No More BCP!

Blonde1817

Just took my last pill last night after 4 long years of being on the pill!  We're still not planning on starting TTC until January, but I want to give my body time to adjust and to start charting so hopefully it'll happen right away when we're ready.  Plus, I've just always hated the pill and it's side effects.  Prior to starting the pill, my period was always extremely regular, but it actually  got more irregular and random being on the pill.  I am so ready for a change, and to feel like I'm taking a step toward being pregnant, even though we're not trying yet.

Any thoughts on what I can expect from going off the pill?  How long before you're planning on TTC did you/will you stop BCP?  

mommytimesfour

I ditched the pill last month for the first time in 2 years after my daughter was born. My cycles have always been very regular and I wasn't sure what to expect, but I just finished my first cycle and everything returned to normal right away. I also plan to TTC starting in January.

Schumerator

Welcome!

I got my nexplanon removed (hormonal implant in the arm) at the very end of July and I had one 22 day anovulatory cycle and am currently in my first two week wait for my second cycle post BC! I also went off BC to regulate my cycles prior to officially TTC and I'm glad I did because if I expected to get pregnant the very first month I probably would have been more upset/nervous about having an anovulatory cycle! I think it's a good choice

As for side effects I luckily did not really have any. I noticed my body debloated rather quickly and isn't holding onto water weight as much.  One thing I have noticed is my mood changing through out my cycle, which I have been pretty middle of the line with that kind of stuff but now it's like day 1 of AF I am sooo irritable which I hate lol. But also my sex drive is waaaay up!! Which makes me happy because for all those years on BC I just thought that's how I was going to be from now on, and of course DH is loving that side effect lol

GL to you and your waiting period before TTC 

:-bd

pourmeanothermocktail

I've been on BCP on and off for 12 years. I have gone off for a year or two in the middle, twice. Both times my cycle started up right away and my sex drive instantly went up. I did have to get used to my moods cycling with my cycle - especially since I went on BCP at 16 years old int he first place - very little experience with mood swings as an adult. Getting used to real periods again was a little rough - I missed my pill periods of 2 days. I'm now officially going off BCP for good in two weeks, so we can TTC. We're willing to just NTNP for a couple months while I see how cycle comes back. Should be officially TTC December ish.

IB113

I was on BCP for ten years and two months.  Stopped them in July, and everything went back to normal almost immediately (longer LP during the second month, however).  I can't notice any symptoms that started or stopped when I finished my last pill pack. 

bonsallav

I just finished my last pill the end of August and we are planning on starting in October! I wanted to give my body about a month to regulate and to chart... Good thing because I think I o'ed CD 21!!

I didn't notice too many side effects except for hot flashes and night sweats. They went on for a couple of weeks, but finally subsided thank goodness

Blonde1817

Thanks ladies, good to know not many of you had negative side effects!  I am definitely hoping that I get that increase in sex drive ... looking back it definitely decreased a lot with starting the pill.  Ironic how that works!  

I have started charting, not sure if I'm doing it right because I don't want to make myself crazy over it!  But it is nice to feel like I am accomplishing something even if we can't start trying yet!

missshanab

I have been on BCP for over 13 years! The first week after my period was rough, i felt lonely and moody. But the increased sex drive was immediate! We were going to wait to try, but we decided to just go for it. Not charting but not preventing.

LCRNinCA

@blonde1817 Congrats on your next step! I had my IUD removed last month, I found it weirdly excited to check it off my list. Like you, I am letting my body re-adjust to the lack of additional hormones.
I had the IUD for 3 years, and previous to that I was on BCP. I was literally crazy on it - mood swings like nobody's business! I look back on that time period and am amazed at the love and patience my DH showed me, especially when I could tell how irrational I was at times haha

lovearoo

Yep, I felt great after stopping bc. I was on some form of hbc for about 13 years also! Crazy. My sex drive is SO much better without it... Plus I hate condoms too. :-q

EQKarli88

I ditched it a few months ago. Same reasons. I'm actually more regular when I'm not on the pill. 29 days exactly. Although the first 2 months I got my period pretty early. It was about 23-24 days. After that it regulated out. Obviously your period will change. I've noticed huge changes in CM (sorry to be so descriptive). I've been less moody. It's weird not taking a pill every night before I go to bed but I replaced that with a multivitamin since I was in the "pill every night" habit. We are not trying until next may or June. I just wanted to be off. Wouldn't be upset if it did happen though. Overall I feel much better when I'm not on it. Give yourself a few months to regulate yourself. Your period might be a little irregular for a while, perhaps a little moody at first but it will all get back to normal!

Hulabalu

I went off it a year and a half ago, and we are still not trying. I'm not planning on going back on BCP or anything hormonal ever again.