Have you STOPPED using birth control??

mindfulmunching

I stopped birth control, synthetic hormones are scary. Check out the lady-comp fertility monitor. A totally effective contraception tool to help you understand your own fertility instead of supressing it with wicked estradiol derived from bull piss.

angelakayerickson

I was on the pill (many kinds) and they all made me feel preg. So my dr suggested depo shot.....NEVER NEVER do that....I gained 30 pounds in a few short months....great was i never had my periods......suck was I gained a ton of weight.......great I didnt get preg.......suck was when my husband and I wanted tooo we couldnt get preg for almost 2 years...........Now that I have lost 30 lbs on only 18 since i been on mfp, I am not on anything...no birth control, no anti depressant, nothing!!! sooooo excited!

hpsaucette

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it but the coil is a great alternative to the pill. I was on POP pills, progesterone only, which really didn't work for me hormonally with all kinds of side effects and a complete pain to remember to take every day. A few of my friends got the hormonal coil before me all without practically any side effects or discomfort, two of them were really lucky and don't get periods/spotting at all, I have minimal. Because it's er...localised the actual amounts of hormones is tiny in comparison with the pill, plus you don't have to think about it at all for five years, or less if you wanted to stop birth control before that which is easily doable. There's also the non-hormonal copper coil which actually has about the same percentage protection as the pill!
Good luck!

Maryfullofgrace

Hi everyone... well, ladies in particular... haha :bigsmile: I'm hoping to hear about the experiences you may have had STOPPING birth control... I don't mean switching, I mean stopping entirely.

What side effects did you have while on birth control? And did they go away after you stopped?

I have tried two kinds of BC (NuvaRing and LoEstrin Fe), and I have experienced the same side effetcs with both-- weight gain that seems stuck & won't come off, emotional mood swings, an almost non-existent sex drive, and constant lethargy/fatigue. :ohwell:

I am thinking of stopping my BC entirely... I am sick of being full of weird hormones, and I want to feel like myself again! Plus, my husband and I are at a point where if I did become pregnant, it would not be catastrophic... we'll still try to avoid it for the time being, but if it happens we will be ready to handle it.

Just wondering if I can expect side effetcs to immediately stop, or if it will take some time... thanks in advance for your input!!

No side effects for me! Have you read about Natural Family Planning? It uses your basal temperature and other fertility signs to determine when you are or are not in your fertile time. There are classes you can take on it or purchase a manual online and learn the process yourself.

kbonamour

I have tried pills, the depo shots, and nuvaring in the past and didn't like a single one! I didn't use anythingfor about 3 years and don't remember any weird side effects from stopping using any of them. I just had a baby and opted for the Paragard iud since it is 100% hormone free, and it lasts for up to 10 years.

vs1023

I stopped using the pill back in 2002 after I got married simply because it made me a bit nutty, mood swings, hard to lose weight, etc. The only times I got pregnant was when I tried. With my daughter it was right away. With my son it took 16 cycles and Clomid. In the interim I use TCOYF to avoid pregnancy and I don't take any birth control whatsoever.

kcmg0730

I hated the BCP, and after my second baby was born in 2007, I was fed up with all those hormones, and all the side effects you're talking about. I now have an IUD (copper, not a hormone release one), and I love it. No thinking about it, no hormones, lasts for 5 years , and when you're ready to get pregnant, you just have it removed...no having to wait for anything to leave your system. Some women have heavier periods or cramping, but I haven't had any of that...it's been wonderful.

Good luck...I know just how you're feeling!

jap6955

I have been on at least 6 different types of bc trying to control my mood swings, weight, being lethargic and lack of a sex drive. Being on or off never made a difference. Last year i decided to make a major life change and become vegan. Guess what all my symptoms are gone and i am on the ring living life to the fullest.

killerqueen17

Thanks for all the input! From what I'm gathering, it seems that many of you felt better, and a few felt worse... and a few bacame pregnant (lol!). That's what I wanted to find out.

The last time I swithced, I told my gyno about my side effects, and she said "okay, with those side effects it sounds like you need more of this hormone and less of that, so let's try LoEstrin!" I was so excited that she seemed to know the issue... so I switched, ....AAAAAND nothing changed. At all. haha.

Once again, thanks for the input... I think that I'm going to continue on BC for at least another month so that I can skip my period for vacation (hahaha) and then probably switch to more natural methods after that!

aranchmom

I tried the patch awhile back, and HATED it! made me feel like i was losing my mind, depressed, etc. I didn't stay on it long enough to gain weight, though. I just quit pretty soon. It was awful! I will never try that again! I can imagine you want to stop! And condoms work pretty well as bc. Good luck.

megcalvert

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it but the coil is a great alternative to the pill. I was on POP pills, progesterone only, which really didn't work for me hormonally with all kinds of side effects and a complete pain to remember to take every day. A few of my friends got the hormonal coil before me all without practically any side effects or discomfort, two of them were really lucky and don't get periods/spotting at all, I have minimal. Because it's er...localised the actual amounts of hormones is tiny in comparison with the pill, plus you don't have to think about it at all for five years, or less if you wanted to stop birth control before that which is easily doable. There's also the non-hormonal copper coil which actually has about the same percentage protection as the pill!
Good luck!

I have never heard of the "coil" What is it and can you get it through your gyno? Is it the IUD?

ackeebee

i have been on the microgynon 30 for the past 6 years and 3 months and the only side effect i have really noticed is mood swings. i was moody before anyway but it has definitely gotten worst.

i have been reluctant to try another pill because so far this one has been successful in that i haven't gotten pregnant lol. also i am afraid to come off the pill as i use to have terrible period cramps before and the pill has definitely helped with this.

Amara15

I quit taking BC last year bc it was making me PSYCHO!

This! I quit taking mine as well because I was crazy. My life became an emotional rollercoaster. I could not control my emotions, and I would take it out on everyone else. I also deal with Seasonal Affect Disorder. Living in the good old midwest we have dark winters, and my bc made this worse. I'm so thankful to be off.

Rae6503

When I stopped it didn't seem to affect me much. I love not being on it now. Haven't been on it for 6 years.

shannon121278

Figured I would add my two cents in and experience.

I was on the BCP for probably more than 4 years. Over those 4 years I gained like 80 pounds, got high blood pressure (whether from the pill or weight gain, I still blame it on the pill), and my sex drive slowly just pretty much completely disappeared. I know the pill was not the main reason of weight gain, but I feel it was a big help in that area.

I went off my pills in April, used condoms for about 2 1/2 months, then in June my husband and I decided we would start trying for children.

I dieted from April to August, with no luck at all. But I did my own dieting. I pretty much just slightly cut back my portions, sometimes. I assumed the weight would just fly off after going off my pills, and that was not the case. In september, I actually started working hard, exercising a lot more, watching my calories closely, and over the past 10 weeks or so, I've lost almost 30 pounds. It took a little hard work, but the weight will come off if you try. I will never know if my weight would have come off while on my pills or not, because I am never going back on pills again. Because of the weight loss and being off my pills, I've noticed an improvement in my blood pressure, but I can still tell I have a problem. I still have about 56 more pounds to lose though, so I guess we will see how that turns out.

As for my sex drive improving, I have not noticed a change at all. I still have pretty much no sex drive. Whether that was the cause of my pills or not, I've been off them 7 months and seen no noticable changes. I wish there was.... but no.

I'm kind of a walking contradiction right now. I'm dieting and losing weight, while also trying to conceive at the same time. I realize that I will gain weight while pregnant guys, so please don't make those comments. BUT I am working to lose as much weight as possible, before a baby happens. I feel it's better to gain the weight for a reason (to help grow a baby), than to just plain be fat. That's the way I think, and that's not gonna change.

You have got to do what you feel is best for you and your body. If you wanna go off and use other forms of BC (or not), then that's your choice, or if you want to try different pills, again, it's your choice. I've noticed some improvements and some non-improvements after going off my pills, but nothing has gotten worse, that's for sure. I will never go back on pills again.

shannon121278

Figured I would add my two cents in and experience.

I was on the BCP for probably more than 4 years. Over those 4 years I gained like 80 pounds, got high blood pressure (whether from the pill or weight gain, I still blame it on the pill), and my sex drive slowly just pretty much completely disappeared. I know the pill was not the main reason of weight gain, but I feel it was a big help in that area.

I went off my pills in April, used condoms for about 2 1/2 months, then in June my husband and I decided we would start trying for children.

I dieted from April to August, with no luck at all. But I did my own dieting. I pretty much just slightly cut back my portions, sometimes. I assumed the weight would just fly off after going off my pills, and that was not the case. In september, I actually started working hard, exercising a lot more, watching my calories closely, and over the past 10 weeks or so, I've lost almost 30 pounds. It took a little hard work, but the weight will come off if you try. I will never know if my weight would have come off while on my pills or not, because I am never going back on pills again. Because of the weight loss and being off my pills, I've noticed an improvement in my blood pressure, but I can still tell I have a problem. I still have about 56 more pounds to lose though, so I guess we will see how that turns out.

As for my sex drive improving, I have not noticed a change at all. I still have pretty much no sex drive. Whether that was the cause of my pills or not, I've been off them 7 months and seen no noticable changes. I wish there was.... but no.

I'm kind of a walking contradiction right now. I'm dieting and losing weight, while also trying to conceive at the same time. I realize that I will gain weight while pregnant guys, so please don't make those comments. BUT I am working to lose as much weight as possible, before a baby happens. I feel it's better to gain the weight for a reason (to help grow a baby), than to just plain be fat. That's the way I think, and that's not gonna change.

You have got to do what you feel is best for you and your body. If you wanna go off and use other forms of BC (or not), then that's your choice, or if you want to try different pills, again, it's your choice. I've noticed some improvements and some non-improvements after going off my pills, but nothing has gotten worse, that's for sure. I will never go back on pills again.

Oh, forgot to mention, the only negative side effect I've noticed after going off the pills, is that I did not have a period after stopping them for about 5 months. Then it seems to have not stopped the past 2 months. I spot (lightly) for a week, then stop for a week, then spot for a week, off for a week, etc. I'm just waiting for it to get back to a semi-normal routine.

Dumbell_Diva

My epic rapid weight gain started after taking the mini pill. In July before I took the pill I was a size 10, within 3 months I was a size 16 - gained 30lbs within 3 months. (average 3lb per week). I gained 14lb whilst taking the pill and the rest in the month aftter I came off it. Although the month I came off it I was quitting smoking at the same time so some of that could be due to that, but certainly the bulk of the weight gain was the pill. Some of the side effects on it were:

Hair loss, Loss of sex drive, Personality change, Leaking breasts, Huge weight gain, bloating and appetite increase,
Facial hair

I came off it in September and since then I have developed hives and itchy skin, my doctor said this was an allergy to the progesterone in the mini pill and said it would gradually disappear in a couple months,once the pill had gone out of my system. I had sensitive breasts for the first two months after stopping it and bloated tummy. I found the whole experience an absolute nightmare!!!! My periods have come back (I now have an IUD) but I cant lose weight. Ive been on this for almost 4 weeks, I walk miles, cut back on carbs and chocolate, yet I STILL cant lose weight, not sure if this is becaise of the pill but would be interesting to find out!!!!

ackeebee

Hi again guys,

I have a question......for those of you who have stopped taking the pill to try for a baby, approximately how long did it take you to conceive. iIhave asked my doc and she says it should happen pretty much straight away however from stories i have heard from my friends, it has taken them quite a while. One of my friend came off the pill and it took her about a year and a half to eventually conceive. In fact she was at the point where she was about to start doing tests for IVF treatment when she found out she was pregnant.

Plsd to hear your stories

Barneystinson

I stopped in 2007. I lost a decent amount of weight (mostly water retention) in the two weeks that followed. I had started taking the stuff at age 16...2000, I think. I've tried Yaz (awful), Nuvaring (infections), Ortho Evra patch (didn't stick), Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, Desogen, and some off-brand that was similar to Desogen.

Weight wasn't the main driver for stopping, though. Migraines were. Migraines with aura suck. I haven't had an aura migraine since taking that crap. I also had battles with depression with another type I took (Ortho TriC). And an overall lack of energy and sex drive. And as a generally calm and positive person, 2 of the kinds I took turned me into a raging psychopath. So yeah...It's fair to say I don't like hormonal birth control.

Barrier methods and temp. charting work for me and don't make me ill or angry to the world.

There are many other ways to prevent pregnancy besides the pill. The pill just happens to be the end-all method of convenience that most doctors are quick to throw at you at an ever younger age without actually explaining how your body works in regards to fertility and cycles and how birth control affects it.

cantobean

I just stopped mine! After being on BC for 6 years, I decided it was time to stop. It wasn't really doing it's job anymore (I was getting my period to early and too late, never on time) and I think the jury is still out on whether daily doses of hormones are harmful or not....I do want to start a family in 4 or 5 years so I figured it'd be good to stop.


I have read about intense side effects from stopping--mood swings, depression, acne, etc. I haven't experienced any yet, but I've only been off it for about 2 weeks.

zemilyc

I am on my second Mirena IUD now. I first had it inserted in 2006 had it removed in 12/2008 and got pregnant the same month!! had it reinserted after my second child and the only side effect I have experienced with both is breast tenderness within the first month of insertion and abnormal spotting. After that I have lighter and shorter periods each month. No estrogen just progesterone hormone is in the Mirena so to me it works great.

bluebutterflyzz

I've heard gaining weight while on birth control is a myth but I don't know if it's entirely true cause hormones have different effects on different bodies. I got off of birth control for 2 months and it didn't effect my weight loss. I'm now on generess so I hope it improves my lifestyle :-) I know my boyfriend will be happy that I won't be so scared to get preggers.

I have all of the symptoms of BC - fatigue, mood swings, low sex drive but I can't be sure if that's just the lifestyle a full time working woman living in NYC who is also trying to lose weight LOL I guess I'll see if anything changes while I'm on generess.

Edited to add that I didn't get my period for the 2 months that I was off BC so I think my body needs it.

Sookie_182

I was on Yaz and came off it a while ta give my body a break while I was on it I did gain weight, massive mood swings etc but I think that was more to my less eating healthy and stress of finals in college. Since I came off it I havnt noticed much of a change in my weight and Im still a bit moody! But sure im a girl tis allowed! :laugh:
I'm thinking il go back on it next month though coz my period is literally all over the place :grumble: I had never ever had any kind of cycle it changed every single month and it was brilliant knowing when it was going to come!

spotlighthw

hehehe

HeidiMightyRawr

When I first went on it I got put on "Microgynon 30" This gave me major mood swings and made my sex drive next to nothing.
My doctor switched me onto "Ovysmen" (sp?) but that gave me spotting mid cycle. Then I got put on "Cilest" and that was fine, I stayed on that for the majority of the time I was on the pill but made the choice to stop taking it altogether in April this year.

I stopped completely randomly, didn't even wait 'til the end of the pack I don't think. Had 2 "periods" that month. Things were surprisingly regular once I stopped, I thought they'd be all over the place but they weren't I'd never had any problems before I went on the pill for that side of things though.
Now, I feel so much better without all the hormones and I love not having to remember to take it every morning (I got quite bad with forgetting near the end) I feel more relaxed, more like myself and even though I never had major mood swings on it, I still feel like I'm more calm without it

killerqueen17

hehehe

Oh you... I just knew you would have to chime in on this somewhere!! lol

please no baby comments, we are NOT TRYING YET, kthx :bigsmile:

Ewhite5

I stopped recently. I've had some issues after stopping that i'd be willing to talk about in a private message but all and all, i'm pretty happy that I'm off.

Tree72

I stopped once for about 3 months when I was between jobs and didn't have insurance. It was not good. But things did go back to my "normal" fairly quickly. It's just that my "normal" is pretty awful.

It did take trying about 5 or 6 different pills for about 3 months each to find one that worked okay. (Yeah, that was not a fun year.) There were a couple that were truly awful. The worst was the one that made me feel angry and suicidal at the same time. But I knew it wasn't me, it was distinctly the pill. Also tried the NuvaRing. Didn't care for the side effects on that one at all.

So, it can be a bit scary. If you're not sure you want to be taking them, definitely stop. But for some women, like me, it's worth the effort it takes to find one that works. My natural hormones are all kinds of messed up, and artificial ones restore some normalcy to my life. (No more missing work because of migraines or cramps so bad I can't get out of bed.)

jess_blonde

Hi!

I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for about six months and had zero sex drive so I switched to the NuvaRing. That kinda-sorta helped but not really. I also had estrogen-withdrawl migraines but was unable to stack the ring because I would just bleed constantly until I gave my body the hormone free week. I also gained weight (more my own doing than the birth control) and it was impossible to lose! I also had ridiculous vaginal dryness (I'm 25 and I needed lube EVERY TIME I had sex...not cool).

I switched to a non-hormonal IUD (Flexi-T 300) six months ago and am LOVING it. My sex drive is back, I have no problems with lubrication, migraines are mostly gone and the weight is coming off! The copper IUD is an option even if you haven't had children so if you're interested in remaining protected against pregnancy but stopping hormones, it's certainly a great option! If you have any questions, let me know!

spotlighthw

hehehe

Oh you... I just knew you would have to chime in on this somewhere!! lol

please no baby comments, we are NOT TRYING YET, kthx :bigsmile: