Who is stopping hormonal BC early?

PolarBear517 · April 2016

TTC plans are in August, we are firm on waiting until then to keep my due date past my graduation date. I know it could take a while but there are definitely people who get pregnant in the first few cycles, so we are being cautious.

I first started hormonal BC at 15, and have been taking it regularly without breaks from age 18 until present (will be 26). I have a family history of endometriosis/fibroids and early hysterectomies, and recall having very painful periods when I wasn't on birth control- so hormonal always seemed to be the clear choice, as it can help control excessive endometrial tissue growth and menstrual cramping.

Ive gotten pretty used to being able to being able to predict my periods and skip them if desired. I've always thought because of all these things I'd just come off birth control right before TTC. But now I'm second guessing that decision. I have received 2 different medical opinions regarding recommendation to discontinue BC a few months ahead of time or not worry about it.

Beyond that, I changed jobs and insurance plans a year ago, and had to discontinue nuvaring due to lack of coverage for that type of BC (it's expensive, turns out!) I've been taking the free generic pills ever since. I can't take the low dose pills because of breakthrough bleeding & have found the higher dose pills to be adequate but I have noticed a decrease in my sex drive and if I try to skip the placebo week I get breakthrough bleeding which I never experienced on nuvaring. My period also lasts a day longer and is heavier with a bit more cramping. I am rather annoyed by taking them every day (I set a morning alarm but sometimes I pick up the early shift at work or have to attend a meeting and I will forget about taking the pill if I don't hear the alarm. I work on a nursing unit and have to keep my phone in a locker so it just goes off indefinitely).

Today was one of those days I forgot to take my pill for some 4 hours after the regular time. And I guess for some reason I'm feeling extra annoyed and just ready to give up the habit at the end of the pack and rely on barrier methods for a few months. I would be excited to start temping and see what my body's actual rhythm is like after all this time, and DH is okay with whatever I decide.

The reasons why I'm still second guessing it seem kinda of dumb but honestly it's just a fear of extending the duration of painful periods and the possibility of having my period during our vacation in August (which is timed around the gap in my semesters but also happens to be our first TTC month) because I know if it happens I'd be bloated and crampy and it would decrease the intimacy during what we kind of view as a romantic "last getaway just the 2 of us".

What are your plans? Are you going to discontinue early? Maybe even start temping early? What were your considerations? Just curious because I figured there must be some women out there asking themselves these same questions!

bmo88 · April 2016

I have a Mirena IUD, so my approach is a little different. After trying NuvaRing and the patch, I switched to Mirena about 8 years ago. I am on my second one. Immediately, I started to experience a change in the length and timing of my periods. At this point, I actually haven't had a period since March of last year (so over a year).

While it was a little concerning, my doctor assured me it is fine and I honestly do not miss my period at all. On the other hand, at the age of 27, I know nothing about my cycles or body since I have been on birth control for 10 years.

I am finishing up graduate school in May 2017, so we are waiting until January 2017 to start TTC. I plan to have my Mirena removed in November though so I can have time to flush my body of the hormones and start to track my cycles.

Skyjewell23 · April 2016

I never went back on after having DS.

However, I will tell you I went off BC in December 2012, wanting to get pregnant in Mayish. I was pregnancy by the end of January. I was on BC for 9 years so I was surprised.

I chart for birth control now and use barrier methods during my fertile time. I'm so ready to throw out the condoms though

Swazzle · April 2016

I'm having my Skyla IUD removed in 3 weeks. I've been on hormonal birth control for 15 years so I'm a little nervous to see how my body responds. I don't even know what it's like to have a period anymore as I've only had random spotting here and there in the 3 years that I've had the IUD and before that I had no period at all on the BCPs I took for many years.

I've read that some doctors recommend waiting a couple cycles before TTC after IUD removal but I've also read about women getting pregnant very quickly after removal. So I'm interested to see what my doctor says when I'm there in a couple weeks.

Right now I'm just gathering info and I started taking pre-natal vitamins a couple weeks ago.

dfulton808 · April 2016

I could have written your story for myself. On bc since 15 due to horrific periods sometimes lasting months at a time. Now turning 25 and talking about starting a family in the next 2yrs. I have no idea what my body will do. Family history of reproductive issues, hysterectomies, and I had birth defects so I am going for it and getting off of bc when I'm done with the current pack June. I need to know what my body is going to do. We don't want it to happen right away but if it happens and it's healthy, i'll be thrilled. I'm 25 so I figure if this is not going to be easy, even if it takes me 5yrs, I will still only be 30 which is still more than young enough to be a mom. If it takes me 10yrs, then at least I won't be starting the journey at 30. My period and my body is so whacky I just don't trust it and I'm ready to face heart break sooner rather than later.

JenandJosh1310 · April 2016

I was on HBC for probably about 8 years and i went off it last october. I started reading about FAM and what HBC can do to your body so i went off it. We may not TTC till sept or october. I am charting and temping but we still use condoms. Going off the pill helped with my migraines and i finally have normal periods( on HBC they were awful and unpredictable) so im glad i did just for those reasons alone.

Basherbaby · April 2016

I have been having the same questions as you and WAS planning on Monday being my last day on BC. I was super excited to see what my body would do naturally since I have been on BC for 8-9 years. The plan was to temp and chart for a couple of months before actively trying. However, we just returned from St. Lucia a little over a week ago and today I found out that Zika has just been reported there. Looks like a few more months with Nuvaring for me.

varimama · April 2016

I told my obgyn that DH and I were planning on TTC this summer. I've been on hormonal BC for over 10 years and he knows this. He told me to wait until I have 1 natural period then start trying and that he'd see me after my first positive pregnancy test this summer. He didn't seem to think it'd be much of a problem having been on it for so long. Perhaps he was just being optimistic though since I've been reading it can take a healthy couple up to a year...

ShadeofGreen816 · April 2016

I'm a bit late to this party. I wouldn't call myself qualified hardly, let alone an expert. However, I'm a nurse practitioner student with a passion for women's health. Fertility wise, you can get pregnant your first cycle off HBC. (IUDs are a little different, because you should give your uterus some time to rebuild the lining). The main reason some people go hormone free is to get a feel for their cycles and to help with timing.
I am on essentially the same schedule as you - graduate May of 2017 and planning to start in September. I had an IUD and had it out in October and we are only using barrier for now. After all, we both know that it would t be the end of the world if we got KU by accident. Good luck!!

PolarBear517 · May 2016

Thank you everyone! I am late to update this but I have decided to just stick with the pill until we are ready to try. I have 3 more packs left after the one I'm on right now- so it won't be that long, really. I mean, I've used hormonal birth control for over 100 months- what's 3 more??

the risk of having a baby in my last semester of graduate school seemed greater than the delay of returned ovulation I might face (but I'm still hoping I'll be among those who regulate quickly!)

amama3 · May 2016

Just got my first depo shot last month, and I'm already wanting another baby

. Just had my 1st in December, I would like to try for another one next year but I've heard some people say that the shot made them infertile for a few years but other people have told me they actually got pregnant on it. Not really sure what I want to do.. But I know I'd like to be married and have a bigger place before adding another child.

PolarBear517 · May 2016

Baby3oo said:

Just got my first depo shot last month, and I'm already wanting another baby . Just had my 1st in December, I would like to try for another one next year but I've heard some people say that the shot made them infertile for a few years but other people have told me they actually got pregnant on it. Not really sure what I want to do.. But I know I'd like to be married and have a bigger place before adding another child.

I looked into the shot because I'm sick of taking pills every day! Women do typically experience a delay of return to ovulation with the shot compared to other birth control methods. I was too nervous with the variable being anywhere between 14 weeks and a year after the last shot to start ovulating, since we are so close to TTC. The two people I know who used the shot both got pregnant about 4 months after they stopped using it, so the anecdotal evidence I gathered made me feel a little better

you can use the shot while breastfeeding because it doesn't contain estrogen so I may try it as a spacer between baby #1 and baby #2, or nexplanon. How do you like it???

MrsHudson2014 · May 2016

Everyone is going to be different. I came off of birth control in November of 2015, and was pregnant by January 2016. I had been on BC for 12 years. If you're truly concerned about the pain/period symptoms, I would wait until our are ready to start trying to come off of it. You might get pregnant right away, you might not. But if your periods are that severe I personally would wait. I have a similar family history to yours, and that's why I made that decision.

NYTino24 · May 2016

I went off mine 6 months ago and I'm still trying to figure out my cycle! Just started seriously charting this month. If you aren't doing it, I'd suggest at least temping.

Ducks&Cats · June 2016

I had irregular cycles prior to starting bcp and when I stopped my periods never re started. I wished I had stopped a few months early so I could have discovered my pcos sooner. It's such a hard call.

amama3 · July 2016

PolarBear517 said:

Baby3oo said:

Just got my first depo shot last month, and I'm already wanting another baby . Just had my 1st in December, I would like to try for another one next year but I've heard some people say that the shot made them infertile for a few years but other people have told me they actually got pregnant on it. Not really sure what I want to do.. But I know I'd like to be married and have a bigger place before adding another child.

I looked into the shot because I'm sick of taking pills every day! Women do typically experience a delay of return to ovulation with the shot compared to other birth control methods. I was too nervous with the variable being anywhere between 14 weeks and a year after the last shot to start ovulating, since we are so close to TTC. The two people I know who used the shot both got pregnant about 4 months after they stopped using it, so the anecdotal evidence I gathered made me feel a little better you can use the shot while breastfeeding because it doesn't contain estrogen so I may try it as a spacer between baby #1 and baby #2, or nexplanon. How do you like it???

I am supposed to get my 2nd shot in about 2wks, but I'm kind of hesitant. My daughter turned 6months last week and I'd like her to have a sibling close in age (her closest sibling on her dads side is like 13yrs older then her). Since being on the depo I went over 7 weeks without a period, so that was nice but I constantly have the munchies which is probably also related to breastfeeding .. I'm still young so I try not to worry to much about the timing, I do trust that it will happen when it's supposed to but I hope it wont be to far in the distance

aboxofchocolates · July 2016

I originally went off BC three months before we were planning on TTC. Plans changed and now it has been a year since I've been off of BC and we are finally going to begin TTC at the end of the month. That being said I was on BC for 5 years and going back to regular periods have sucked! But, I have personally have had some other benefits (great sex life) since going off of it. I just started temping, I wanted to get in a full cycle of temping before we started TTC so I knew what to look for.

SSminnow426 · October 2016

Love this thread! DH and I got off BC this week and I'm super nervous! We are getting off with the idea that we are "early" and will wait up a bit longer to TTC but not ruling out starting to try after 3 months if everything is normal in regards to my cycle and life :. I went on the pill at 15 too and been on non stop (now 25). Currently using goalies---hard transition honestly after always just relying on the pill. Interested to see how my cycle comes back--10 years it a long time lol.

One thing I wonder if anyone else ran into---did you get sick right after getting off BC? I literally got off and BAM major cold. I can't find anything that getting off weakens your immune system but figured I'd ask. Totally could be non related but still.

mill1020 · November 2016

I think I'm an outlier on this issue but (aside from the time DH had inflammation/blockage and his sperm count went down to zero) we've been able to catch the first egg after stopping BCPs each time. [[Knock on wood]]

Most of my friends haven't been this lucky, though. It sounds like a good idea to stop hormonal BCP and start checking out your natural cycles for at least a few months before.

@SSminnow426 I've never experienced that, but it's definitely cold season! Hope you're feeling much better soon!

knottie0d8cc4d43bacc09f · November 2016

@SSminnow426 So exciting! I've been off the pill for about 3 months now.. luckily my cycles regulated right away, but everyone is different. It might have been a coincidence that you got sick after coming off..weather change? Regardless, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Very excited for you

Keep us posted!

igrokthat · November 2016

@SSminnow426 we are in the same boat!

I just decided to go off of hormonal birth control for the first time ever in my life, even though we will probably keep sort of preventing for a few more months. I've been on some form of BC since days after I had my first period, so seeing what life is like without those hormones is really weird and exciting.

My husband and I planned to take the plunge several times over the last few years and one of us would always panic and flake out, but our friends' adorable kids finally wore us down and how we are going for it.

Several of our friends (who, granted, had kids younger than us) managed to get knocked up on their first cycle off of BC, and I can't decide if that would make me feel lucky or freak me out at this point. I'm pretty controlling in general but I'm really trying to chill out with the timing of all of this.

PolarBear517 · November 2016

Well, I know my experience won't have any bearing on anyones, but I posted this because I loved hearing how things went for other people. To update, I did choose to go off birth control in August, and start trying that month, rather than waiting for my body to "regulate". I immediately started tracking ovulation using OPKs and temping. I ovulated on my first cycle off of birth control but didn't conceive. We conceived our 2nd cycle. So, I feel that waiting until we were ready to actually get pregnant before coming off of birth control did not hurt our efforts in any way

I didn't experience a huge "lag time" in fertility returning. While some people do experience an extended period of anovulation post-BC, the research implies that most women ovulate within a month of discontinuing birth control

jsnakehole · January 2017

I (with my husband) made an impromptu decision to stop using my birth control when he had leave two weeks ago so we could TTC. I haven't had a cycle yet, though unfortunately, I doubt it's because I'm pregnant. I'm hoping that a) he'll get another leave and b) I'll be ovulating when he does.

Why does it seem so simple on shows like '16 and Pregnant'? They forget one pill and they have a baby!

feeislove · January 2017

I'm about to go off HBC. My last pill will be taken on Tuesday. I'm also excited to see how my body will react. I'm been on it for going on 5 years. I've always had a pretty regular cycle, even more so on the pill. Hopefully it won't take long for my body to go back to normal. The only real side effect of being on the pill that I'm ready to say goodbye to is my lowered libido.

@jsnakehole I had always assumed they didn't use protection, hence the pregnancy. Though to be honest I can't say I've ever watched an full episode of that show because I can't stand the way those girls talk to their parents, their lack of responsibility, ect. Just the whole situation in general would make me angry. I can't.

jsnakehole · January 2017

@feeislove I only watch it when I'm channel surfing and get stuck- it's like a trainwreck you cannot look away from. I remember a few of the girls saying that they missed some pills and they're pregnant.

I've had almost no breakthrough bleeding this time, so maybe that's a good sign? (Or it's a hefty dose of wishful thinking). It's too soon to tell anything, so I'm trying just to put it in the back of my mind, but it's hard!

aurora23-2 · February 2017

I had planned to stay on hbc until we were ready to ttc, but I recently switched to getting my prescriptions by mail, and didn't realize I didn't have automatic refills selected. So I accidentally went off hbc last month, but then I noticed some spotting and got nervous that my cycle wasn't regular. I decided just to stay off hbc to give my body time to normalize before we start ttc in June. I just had my first real period, and started tracking it on FF so I can see what my cycles look like. I'm not going to start temping or anything like that yet.

livingthedream-3 · February 2017

I'm not taking any BCP at the moment. I was really bad taking them after having my last baby anyway, so now that the serious conversation over starting for another is happening I've stopped completely. I'm not officially charting, but have in the past for years and am very lucky to have a lot of EWCM for about a week prior to Oing, so we avoid then. DH knows I'm not taking them anymore and not going to start back up since we are probably going to officially try in a few months, not worth messing me up. I have IF history and it takes me forever for my cycles to regulate coming off BC. None of my kids were conceived quickly or easily, and we are all "old" so not adding anything that could make it harder once we are full on go mood.

sheshae · February 2017

When we starting trying for LO I stopped my pack mid January and ended up pregnant mid-March. So for some people it can happen rather quickly but for some it may take longer. I was definitely shocked because my original OB told me it could take 6 months to get pregnant.

fishee333 · March 2017

I was on HBC of some kind for about 12 years, Nuvaring being the most recent. Within a month of getting off Nuvaring in 2015 I was pregnant. So it can definitely happen! I've decided not to go back on HBC since my LO was born in Jan 16.

bethe-2 · April 2017

I stopped the pill about 3 years before ttc. I did it so i could really take time to learn & tune in to my body, I had been on it since my mid teens. I have recently discovered that birth control actually depletes your stores of folic acid, so I am definentally in camp "pitch the pill".

dimeadozen · April 2017

I had a cycle April 1st (April Fools joke, right). We knew I was going to stop BC this month so I slacked off the last of March, but I officially stopped taking it April 1st. We plan starting TTC in June. We won't be devastated if we get pregnant before (I'll be jumping for joy). According to my phone app today is O day. I haven't really seem the ideal CM, it's been a different consistency this week.

I've been cramping this week, has anyone felt that around ovulation time, I'm not sure what's normal really.

@ssminnow426 I didn't get sick. Stopping BC was actually a relief. Every time I took it I would feel queasy for a few hours... It wasn't fund at all. I don't think I'm noticed any adverse side affects from stopping.

ChloandCoco · April 2017

@gspmom21 - I usually have small cramps a few days before and after ovulation. Good luck on the NTNP!

dimeadozen · April 2017

Thank you @chloandcoco! I love your profile photo BTW

JNCPro3130 · April 2017

@gspmom21, I think there is a lot that's considered "normal", which is part of the crazy of TTC! lol Because everyone's body is different, I went off BC early with both DS and now to track what my normal is. If you don't already, I would recommend downloading the Fertility Friend app. It tracks pretty much anything you could possibly want! I have begun to see how my cycles work so in June when we TTC (I'll be on the TTC crazy train with you

easttxmamas · April 2017

I was on hormonal BC for years due to heavy bleeding, irregular periods (every 2 weeks), and awful cramps. I got off of it and my cycles stayed identical to what they were on the BC. Cycles are still 28 days, minimal cramping (with a stray bad month here and there), 5-7 days, no guesswork or breakthrough.

dreamscapes_ · April 2017

I was on the pill for a few years and then switched to the implant because I'm terrible at remembering to take pills. I was on that for two rounds (six years) and had it removed last July. We've just been using condoms since then. I have PCOS, and the birth control regulated my period. I almost never had it when I was on the implant, though!

notthefather · April 2017

I take a continual progesterone only pill and have to stay on until we are ready to really try. I was on the same hormone last time and it was a smooth transition. We were fortunate enough to get pregnant on our second cycle.

JennyColada · April 2017

I just went off hormonal BC this weekend. I've definitely felt the "MIGHT AS WELL STOP NOW" annoyance myself too, but I just really did not feel right going off it until I felt ready to get pregnant. While I knew we were going to want to start planning for kids, I didn't feel confident in potentially getting pregnant sooner than I wanted and didn't want to take that risk when I wasn't ready.

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