I just quit taking the pill - what do I need to know? (maybe TMI)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I just took my last pill yesterday morning - in exactly 1 week, I will be free from the hormone-controlling birth control pills. I’ve been taking them since I was 21 (about 10 years).

I can figure out the obvious things about being off the pill - my period may come at strange times (I wasn’t especially regular before), and I have to use alternative birth control (at least till after the wedding! ;-).

I’m hoping to get advice about the stuff I haven’t thought of. From anyone who’s done this as well, are your mood swings bad? Or better? Are your cramps worse? More headaches, less headaches? Anything else I’m not mentioning? Am I expecting there to be a big change, but it’ll probably be nothing?

Thanks, …
Heather

2

Ya might get preggers?

3

I did kind of figure that out, which is why I said, in the original post, that I would have to use alternatives.

Many thanks though, for answering all the other questions I asked!

<grumble>
Heather

4

I know when I forgot to get a new pack and thusly was pill free for a month, weird stuff happened. My boobs got really tender and sensitive for a few weeks and I got really…well…horny like a guy. Just be prepared! :slight_smile:

5

I used to get horrible cramps when I was young. I was on the pill for a number of years (about 8, IIRC), then went off for about 18 months to see what effect it would have on my migraines. My migraines were worse, which was unusual - for most women, migraines are worse on the pill. But my cramps were pretty much gone, and my period, though longer off the pill, were a lot lighter than they were when I was younger, and I had almost no cramping. Your body changes a lot in 10 years, so things may be very different for you now than they were then.

6

This board is a co-operative effort Heather. I was just doing my part. :smiley:

7

I was only on the pill for a year, but my cramps, PMS, flow, and length were all worse when I wasn’t taking it. I also wasn’t as reliable; I’d generally start within the week, not down to the day like when I was on the pill.

And I don’t know why I’m talking about this in the past tense, b/c it’s still true. :smiley: It’s been about seven years since I was on the pill, and as a matter of fact, I’m PMSing right now! Yippeeee!

:dubious:

8

The first time I went off the pill, I practically hemorrhaged during my first period.

The second time I went off the pill my skin went haywire - I had absolutely horrible acne for about a year (I’d gone back on the pill after a few months).

I haven’t gone off the pill a third time, for what by now are probably obvious reasons.

Of course, YMMV. And I hope it does.

9

Thanks to Little Bird, Porcupine, Audrey Levins and ruadh for sharing your experiences.

Those are exactly the kinds of things I was wondering about. And ruadh … acne, huh? I’d forgotten about acne. Hmm.

And porcupine, You’re right. In the 10 years things could well have changed for my body/system. Well, I guess I’ll find out!

Thanks again
Heather