going off the pill experiences?

kac831 · March 2011

We are going to TTC at the end of this year.. I have been on the pill for 8 years or so, currently I'm on yaz. I'm really worried about going off it honestly.. When on it I have very short light periods, minimal cramps, great skin, ect.

For people that have been on the pill this long how was the transition of going off? I'm scared of horrible cramps and crazy breakouts..

Also how long before you TTC did you go off the pill? I can't decide when I should go off, regardless we are not TTC until Oct at least.

Thanks!

MrsHughesNC · March 2011

I was (and am currently) on Yaz, and I really didn't notice a terrible change. I have never had super bad cramps though. My skin did go back to teenager mode, but I think that was more once I got pregnant. Like you, Yaz keeps my skin clear, so this was kind of sucky.

I took my last pack in December, used barrier methods in Jan and Feb, then conceived Holly in March. My gyn suggested being off of it for a couple of months before trying to get pregnant.

Since I wasn't off of it for a terribly long time before I got pg, I can't really speak for the longer term effects. But I definitely didn't notice any drastic changes immediately.

ETA: Just realized I'm on Yasmin, not Yaz..Oops! But I think they're similar.

mrsmikey · March 2011

My OB said we could start TTC immediately after stopping the pill. So that's what we did both times. I don't like being off bcp, my skin started breaking out like crazy, and I immediately put on 5 lb with no other explanation. And I just felt more moody and short tempered overall. I know some people feel great when they stop taking bc though, so I guess it just depends on your body.

sophabelle · March 2011

i was on the pill and the ring for about 10 years give or take... when i went off bc, i kind of remember having some break outs, but nothing major. i always have had week long periods, so that didn't change, but i think they did go back to being a little heavier than they were while i was on bc but not as heavy as they were before i started bc in general.

i would really recommend reading taking charge of your fertility. its an awesome book. i used it to help me learn how to chart so that when we were ready to ttc, we would have an idea as to when to try. we used charting to avoid for the first 4 months i was off bc and then i got pg our first month of "trying".

even if you don't have any intentions of charting you should definitely check it out. its a great book to get to know your body better. i'll never go back on hormonal bc ever again i can tell you that!

crescentmoon99 · March 2011

I was so worried about it, I was scared of heavy bleeding, cramps, etc. but that wasn't really the case for me. My periods got a little heavier, but not what they were before going on the pill. The big thing I noticed was that for a few months after coming off BCP my hormones went wacky. I wasn't prepared for this and didn't make the connection at first. I seriously thought I had developed a mood disorder LOL. Once my body got evened out again though, I really loved being off BCP. I feel less moody now overall than I was on the pill.

I came off BCP about 8 months or so before we started TTC. We charted to avoid during that time.

dbertagni · March 2011

I didn't have any issues except the migraines I was getting got worse for about 3 months and then totally disspeared and never came back. My periods did get a little heavier (and then worse after I had DD). I got off the pill in Oct and we started trying right away.

cmbrown · March 2011

I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen. I went off and actually got pregnant the first month, but I had a miscarriage. After my miscarriage, I got pregnant the first month and that is my Allie.

Next time, I won't TTC the first month after going off the pill.. but will probably start the 2nd month.

kac831 · March 2011

sophabelle:

i would really recommend reading taking charge of your fertility. its an awesome book. i used it to help me learn how to chart so that when we were ready to ttc, we would have an idea as to when to try. we used charting to avoid for the first 4 months i was off bc and then i got pg our first month of "trying".

Thanks, I actually have read it, I just feel so much better on the pill, I had horrible periods and cramps, nausea, vomiting before going on it, although that was so long ago who knows now.. but it was bad enough that I am definitely scared to stop it.

jenwill · March 2011

I think I'm in the minority here, but I felt the best I've felt when I came of the bcp's. I had terrible migraines during my placebo week on the pill which were completely gone when I came off. I was on the pill for 9 or so years.

I had pretty regular periods my first two months off the pill, but after that nothing. Completely stopped ovulating. Don't know if it had to do with being on the pill so long, but my theory is my body was screwed up from the hormonal bc. In the end we had tttc and had to use fertility tx to get pregnant. After having dd, I went on Mirena and felt SOOO much better than how I did on bcp's.

Good luck!

murph04 · March 2011

I was also worried about coming off the pill, but it turned out very well for me.

Prior to being on the BCP my periods were awful -- debilitating cramps and nausea for starters, back pain, heavy bleeding, you get the picture. On the pill my periods were MUCH easier, and all of the above symptoms disappeared. I was on OrthoTriCyclen for 8 years, and was so worried about my old period symptoms coming back. Guess what? They didn't! I've felt so good off the pill that I've stayed off the pill.

To answer your other question, I stopped taking the pill in June of 2008. We started TTC the following month and got pregnant.

markyslove · March 2011

I was on the Nuvaring. I went off May 2010 and we started TTC August 2010. I think 3 months is a pretty common recommendation. I will say my cramping was a little more intense and my skin was a little more prone to breakouts, but for the most part, there wasn't a lot difference. I ended up having pretty regular cycles right off the bat, though it definitely varies for everyone.

raceyrae · March 2011

I was on the pill for 15 years before I went off to TTC with DD#1. I stopped taking the pill the same month I wanted to start TTC. It took 5 cycles to get pg with DD#1 and only 1 cycle to get pg with DD#2 after going off the 2nd time.

JuberP · March 2011

I was also on the pill for 15 years (yaz and yasmine). We (well, I) was ready to TTC right away, and got preg on the 3rd cycle. I suppose I had a little more cramping during that time off bcp and my cycle/ovulation timing was well off of the 28 day norm. Learning the info in TCOYF put my mind at ease after a panicky first month of not knowing my cycle was off schedule. My hormones may have been wacky as well, but we had a lot going on at that time, so it's hard to tell if I was cranky due to life or hormone changes. My skin stayed clear until I got pg, then the teenager skin kicked in.

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