off birth control!

jobiann

So my husband and I decided this would be the right time to starting TTC.  So I went off my trusty side-kick, my birth control...which I've been on for almost 10 years.  I've only been off of it about a week...and now I have some cramping...does anyone know if this is common?  Since I've been on the pill my periods have been light and wonderful, no cramping, ever.  So this is all new to me.  Is this just my body adjusting to no pills?  Also, has anyone experienced any mood swings due to hormones when going off the pill?  Thanks for any help!!

reinstone

First off, welcome!  I'd highly recommend charting your cycles using FF (click my ticker to sign up!) and reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility. 

Last month was my first cycle off BC.  I had mood swings, cramps, migraines, and horrible period cramping when the time came.  It seriously felt like I was "coming down" off an addiction to hard drugs (though I hardly know what that feels like). 

Everyone's body reacts differently though.  GL!

Duckie205

I've been off BCP since June and had the worse cramps and everything else associated with it. My doc informed me that it's completely normal, just your body adjusting. Every persons symptoms are different though.

amandaloren

I haven't had any mood swings, but yes to the cramping and plenty of other symptoms.

Bubs101

Your body will do all kinds of fun things coming off birth control. Cramps, sore and/or swollen boobs, nausea, etc. Pretty much anything that you could possibly think would happen to a pregnant person. Yeah those symptoms are GREAT when you're actually trying to get pregnant (note the sarcasm). The first month or two were the worst for me, the symptoms fade as time goes on.

There's a ton of newbie information in the links at the bottom of my siggy. Welcome to the trying to conceive journey.  Good luck!

CookiesBeforeDinner

I had the same thing after 10 years of BCP. In fact, I could have sworn I was pregnant for the last 3 months after coming off BCP. You can get a wide range of symptoms, and they can be pretty similar to those of early pregnancy. I would just keep that in mind so you don't get your hopes up too much like I did every month! Good luck!

tlalli7106

I am going on my third week off of the pill and am loving it! I feel amazing, in a better mood all of the time, libido is stronger than ever and just all around feeling great. I was on the pill for 9 years and hated the side effects, including the weight I gained, hopefully with a some exercise and a balanced diet, that will finally come off too! GL!

heather_09_15_07

Yes

sapphirewolfkdv

Yes to all of the above. My mood changed (so much so that my medic father guessed that I had gone off birth control...so much for that secret!) and I had the worst period cramping I had had in a long time. I rarely had cramping at all on birth control. It does take awhile to adjust. Like everyone else here, I'd recommend charting. Sign up for fertility friend by clicking on someone's ticker.

jobiann

Thanks Ladies for all your help...I wondered if the cramps were normal or not, so now I know what to look out for!  Thanks for the advice on the "tracking" stuff.  I don't think I'm going to use it a lot right now.  My doctor/friend told me to just relax the first couple of months and "have fun".  Then if we aren't expecting after six months then we can start tracking.  So I think that is the approach we are going to take.  But I book marked the page for the fertility friend so I can check it out later! It has a lot of great information!

 Thanks again everyone!!  I can tell these bump boards are going to be a lot of help every step of the way!  So excited!

hawaiianbride08

I am a little over 2 months off the pill now. No moodiness, but I sit here today with post-bcp period #2 and the cramps are just like they were back before the pill - ugh! Both cycles I've had pre-period bleeding/spotting for days leading up to the period, but my cycles have been of pretty typical length, not super long like some. the pre-bleeding seems to be about the time that AF would have occured on the pill, so I'm wondering if it's habitual and will go away with time. We'll see! Sounds like people's experiences are vastly different - I hope it's smooth for you!