Stopping BC

Bailey17 · February 2011

I know a lot of you have recently stopped taking birth control and started TTC.

Tell me about coming off the BC. How did you feel? How long did it take for your cycles to go back to normal? Any adverse side effects like weight gain, acne, mood changes, headaches, etc?

I'm planning to stop taking my pills in March when my prescription runs out. Depending on where we're at with Jason's worker's comp claim we'll either start TTC then, or I'll start charting to avoid until we get his claim resolved and he's back to work full time. For some reason I'm really nervous about going off my pills since I've been on them for almost 10 years. I don't even remember what it was like before I was on them. Thank you!!

stephkay · February 2011

I didn't have any side effects really. Except that I felt great! Seriously, I will never go back on the pill. After I had been off of it for a few weeks I realized how yucky it made me feel. The best way to describe it is that I felt dead inside.

Good luck!

MandeeFoFandee · February 2011

I wasn't on the pill, but I'd been on Nuva Ring since January 2010 and got off in September 2010. I was pretty level headed and non-hormonal while on BC, and honestly, I am a crazy assbitch now. I also didn't have AF visit for 6 years thanks to the Depo shot, so I don't know if getting her back has something to do with it.

My cycles are pretty regular as far as length, but the pain of cramps and backaches are pretty bad. I've been super emotional and yelling at Sean for little things like stacking the dish drain the wrong way, haha.

I think it just all depends on your tolerance and how your hormones have been while you were on BC to gauge how you'll be OFF of it.

ring_pop · February 2011

I didn't really notice any big changes. Physically, practically nothing out of the ordinary. Mood-wise, nothing big either though you may want to ask V to validate that claim, haha. I regulated right away - my first cycle was something like 32 days. I was pretty regular before I started BCP too.

I'm with stephkay - now that I've learned so much about my body from charting, I don't think I'll ever go back on the pill again.

raynes · February 2011

I was on the NuvaRing when I went off BC, but had been on one pill or another for the 8-9 years before that.

I stopped the ring in early November, and while my periods regulated to around 28 days almost immediately, I'm having a hard time with charting reliably so far. From reading TCOYF I'm having pretty typical post BC chart "symptoms" (no EWCM, almost always "watery" CM, short luteal phase, etc) and both the TCOYF software and FertilityFriend have had a hard time figuring out when I'm ovulating, and usually don't agree on which day if they both give me cross hairs.

I always had horrendous cramps when I was a teen, and they seem to be a bit better now, at least they are shorter.

For us, charting TTA hasn't been too helpful, because other than very early or very late in my cycle I insist on using condoms, because who the hell knows what's going on up in there.

thecarrotflower · February 2011

I wasn't on the pill for long, about a year, just to regulate my periods. I have actually found more adverse affects from being on than being off. While I was on I gained weight and the chemicals affected me for a few months after causing migraines. I have found being off the pill has been a lot better for me.

Soon2BMrsSikes · February 2011

Pros: I got more of a sex drive back

Cons: I got cramps back and longer, heavier periods.

ring_pop · February 2011

Soon2BMrsSikes:
Pros: I got more of a sex drive back

Cons: I got cramps back and longer, heavier periods.

Yes I forgot to mention... ditto this! That was awesome.

sushisamba · February 2011

I was on BCP for almost 14 years when I went off it last August and started charting. My first two cycles were slightly longer (30-33 days), but since then my system has regulated and am on a standard 27-28 day cycle. I never used to have bad PMS or cramps before I went on BCP, and I still don't now. The main side affects for me were higher sex drive (yay!) but my skin has gone crazy with break outs (boo!).

Bailey17 · February 2011

Thanks girls! Yay for higher sex drive....that out ways any negative side effect! Stick out tongue

Glad to hear almost everyone has had a pretty positive transition. .

rebaann · February 2011

I didn't have any side effects, other than getting my sex drive back and gaining about five pounds. My cycle was regular right away. AF was lighter and shorter off the pill than on, and much more so than before BC (but that may be age related).

nohalo21 · February 2011

I was on BC for over 10 years. When I went off I was using Nuvaring. I charted just to know what my body was doing since I had problems in the past. My cycles were all over the place, but I had known this going off. Besides the normal PMS crap that everyone else said, my skin broke out really bad. Good luck to you!

Stopping BC

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