For various reasons, I’ve decided to stop taking my birth control pills (I’ve been on the pill for about three years), and try out other methods. Right now, I’m thinking of getting a diaphragm and relying on condoms, preferably at the same time.
However, I have no clue what to expect upon quitting the pill. Practically every girl I know is taking birth control, and I don’t know anyone who’s ever stopped taking it. So, can anyone help me out? What happened to you when you stopped taking the pill? Moodiness? A return to bad cramps (which I’m counting on)? Weight loss (which I’m praying for)?
I quit it a few years ago, I don’t remember any mood swings (out of the ordinary mood swings, that is). The major bummer was my period is no longer regular like it was when I was on the Pill. I used to be able to pin it down to the hour when it was coming, now it’s back to guessing. No changes as to weight or cramps, none that i noticed anyway.
I noticed no difference at all when I went off the pill, except that using condoms for birth control I got pregnant.
I don’t think there’s a forehead slappin’ “smiley” big enough for that one.
i was put on the pill when i was 11 to stop excessive bleeding, and stayed on them until i was 26, when my partner got a vasectomy.
coming off them resulted in my skin going from flawless to just horrible, its taken a year to get it under control and back to its usual state. no real weight difference, or mood swings, but they are less regular than when i was on the pill.
My PMS and migraines got worse when I was off the pill, though for most women with migraines, being on the pill makes the migraines worse. IIRC, breast tenderness was less off the pill. I generally feel better on the pill, so I’m on it 12 weeks on/one week off now. The brand I’m on now (Yasmin) has a slight diuretic effect, so no more water bloat.
My skin wasn’t perfect when I was on the pill, but it got worse when I went off it – well, not really worse, I guess it just reverted to its original state.
It was not long after I stopped taking the Pill that I got my first migraine. I’m not sure if the two things are related, but they might be.
Stopped the contraceptive pill around 10 years ago in favour of an I.U.D. No real noticeable side effects - perhaps more moodiness but I’m not even sure about that, and no weight difference and I found no problems with the I.U.D.
I.U.D. was removed when it was time to -and last year, I had another one fitted (not wanting more years of the pill, as I still smoke, and not really wanting to trust to diaphragm/condoms. Again, no big hassle.
But, after all, if you do stop, and experience unwanted effects, you doctor will be able to advise.
A friend of mine told me that when she went off the Pill for a month, she had really bad cramps around the time that she ovulated. She figured it was her ovaries giving her a swift kick to the gut after neglecting them all those years.
When I went off for a month last summer, I didn’t notice any changes other than worse cramping than usual, and being a little moodier.
Your skin might get worse, so it would be worth asking your doctor if he/she can provide something to counteract that. For cramps, I make it my mission to inform the world that evening primrose oil really does help, especially taken in capsule form with cod liver oil too (easy and to find together). Take them every day, but be careful not to miss any the week before you’re due.
Thanks for all the advice so far, guys (including the menstrual cramp one–see, you learn all sorts of new things here!) I’m kind of getting nervous hearing all of the “went off the pill and whoosh, I got pregnant” anecdotes. The diaphragm is about 80% effective, according to Planned Parenthood’s website. While that’s nowhere near the pill, I’m kind of hoping that a diaphragm with a condom will be better than that. I’m a bit scared of IUD’s, and what I read said that they aren’t really recommended for young women who hope to have children. I also saw the words “Uterine Puncture” in the IUD category, which kind of freaked me out.
Sigh. Why can’t they make a non-hormonal, non-permanent, non-scarily invasive birth control option that’s as effective as a hormonal one?
I went off the Pill 'cause of high blood pressure, and didn’t really have any problems–except the Return of the Twelve-Day Period, which is one of the major reasons I went on the Pill in the first place–very irregular, very heavy, very long periods–so that’s not really a side effect of going off. I didn’t have any weight gain or other problems.
Happily, I’m back on a low-estogen formulation. Yay!
IUDs have a very bad reputation because a long time ago, there was an IUD called the Dalkon Shield that was a very bad design. It caused a lot of problems for many people who used it. Since then, people have been very wary of IUDs, even though that design is obviously not made any more.
It may not be the right method for you, TWG, but I wish people wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand, because it can be a very good method for some people.
Anyway, the diaphragm is far more than 80% effective if used properly. So are condoms. If used together, you should be very well protected. Those methods have some great advantages.
