What is it like going off BC?

DancinGirl917 · March 2010

I'm curious...I've been on birth control for 11 years...I can't even remember if I was on a regular cycle before! We are hoping to get pregnant this summer, but I am going off my BC this month and was wondering what to expect.

I used to get very sick when I had my period before BC, if you had this situation, did you go back to be very sick again (nauseous, terrible cramps, etc.)? Did you notice any other changes mentally or physically?

BB8785 · March 2010

I was on BCP for 8 years. Some of the ladies here were on it for longer.

My moods got very crazy, my cramps were crazy, and my face and back have started to break out again .. but everyone is different, so remember that.

mchupie · March 2010

I had periods very similar to yours before I went on BCP. I was on for 10 years. Since stopping, my periods have been much shorter, lighter, and less painful. It seems to be different for everyone, though.

NavyGMWife · March 2010

I've been off mine for 2 months now. I have recieved one period while off them and still waiting on my next (ARG!). You could possibly go awhile without getting your period and if it hits 60 days you need to get to your doctor.

Before I went on BCP I had really bad cramps! To the point I need to lay in bed with a heating pad to help. I have not had this with the first period that I had.

If you do get sick again off them I would talk to my doctor and see what they suggest while you are trying to TTC.

saturdaynightdoubletree · March 2010

I never had any problems before going on BC, but when I stopped taking it I was crampy off and on for 2 months. By 3 months off of it, I was preggers (although they say to wait 4 months, or it takes 4 months... not sure). Once you're preggers it's the BEST 10 months (sometimes longer) ever!!! No AF is amazing!!! Good luck!

DancinGirl917 · March 2010

I hope I have your results! I didn't know anyone who had periods like that other than me and my mom. My mom was diagnosed with endometriosis and had to have a hysterectomy after having children.

ConnCottager · March 2010

I had awful periods before BC - doubled over in pain, missing school, heavy bleeding for two weeks, etc. I was on for 9 years. Since coming off, my cycles have been completely unpredictable in terms of length but have been night-and-day better in terms of PMS symptoms and heaviness of flow.

NavyGMWife · March 2010

ConnCottager:
I had awful periods before BC - doubled over in pain, missing school, heavy bleeding for two weeks, etc. I was on for 9 years. Since coming off, my cycles have been completely unpredictable in terms of length but have been night-and-day better in terms of PMS symptoms and heaviness of flow.

My flow wasn't as heavy as before BCP as well. I had a very heavy flow before BCP.

orchid2007 · March 2010

First of all everyone is different. But here is my personal experience.

I am currently still on the pill (one more week of active pills) and then I will not be re-filling.

But when I am not on the pill I notice more PMS symptoms like mood swings and tiredness in the days before AF, I also have more acne, and my period is heavier with more severe cramps. I just take Pamprin to take the edge off.

The up side: I have more sex drive off the pill and it is easier for me to lose weight.

PGASTL · March 2010

I was on BCP for 10 years and after going off of it my first few cycles were very normal, but after that I started noticing changes - my face has been breaking out like crazy, I get more emotional (I'm guessing this means my body is more sensitive the the estrogen), and I have now started getting shorter cycles.

I highly recommend you to start charting (fertility friend is great and has lots of tutorials to helpe you learn) as soon as you go off BCP so you can get familiar with your body's cycles again.

GL

ConnCottager · March 2010

VazquezGal:

First of all everyone is different. But here is my personal experience.

I am currently still on the pill (one more week of active pills) and then I will not be re-filling.

But when I am not on the pill I notice more PMS symptoms like mood swings and tiredness in the days before AF, I also have more acne, and my period is heavier with more severe cramps. I just take Pamprin to take the edge off.

The up side: I have more sex drive off the pill and it is easier for me to lose weight.

Okay, all of this too.

MiniSun09 · March 2010

NavyGMWife:

I've been off mine for 2 months now. I have recieved one period while off them and still waiting on my next (ARG!). You could possibly go awhile without getting your period and if it hits 60 days you need to get to your doctor.

Before I went on BCP I had really bad cramps! To the point I need to lay in bed with a heating pad to help. I have not had this with the first period that I had.

If you do get sick again off them I would talk to my doctor and see what they suggest while you are trying to TTC.

Like Navy, I had extremely long periods after BC when I had 23-28 day cycles prior to BC. I don't have the extreme cramps either that I used to have. My issue is I think BC was masking my PCOS so once I stopped BC, my cycles have been in disarray!

sbuxsweetie · March 2010

Since going off BCPs, I've noticed a higher sex drive, less irritability, more tender breasts between O and AF, and a longer/heavier AF. That's about it for me, though.

DancinGirl917 · March 2010

What I am worried about is endometriosis. I know my mom and I could be different but based on her experiences I think it is highly likely that I have it.

I'm very interested/nervous to see how all this goes. 11 years is a long time!!

orchid2007 · March 2010

sbuxsweetie:
Since going off BCPs, I've noticed a higher sex drive, less irritability, more tender breasts between O and AF, and a longer/heavier AF. That's about it for me, though.

Tender breasts... I get that too. Esp. right before AF

heehee611 · March 2010

When I went off the pill while TTC my son, I remember my AF being much heavier than it was while I was on BCP. This is my first cycle trying for #2, so I haven't had a non-BCP AF yet, but I am bloated as can be and am breaking out like I'm a teenager again. It sucks.

JosiePosy · March 2010

I was on the pill for about 12 years and came off last summer. I am just now starting to get back to a somewhat normal cycle. I'm still hovering around 30-35 days. Initially I started with 35 days then I gradually went up each cycle, the longest being 52 days, before it started going down to the 30+ day range again. My periods are definitely on the lighter side now.

A lot of things have changed since I went off the pill. I changed jobs and I'm back on a normal schedule. But that said, I did lose a few pounds and I break out easier before my period. I'm definitely more interested in sex and DH loves it.

So the first 6-9 months have been a total rollercoaster, but I have definitely felt better overall since I quit the pill. Good luck!

kararae55 · March 2010

I was on BC for many years before going off of them 6 months ago. I used to have horrible cramps before BC. After going off of them AF has been lighter than being on BC and the cramping hasn't been too bad!

lovejoyinme · March 2010

i was on bcp for 9 yrs. i stopped taking them 7 months ago. i have experienced long cycles (110+ days and 57days), weight loss, acne, less moodiness... everyone is different and it may take some time for your body to regulate.

TheQuietGrrrl · March 2010

I was on BCP for 13 years non-stop. I left behind the body of a teenager and I came back to an early thirty-not-much body. Very very different bodies.

Other than a few curve ball cycles, it's not been that bad. Acne picked up a little, not as much as I was dreading. Stepping up the zit treatment routine seems to keep it under wraps. Periods are a little different in characteristic. More fresh bleedy, less old clotty. Oddly enough, I cramp less off of BCP than when I was on it. Although the last 2 years of my BCP my cramps had been picking up a little. My head's never ever been governed by hormones (other than a migraine or two), so I can't really enlighten you there

Sex drive, weight loss, yeah whatever for me. Those things are so complex in scope, I was never sold on the idea that BCP had any effect on those anyway for me.

maddiemoon43 · March 2010

NavyGMWife:

I've been off mine for 2 months now. I have recieved one period while off them and still waiting on my next (ARG!). You could possibly go awhile without getting your period and if it hits 60 days you need to get to your doctor.

Before I went on BCP I had really bad cramps! To the point I need to lay in bed with a heating pad to help. I have not had this with the first period that I had.

If you do get sick again off them I would talk to my doctor and see what they suggest while you are trying to TTC.

This is the exact same for me too. My skin has been awful (worse than as a teenager before BCP). Like some PPs said, sex-drive has been higher...or is that just because I am thinking about TTC and charting all the time? Also noticed I have been more emotional on a few occassions, but I might just be blaming going off BCP for this.

anniegirl1 · March 2010

I was on BC for 7 years. I recently went off it and lost a few pounds but had no other real side effects. My periods returned and were regular so far so hopefully they stay that way.

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