I am 28 and I am going to stop taking my birth control pills in about two weeks. I have been on them for about 12 years. I was wondering if anyone knows what side affects I may have. Weight gain? Weight loss? Bleeding? etc. Also, I was wondering if my periods will be irregular now. Thanks! Beth

I got really really bad headaches for 2 weeks. Your periods will probably be similar to how they were before you started the pill. But it might take a while for them to get regular.

BM28 -

Just wanted to share with you that I am about to do the same. I have been on the pill for about 10 yrs and am going off after this next pack. I was wondering all of the same things. I too have heard that you can expect your periods to go back to how they were - which stinks for me - they are nice and short/light on the pill. I just wanted you to know I am going through the same!

i went off 6 months ago (i was on it for 6 years) and still no period!! my doctor says it can take up to 18 months to return...it has caused my skin to break out (not too bad but enough to annoy me), but other than that i havent noticed anything!

I've been on the pill for 5 years. Two years ago, I decided to go off of it for a while. Two months later, my face broke out with horrible acne! I never had acne before going on the pill, so I was really surprised to see it develop. I immediately went back on the pill and a few months later, I was all cleared up again! This may not happen for you, but I thought I'd warn you anyway! Good luck...

THANKS to everyone who responded. I'm not ready to have kids yet but in a few years. I've been with my boyfriend for 5 years and we are probably going to get married in the next few years and I want my body ready for pregnancy when it happens. I also heard that it takes a long time for your body to adjust that's why I'm thinking about it early. Also, it's not like if I accidentally got pregnant that I'd be upset or anything!!!!!!! I'm just nervous about stopping them because I don't know what to expect. I haven't had regular periods for a long time; they're so light and always on time being on the pill. Thanks again!

Kind of off topic and maybe you know all about this already, but you might be interested in reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility while you are off the pill. I couldn't believe I went so long just wondering when my period would show up when it is so easy to predict... And its a good book for avoiding pregnancy and achieving it.

Thanks Bordergirl for the suggestion! What kinds of things does it say?

I was on the pill for 4 yrs and I got off 6 mths ago.. I lost 10 lbs. That was nice.. But I had my period twice now in 6 mths and i broke out BAD! Back to the pill I go!! Just and FYI--

WOW-everyone is saying that their skin breaks out after stopping! I didn't have acne before I started taking them but neither did some of you. I'm worried about that now; I guess I won't know until I try it. Has anyone here stopped taking it and your skin DIDN'T break out?

Hi, I have had a simmilar experinace to those that have posted. I was on the pill for five years and used my last pack in January. I had my last period in Febuary. I went till June, had a period, and well now it's almost September and nothing. I too never had acne until now and it is HORRIBLE!!! As for me back to the pill I go to simply because of my skin.
Alicia

It teaches you all about your cycles, and how your cervical fluid, cervical position, and temperature changes so you can identify ovulation. Then it has rules you can follow to avoid pregnancy (either with a barrier method too or without one) and rules to achieve pregnancy. After I read it I was so excited to know exactly what was happening with my body on any day of the month. And my period is just as predictable as it is with the pill if I make those observations.

How long does it take until your face breaks out after you stop taking it? Reason I'm asking is b/c I have my ten year class reunion next month and I'm thinking maybe I should wait one more month just in case!

I just quit taking my patchs and the didnt help me much with my pimples but I hope they dont get worse. How long until your face usually starts to break out?

If you end up breaking out and don't want to go back on the pill ask your doc for spironolactone. Its great for hormonal acne!

Well, maybe i was just lucky...no...i was definitely lucky....I stopped b/c to ttc in may and never had a prob after that. AF was on the nose every month (which was amazing seeing as i went on b/c at 15 for irregular periods and am now 25). I havent broken out once...except for a teenie one on my forehead from wearing a baseball hat for too long in the heat....lol.
I had no weight gain either...not all experiences will be scary and with any luck ...your s wont be that bad either.
g/l when you do decide to ttc!!! :)

Thanks Ducki- I was seriously having second thoughts about stopping it. I think I am going to stop taking it as planned. Beth

your very welcome...
we're all here to help each other.
Good luck in whichever path you choose to take(staying on b/c or going off)!!!!!!!!
Keep us posted...

...or maybe we'll see you on the prego board soon!!!! :bouncing:
Anyways...
Good luck!!!!

Hi BM28,
I am going off the pill as of today (been on diane 35 for 2 1/2 years). Very nervous also, but I really don't want to take hormones any longer. I am also starting to get some bad mood swings...good luck to us both!

I just discontinued my pill too! :) I'm happy to be charting again :)

Thanks everyone for the replies! I am very nervous about it. Please keep me updated. Thanks, Beth

Im hoping one of you ladies can help me. I went off my the patch last monday so 8 days ago. About 2 days after I stopped taking it, okay this is hard to explain...my heart starts racing sometimes, just out of the blue and its hard to breath, I have to stop whatever Im doing and take a deep deep breath. Its almost like a anxiety attack. Is this from stopping the birth control and if so why? PLEASE HELP?

HEllo all. I too have decided to go off the pill. Its only day 8 and I had a headache from the time that I woke up this morning. I am wondering if this is normal and if anyone had experienced it themselves? And if you did, what remedies did you use to get rid of them and how long did you have them for?

I went off them because they were making me very moody and anxiety ridden.

I am 27 and been on and off for 10 years. On this time for a year but just caused me way too much trouble.
I want my body to go back to natural but the headaches are killing me....

Help

Thanks in advance

When I discontinued Yasmin I had the worst headaches of my life for two weeks.

I am so looking forward to being able to stop my pill and start ttc (which, sadly, still won't be for at least another 3-4 years :( ). I'm not too worried about it as the last time I stopped I had not adverse affects (though I was only on it for about 2 years).

But I guess you have to stop at some point, and the sooner the better I guess.

Good luck.

I'm 44, and I have recently stopped taking birth control pills after taking them for five years. The first month, my AF came right on time. However, with this second month, I'm late. I'm also very nauseus and sometimes dizzy. I'm not pregnant, but it almost feels like I am with all this nausea! Has anyone else experienced nausea after going off the pill? Am I experiencing this now because I'm in my 40s? Please help!

I went off 2 monthsa ago and I still haven't had a period. I have lately been getting pimples. Nothing too horrible, but I used to have very clear skin, so it's really annoying!

Hi everyone! I noticed that my post is back so I wanted to update you. I haven't stopped taking them yet!!!!!! I got really nervous after seeing all of your posts and I'm waiting until after my class reunion. It's in two weeks and I'll stop after that. I was afraid that my face would break out. A lot of people said theirs did! :eek:

Ive been off it now for a few months due to my pill being discontinued, and i am miserable, periods are heavy just like before I went on the pill, bad cramps, pms is horrible about the week or 2 before, breast soreness again, its no fun being off them!

Stopped yasmin 8 months ago after 4 or 5 years. HORRIBLE side effects. Acne, anxiety attacks, hair loss due to anxiety, irregular periods, ect.


I am going to talk to my gyno.

I have talked to several docs about this and ladies, if BC AND our naturally changing hormone levels??