Sex & Romance
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Went of BCP...
only 3 weeks ago. I am supposed to have AF show up this coming Sunday.
Background: I was on the BCP from Nov 2004-Dec 2009 (so I guess about 5 years). It lowered my sex drive tremendously, and DH has been understanding since we've met. However, I was ready to see how I'd feel off the BCP.
I am anxious about my first AF. I have read all over the internet various things such as the first being really heavy and cramp-loaded and horrible break-outs, or even saw that it could be 6 months until I see anything.
Although Ive done research already, I would like a little bit more insight into it. I have only had one friend go off of it, and couldn't offer much. 
TIA!
Re: Went of BCP...
Sounds like I am in the same boat as you. I went off it 2 weeks ago after being on it for about 6 or so years and should get my first AF next week I am very curious about what is going to happen too(if anything at all).
None of my friends have ever been on it long enough to know so...I have been reading everything!!
Hopefully AF shows up soon for you!
What kind of BC were you on? What were your periods like prior to being on BC? I would assume they would be very similar (not totally the same because a lot happens with your body in 5 years, but if you have never had children or anything, it will probably be about the same).
I went off of hormonal BC this past July and the first period did bring cramps, but not anything unusual (they were similar to what they were before BC). My period was heavier because it was actually a period as it is supposed to be. It was a day longer as well. When you are on BC, the bleeding you have is much less because the hormones are preventing ovulation, thus there is no need for your body to make the plushy uterine lining it does when it's preparing for possibly becoming pregnant. You may actually start spotting earlier than when you expect, or you may even skip your period entirely. It's hard to say.
Your sex drive and sensitivity should actually go back to normal, unless you had some issues in that area before. I noticed immediately that sensitivity and drive returned (after the first cycle).
I can't really share much else since that was my experience (nothing really excited except I didn't ovulate the first month off).
In my experience, normalcy came back almost immediately with pills and nuva ring. When I was on depo, it took a year for things to get back to normal. I am not sure what Mirena/copper IUD withdrawal is like.
Pr!nc!pal, thanks so much for the reply! Wow, I feel relieved.
I was on lo-ogesteral, so just a once-a-day pill, that was the same level the whole month. I dont know the technical terms for everything, but yea.
On the pill, my periods were heavy the first day, light the other days, and only lasted for about 4 days. I also did have cramping on the pill, normally like hours before AF would come.
For the first time ever, I felt ovulation cramps ((I THINK)) last week on Wednesday. I mean I haven't had them in so long, but it felt like in my uterine area and it was on the left side. It was a really sharp pain, and it made me feel kind of like I had to go poop, but when I tried, that wasn't it. It only lasted for about 20 minutes, and it didn't come back again.
I really do appreciate all of your insight!
I had an AWFUL experience on Alesse. I really think I had an allergic reaction. I was terribly nauseous which turned into vomitting, being unable to get off the living room couch, and even panic attacks. I was sick for around a month. As you can imagine, I was terrified what would happen when I went off the pill, and I even stopped in the middle of a pack because it was so bad. Even still, though, my period came right when it was supposed to, and I ovulated on month two (that I know of... that's when I started NFP) after being on the pill for a little over a year. Don't worry yourself too much until it happens. From what I've heard, if you've had a bad experience on the pill, things are not going to get worse when you go off unless things were worse before you ever even started the pill. Chances are you'll go back to how your periods were before you took the pill.
Ashley
I was on the pill for 7 years when I went off and starting charting using the Family Awareness Method, or FAM, and using www.fertilityfriend.com to chart. I would recommend you read Taking Charge of Your Fertility to help get a better understanding of your body and squash some of those old myths you were taught in high school.
My first cycle off bcp was 34 days. Some women will take longer. If you don't get your period after 60 days, call your doctor and they will proscribe meds to induce it (normally Provera).
I know you're saying AF is due next week, but that would only be true if you were still taking the pill. Very few women have the 28 day cycle that the pill supposedly mimics. I've been charting for almost a year now and my cycles vary from 27 days to 34 days. And my ovulation has never occurred on day 14.
In fact, last month I o'd on the 19th!
GL!
I was on BC for 7 years straight, the pill for the first half and patch for the second. I went off this past August and began charting.
My first cycle was 60 days and my period was barely even a period, just spotting, with no cramps at all. I haven't had any cramps since (this has never happened before), and my periods have been much lighter.
It's very odd but I'm not complaining.
This is only my 3rd cycle off HBC. We are still TTA, so I am charting. I know EXACTLEY where you're coming from, I was (and still am a little) nervous about what it was going to be like. I had been on bc for 4 yrs, and previously my periods were for 7 days with HEAVY bleeding and terrible cramps. The pill took them down to a meduim flow and 4 days, so yeah, I def didn't want to give that up!
Anyway, so far so good. It was 32 days before AF my firts cycle, and 24 this past on. Once I got it, it was no different from before. In fact, this past month, I actually thought it was shorter and lighter. I'm still thinking about what the next month will bring, but so far so good!
I decided to go off the same reason you stated-- I am tired of the hormones. I mean they didn't have any negative effects, but I had heard of women who had gone off it felt "so much better and normal" afterwords. Plus, DH and I will probably decide to start TTC in about a year, and although I wouldn't think it'd take that long to become 'regular' again, I thought why not just stop it now.
I don't plan on taking any more BC for right now, we're just preventing pregnancy in other ways.
Sorry it took so long to reply, I had a busy day today!
MrsGroundhog-
Thanks so much for writing me back
Im so glad to hear that you are doing it for the same reason. I just cant wait to get off them and feel normal, lol. I really feel like I will feel much better in general once im off hormones all together. We are thinking in 2yrs about TTC. So from now till then well just use other methods. Im really doing a lot of research of Natural family planning.
Yeah, I say we'll start trying in about a year, but really may be two. I guess it will just happen when we're really feelin' that baby itch! I have heard about people who do natural family planning, and while I impliment it into our sex lives in order not to have a baby now, I wouldn't 100% rely on it. I have had two family friends get pregnant while doing that method! I'm not against it, seeing as I'm catholic, and we dont "believe" in preventing babies being concieved, but I'm just not ready for a kiddo! I'm a 2nd grade teacher, and those kids give me more reasons to be good about birth control.
Mrs Groundhog-
Haha! I completely understand that! I work in an elementary school as well! Yea Im a little scared about the natural family planning thats what im doing lots of research on it, but well see when im done how I feel then, lol. Yea, its bad, I have that baby itch sooo bad, but hubby hasnt gotten there yet, hehe. So I'm just looking for something until his itch kicks in, lol