Birth Control Withdrawals - How Long Were Yours?

Steeepy

Hi all!

First time poster here.

About 3 months ago, my husband and I decided that I should stop taking my birth control and try for a baby. Needless to say, we were met with the immediate shock that it "just doesn't work that quickly" for some of us lucky ladies. A few weeks later, I was introduced to the term "birth control withdrawal". Funny how the doc's always tell you the pros to BC, never the cons...

I done my fair share of research regarding the symptoms and how long they may last. The consensus seems to be anywhere between 3-12 months.

It looks as though I have gotten all of the "fun" side effects:

• nausea
• cramping
• insomnia
• hot flashes
• mood swings
• depression
• lack of appetite

Of all these symptoms, I seem to have nausea the most. They also like to come and go as they please leaving me in a big pile of crazy hormones with my husband and dog watching as it all goes down.

What side effects did you have? How long did they last? Did yours come in go as well?

meggyme

Acne is the most miserable side effect that I get. Usually about 2-3 months after I stop the pills I get nice angry, painful welts on my face that no acne wash can cure (and no Rx cream can be taken while TTC). My periods also tend to be agony.

ETA: Welcome to the board and I hope your stay is short.

Crowqueen03

Was never on BC long enough to have the affects but wanted to stop by and say Welcome to the forums and hope those nasty withdraws go away soon for you.

sarah0985

I'm almost 4 months off birth control. I've been on it since late teens so I honestly don't remember what I felt like before. (Aside from crazy Pms mood swings but could have also been teenager-ness then) The second cycle was the absolute worst! Mood swings where I knew I was being crazy but couldn't control it. Anxiety was also pretty bad. Unpredictable cycle. (40+ days)
Aside from not being a regular cycle, mine seems to have resolved to a normalcy. But I was also just visiting my hometown the last 6 weeks so may have been to busy or tired to notice as much.

I also had some pros though to going off...I am nearly off most of my daily asthma meds since going off of it and my libido seems to be kicking up a notch (which dh of course is loving!)

Hoping yours gets better and mine doesn't return.

kmd0501

This is my first cycle off BCP and really all I can say is I've been increasingly emotional. Like sobbing over the fact that DH ate the last bit of ice cream (clearly I didn't get the lack of appetite side effect). I also got some of my acne back but not as bad as it has been. But it also could be because I had to stop my acne meds. I'm hoping the emotional thing quits soon because is even annoying for me.

MEA0320

I've been off BC since January - the first few months were okay but my cycles were all over the place, which is totally normal and I expected that. I was on a low dose of BC so it could depend on how long your symptoms last. Since January things have gotten better but the breakouts still pop-up. I'm a bit more emotional but that could also be stress related at this point. 

Welcome to the TTGP board! Good luck with getting over the BC withdrawal and hope your stay here is short. :-h

dewdropdana

I've been off since January. Oh girl, let me tell you, I feel your pain. I had a super long period once I went off. Like I thought it was the red wedding from GOT down there. My hormones were crazy, I was craving junk food all the time. My cycles were unpredictable and long too. Things are much better now though. They will get better. 

stylist001

I've been off of BC for about 4 1/2 years and unfortunately for me I still have side effects in the form of recurrent yeast infections. Everyone's body reacts differently to the hormones and some women are more sensitive to them than others. After enduring this struggle for the past 4 years I will never take hormonal birth control again. I've spent literally thousands of dollars on specialists, testing and consultations and finally this past year my problem was traced back to my BC use and also antibiotic use. Other than that I had no withdrawal symptoms. This is just my experience, everyone is different.

m6agua

I was on the Depo shot, I went off of it in December. The first month off I had really sore boobs. Other than that nothing really sticks out to me. I also started getting pretty regular periods starting in February. I think it was because I had overhauled my diet around the same time. If I hadn't done that I think my body would have taken a lot longer to get back to "normal". Also I don't think I will ever get BC again. I discovered I just don't like having those hormones in my body that don't belong there!

chicandbubbly

I feel your pain girl!! I got off in January like many of you (I wanted to give it at least three months before ttc). My period came back about 35 days after my last pill so it was kind of regular starting with the first month but OMG the cramps were horrible for the first two/three months. The day before AF arrived  one of the months I had to run out of the shower and lay down on the floor literally sobbing and screaming for my DH because the pain was so bad and then I passed out from the pain. I literally thought I needed to go to the hospital. My skin has also changed a little bit, more redness and oilier by the end of the day. Also, I have gained weight since going off but who knows if that was because of the pill or not. 

Steeepy Hopefully your nausea will go away soon and you start feeling better again!

lalalorelai

I had my Mirena removed at the beginning of July. I had heard horror stories of the "Mirena crash" but, honestly, it hasn't been that bad for me. I had a few nights of hot flashes but I can't specifically tie that to the Mirena. Same with nausea. The two periods I have had since then have been "regular" (O on CD17) but my LP is super short, only 7 days at this point. Again, no idea if that's due to the Mirena or something else. Right now I'm just waiting it out. 

I keep trying to remember that I've pumped my body full of hormones while on BCP for 7 years, then messed with it some more with the Mirena for a year and a half. I need to let it do it remember what it's supposed to do when it doesn't have so much going on! I loved my Mirena but now that I know more about temping and charting, I might use FAM when we go back to TTA. 

cjt121413

I stopped Yaz on July 9 after taking it for about a year. So far, the main changes are mood swings and having normal periods versus barely having them....these things are definitely manageable and I honestly like knowing I'm not taking synthetic hormones. I had a withdrawal bleed beginning three days after I stopped. That was pretty heavy and uncomfortable with cramps, etc. I haven't had major skin issues (knock on wood), but I did notice my breasts seem to have shrunk?! Is that a thing? It sure seems like it.  I've also had cramps throughout my cycle....that may be connected to my PCOS or it may be because I am now noticing every twinge.

My sex drive has improved, which is good, right?

We originally stopped BCP and started TTC right away, but we have postponed TTC until 2016 due to a job offer I couldn't refuse. So we'll have a good few months without BCP. We are doing FAM and barrier methods rather than starting back with BCP.

IB113

I was on various forms of the pill for about ten years.  I stopped taking it in the beginning of July and gained about 8 pounds.  Other than that and more cramping during and before my period, I haven't noticed much, but I was on low hormone pills and didn't have any bad side effects when I was taking them.  Still waiting for the cycles to even out.  I hope your symptoms go away soon!

blackgirlmagic

June was the last month I took my BCP and acne it the worse thing for me. It is not as bad like it was in HS but backacne is a things for me and on the upper parts of my arms, just a little bit. My face is not as bad. I think that its time for me to change my face washing that I use because clearly it is not working. And I have noticed that I have been emotionally lately and I am trying to figure out why. I have never been an emotional person before. Of course I cried when I got my period this cycle, but I just chalked that up to be that I was really hoping this cycle would be it for us. But seeing things on the news makes me cry, sad commercials, I just cannot deal. This is all new to be and I am kind of embarrassed by how emotional I am now.

yogahh

I was super moody for the first week or two. But that subsided and I never had any other issues. My BC was low dose, so maybe that had something to do with it?

housewifehobbyist

I didn't even know this was a thing, but it might explain my recent nausea.  I've been on HBC so long I can't tell the difference between withdrawal symptoms and regular hormonal things that I haven't experience since I was a teenager.  If this nausea (and TMI itchy boobs) is a withdrawal symptom that will go away I will be very happy though. 

jhems776

I went off BCP July 14th and the first month was HELL.  I was severely nauseous, hot flashes, mood swings like a teenager, dizzy to the point were I almost fainted, and really strong food aversions. This started about five days after AF stopped.  I knew this couldn't be due to pregnancy but it messes with your head.   My doc said increase my soy intake and it should go away in 1-3 cycles.  I had soy milk a few times a day and that helped a lot. I'm half way through my second cycle and the only thing left is I'm occasionally dizzy/faint.  My AF the last time was actually shorter but waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more emotional. 

Can a paragraph about BCP "withdrawl" be added to the newbie sticky thread? 

MNturnsVA

I would say the 1st month off of BC the cramps were the worst.  So bad, curled up in a ball on the floor dying.  I have been alternating ibuprofen and midol every 2 hours while i'm awake to help manage the pain of the first 2-3 days of the cramps.  They haven't been quite as bad as that first month now, but I wanted so badly to put my Nuvaring back in!!  

I have gained some weight over the summer, but I didn't even think it was BC related.  I suppose it could be.

I've been emotional but I think there's alot contributing to that and even on BC I'd get a little teary eyed about certain things when it was time for AF to come.

I had not heard of the withdrawl symptoms, but it does make sense.

dewdropdana

Yes! I totally forgot about the weight gain. (How the hell does that happen?) 

aloha5736

I was on Yasmin for 10 years...I was forced to stop due to my hormones. I was extremely nauseated all the time and had virtually no sex drive, along with hot flashes and just very emotional.  Some how the BCP was causing an increase in one hormone, and that hormone was basically destroying all the other hormones. That was my understanding.  I got no really withdrawal symptoms and started my AF the exact time I was suppose too.  I can say I get headaches more now, whereas on them I never had them.  I never got acne, unexpected wt loss/gain, cramps.  Sex drive went rampant LOL after a few months when my hormones improved.  I'd never go BCP again LOL.  I basically had to go to fertility specialist for my hormones and I wasn't even trying to get pregnant.  Everything seems to have improved

aloha5736

Oh....one thing that I just remembered.  Actually the only symptom I did have was I was so emotional; I went from flat and moody on BCP to crying at the drop of a dime (edited spelling) a few days after I stopped.  I started a new job and I must have cried in the bathroom 3xs in one week LOL and then cried to my mentor haha.  I am totally not like that and have not been like the since! I think it was just all hormones coming back haha.  

WinniethePoohsPants

In the same boat as you OP! Except still no period, so frustrating!

Steeepy

Thank you ladies for easing my worries! I forget that I'm not the only one who has been going through this.

I too need to remember that I've been pumping my body full of hormones for years so it'll take some time to get back to normal. Although I wish it was sooner than later.

 

I haven't gotten my sex drive back yet. Actually, it's gone into hiding. I'm sure my DH can't wait for my sex drive to come back. I'm getting tired of him telling me how long it's been since we've "done the deed."

jbal918

I was getting my period with no ovulation for the first two cycles. Then when I started ovulating (first time this month actually), I wishfully thought I had pregnancy symptoms but soon realized it was all related to coming off the pill after 10 years. Spotting, moodiness, cramps, hot flashes and fatigue. It definitely plays with my mind but I look at it as my body trying to regulate for bigger and better things to come! Good luck and I hope you feel better very soon!!

calico34

DH didn't realize that birth control has other benefits other than the primary.  I'm crazy emotional, bad AF cramps, and Acne.

Litterateur

I have not been on hormonal BC in over 3yrs, but I will say I had to stop because I was having adverse reactions. I was having horrible depressive pits, no sex drive, and crazy mood swings. Turns out my cousin had the same issues. She said it made her "psychotic," which in all honesty is the best way to describe it. Even on low dose. I switched to the para guard IUD for a year after that and loved everything about it, except for the HEAVY periods. Team NFP for life now!

Mamabeagle

Lurking...

Not all of these things are side effects of stopping BC. For so many women we took birth control for years and haven't had a normal cycle in that long. Cycles and periods change over time but it's hard to notice when you're chemically altering yours.

Smartgal05

 I had nausea, fatigue, bad acne, bloating, food cravings, muscle soreness, and mood swings.

mamma1614

I had irregular periods. one of my cycles were 40 days, I thought I was pregnant cause it took so long. Only the last two months they've been either 29 days or 30 days or 28 days. It gets very confusing especially when trying to chart when I'm supposed to ovulate. I also had lots of acne after stopping. That's the worst. Its calmed down now. I think the vitamins help. Before when I was off the pill, my cycles were very regular and exactly 28 days. I too stopped since January and still waiting for my regular 28 cycles to be back to normal.

wellinaustin

aloha5736 said:

Oh....one thing that I just remembered.  Actually the only symptom I did have was I was so emotional; I went from flat and moody on BCP to crying at the drop of a dime (edited spelling) a few days after I stopped.  I started a new job and I must have cried in the bathroom 3xs in one week LOL and then cried to my mentor haha.  I am totally not like that and have not been like the since! I think it was just all hormones coming back haha.  

I was about to start a new thread with this, but saw your comment and figured I could vent here.

**loss mentioned**
I've been off BC for 5 months now and the first two months we were not TTC yet and I didn't have many withdrawal symptoms. The first month TTC we had a chemical pregnancy, the next cycle we may have had another, but it wasn't as obvious as the first. So my situation could be totally because of those situations, but its hard to say.  Either way, I am crying also at the drop of a dime. I seriously can't help it. It can be happy, sad, or for absolutely no reason. I have increased anxiety issues, very light headed, and waves of nausea but never enough to be sick, Is anyone else experiencing this after a few months? There really isn't one full week in my 32 day cycle that I'm not feeling these symptoms.

Edited for spelling.

HarryPotterandCats

I came off birth control after almost 10 years the end of May. Has withdrawal bleeding June 1-5 and I have had nothing since.

If you are concerned I would suggest calling your dr. Everybodys body is so different and everyone has different experiences.

Fx things straighten out for you soon!

aloha5736

I would suggest calling your MD, but from my experience the BCP was out of my system fairly quickly as I started to feel better.  She told me within two weeks I should start to feel better and I indeed did.

Mr0616

@cjt121413 - yes, smaller boobs could be a side effect too!  I took a BC for one month and my boobs went up one cup size - I did not need that - quickly got off and they went back to normal  

mrsp2213

I was on Ortho (Lo) for 10 years and went off in May.  I also experienced an uptick in acne and one day I got so hangry hungry that I literally started crying (we were driving in the middle of nowhere and all I wanted was an effing coffee and pancakes and I couldn't find a restaurant to save my life).  

The worst symptom I had was dizziness.  About 2 weeks after going off I had these episodes where I felt very lightheaded and almost like I was about to pass out.  I talked to my doc about it and she said to just monitor it to see if it continued.  Fortunately it only lasted a couple of weeks and it hasn't come up since.

Other than that, nothing too extreme with coming off the pill.

penelope4612

Acne popped up around the beginning of month 3 and is still going strong.  My first actual period (not counting my withdrawal bleed from BC) included a day of nausea and severe cramps.  My second was a little better.

penelope4612

mamma1614 said:

I had irregular periods. one of my cycles were 40 days, I thought I was pregnant cause it took so long. Only the last two months they've been either 29 days or 30 days or 28 days. It gets very confusing especially when trying to chart when I'm supposed to ovulate. I also had lots of acne after stopping. That's the worst. Its calmed down now. I think the vitamins help. Before when I was off the pill, my cycles were very regular and exactly 28 days. I too stopped since January and still waiting for my regular 28 cycles to be back to normal.

Your "periods" were regular and 28 days because you have a withdrawal bleed that starts several days after you stop taking the active pills.  It's chemically induced and is not a real cycle.