After talking to several people whose ills seem to have been cured once they stopped taking the pill, I wonder if that is something I need to try.

I have been on a few different brands of BC over the last 10 years, but I have always been on one pill or another for 10 years with no breaks. I get bad menstrual migraines, anxiety, fatigue, digestion problems...I have taken a myriad of drugs and tried different diets, exercise, vitamins, etc all of which help a little but I am still sickly several days of the month. My mom insists its the birth control...I guess I wouldn't know since I have been on it so long. I'm thinking about stopping taking it for a while to see what happens.

Has anyone else done this?

Yes and no. Without the pill, my periods last at least 10 days, which is draining. But I also have a higher sex drive, less headaches, less nausea.

The only side effect for me is the acne but other then that it's been great, even my breathing has improved :)

I have not been taken completely off the pill but lowering my dosage helped my problems a lot.

I started out on Lo-Ovral. I was on it for five and a half years. I was very "mad" during this time. I became extremely jealous, irritable and sometimes violent. Last year, I had to go get my yearly check up. I had been experiencing a condition - Chlorasma (Melasma in the Birth Control leaflet), and my Dr told me I had too much estrogen in my system. She then switched me to Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo.

For the last year, I have not been a rage-a-holic but have been suffering from Paranoia/Anxiety, and Depression. No matter what I did, things never felt better.

In early Novemeber, at my last check up, my doctor took me off of Estrogen altogether and put me on the mini pill. I have not felt so good in nearly 7 years. I am back to the person I was before starting birth control. I have heard that progestin is the hormone to watch out for, but so far, I have had good results.

I have had break through bleeding, and more blemishes. But that is sooo much better than dealing with the drastic mood swings. I would suggest that if you believe your symptoms could be hormone related, then maybe you should try going off of the pill for a while and see how you feel. If it is the pills, you should feel some sort of difference. If not, then go back on them and continue searching for the reason.

Good luck to you, with whatever you choose to do.

You might notice an increase of flow and if you don't already have cramps you might get some. If you are in USA I highly recommend trying the Nuvaring. I did not notice any side effects myself.

hmm, ok, thanks for your responses. You are confirming what I thought! I just started Ovcon 35 this month so I will probably finish it out and see how it goes, but if things do not improve I may just quit altogether. DH will not be happy about condoms, lol!

sk27, I also heard nuvaring was good but I think it just isn't all that commmonplace yet. Is it something that is actually inserted into you?

Yes Nuva ring is insterted into you. It is great! I loved it while I was on it. You insert it and leave it there for three weeks, then take it out for 1 week, then insert a different one at the end of that week. I had less sides effects on this. With the pill, I had depression, moodiness, nausia, increased cramps, just to name a few. I have been off of it for a month now and feel Great. I loved the Nuva Ring, they are now advertising it on tv. Good luck!

I was on Necon forever and it was fine until I reached my 30's, then I started to get extremely moody, depressed etc. So my Dr. switched me Aviane and all hell broke loose, acne, mood swings like you ready about, crying jags, weight gain, fatigue and general malaise. I was really losing and my mother and Dr. felt it was the pill, so I switched to Nuva Ring.

I love this, it's awesome!! Already I feel my old personality back and the weight is beginning to slip off, my energy is back and it's only been a week. So far so good....