another medication that renders the pill less or or ineffective. We don't love condoms, they're a better option for us for now for this reason and many others.

-Emotionally, there was a little bit of guilt because only using condoms was taking more of a chance and not using two methods seemed a bit irresponsible. However, we were prepared to deal with pregnancy, so it's been worth it to us.

 

[Eilan]

I was on the pill for a couple of years in the mid 1990's, and I didn't experience any changes at all after going off it. I even started ovulating immediately.

Other people's mileage may vary, obviously.

 

[M's girl]

I was on the pill for many, many years. I started very early, not to use it at birth control, but because I had heavy menstrual bleedings (fainted all of the time) and irregular periods (I was in school and never was sure when my period would start and when it did, the bleeding was so heavy that I basically felt like I had to have sanitary towels on me all the time; not funny).

I gained weight and develloped migraines, but the latter one was probably due to something else. Changed pills a few times... nothing changed.

Then, years and years later I decided to stop for a while. I was not in a relationship at that time and even if I would start a new one, with aids and everything,the pill would not be 'enough' anymore anyway.

For a year not much changed. I did not lose weight (as I had hoped) and there was no change in the migraine situation. One thing that changed, however, is that I had no periods anymore. After a year I started to worry about that a bit. I did not mind the periods staying away for the mess they would cause otherwise, but I just felt it was not healthy or something.

After somewhat over a year after stopping I had myself tested because I wondered if I even had something left in my body to ovulate. The 'egg-count' (haha) was OK and they could not find another reason why I did not ovulate.

A few weeks later I decided to go back on the pill.
A few years after that I stopped again because my relationship was going nowhere sexually (did not need the pill as birth control). That time my periods stayed after I stopped. Still no change in the weight/migraines matters.

When I met M about a year later I decided to try the IUD and I'm still very content with it. A few months ago I finally started to lose weight, but I think it's (partly) because of all of the exercise (read: sex). My migraines are far (!) less too, but that started to get better already before I stopped taking the pill (knock on wood).

So.... that's my experience. No other side effects / benefits / or what have you. My sex drive has increased dramatically, but I blame M for that

 

[Momma of Fire]

I was on the pill for about 2 years and then I got pregnant while on it. After that pregnancy I got back on the pill and as before my sex drive went from very high to almost nothing. We decided it was time to start trying for our second and final kid when 2 weeks after getting off the pill again I became pregnant. I never really had side effects coming off the pill it was more being on it the messed with me.

Luckily I had the Essure method done right after my second baby came along and now can't have kids. (ps The only reason my doctors okayed that with me so young is cause both my both were preemie and the second had a lot of problems from it. If I were to get pregnant again the baby probably wouldn't make it.)

 

[Willing and Unsure]

Thanks for all the things to keep in mind. I havent had any problems or anything with taking the pill up until a few months ago. I started to get extremely emotional over everything, and it's a lot like I was when I was on a type of pill that really just did not work for me. I've been taking the pill for about 4.5 years now and I'm thinking that's got to be what's causing the problems. I probably wont stay off for more than 3 months. I just think my body needs a break from it for a little while and I cannot deal with the over-emotional thing anymore and just wanted to see if anyone else had anything weird that might have happened when they stopped taking it.

Thanks for all the tidbits. Hopefully this should go smoothly for me now and I wont be all worried about it.

 

[SweetErika]

Thanks for all the things to keep in mind. I havent had any problems or anything with taking the pill up until a few months ago. I started to get extremely emotional over everything, and it's a lot like I was when I was on a type of pill that really just did not work for me. I've been taking the pill for about 4.5 years now and I'm thinking that's got to be what's causing the problems. I probably wont stay off for more than 3 months. I just think my body needs a break from it for a little while and I cannot deal with the over-emotional thing anymore and just wanted to see if anyone else had anything weird that might have happened when they stopped taking it.

Thanks for all the tidbits. Hopefully this should go smoothly for me now and I wont be all worried about it.

If/when you decide to start again, you may want to consider trying lower dose pills or something like the NuvaRing. I know there's concern over efficacy of the lower hormone levels for women over a certain weight, but I experienced the type of emotional problems you describe (plus a litany of other problems) on mid- and higher-dose monophasic and triphasic pills like the Ortho products and did great on the lowest dosages. With your relationship status, you may be able to afford to try some different things out right now. But I think you're right about giving your body a break...I just had a feeling I needed to do the same, and that was definitely worth listening to.

EDIT: Here's a comparison chart of the hormone levels in most of the pills. My hubby and I still cringe remembering the few months I was on the 50mcg pills...the screaming one minute and hysterical crying the next nearly cost me him at the beginning of our relationship.

 

[shell seeker2]

I just went off the pill in December. I haven't noticed many changes. The only change I have had is heavier, longer periods. I had been on the pill for a stint of 10 years, broke for 1 year, and was on them until December for a year and a half.
Good luck!