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What "symptoms" did you experience? I have 1.5 months of pills left (seasonal) so I am just wondering what I should expect after being on BC for 11 years. Do you get bleeding right away?? Any info is welcome. Shar your experience :) I know everyone is different but I want to be prepared!!
I was also on Seasonal for a while. I think I got a lot of symptoms that were confused with pregnancy symptoms.... so try not to get your hopes up if you're TTC right after you get off. One of the big ones for me was sore boobs.
That's true, my breasts were more sore right after getting after BC than they are now at 5 weeks.
I was on BCPs for 11 years before stopping them last June to begin TTC. I had a rough go at it. My first cycle after coming off of them was 84 days. I had some cramping in between, but nothing significant. I was just worried that I'd never get my period! I finally did in September, and my cycles were pretty long after that. They were 40-45 days each which was disappointing!
Other symptoms were major breakouts. I've always had the clearest skin with a zit here or there around my period, but when I went off BC, man did I have the worst hormonal acne. It started on my forehead and I still have some issues just under my cheekbones on either side of my face a year later. So something to possibly be prepared for! My cramps off the pill were also pretty intense, but they were intense before I went on the pill (part of the reason why I started them).
This is good to know! I find sore boobs are a side effect of the pill for me. I hope it doesn't get worse!!!! We won't be TTC for at least 6 months, I just want to get my cycle figured out early :)
Yikes!! Thanks for the heads up. Bad cramps were the reason I went on the pill so i am not looking forward to them coming back!!!! How long until your cycles were normal?
cramping, sore boobs, and acne are definitely what to expect. My cramping has gone away pretty much now. I've noticed in my second true week off of BC the increased cervical mucus. I don't remember having this much on BC. I have no idea when my period will return. Hoping for it to be like pre-BC, but who knows.
I just recently posted this on another thread, so this is just copied and pasted.
I've been off the pill for close to 3 months now, and have had a bunch of randomness take place. I was on the pill for 9 years.
1. My hair is falling out in chunks.
2. I have gained 10 lbs that doesn't want to budge.
3. I am constantly, and often painfully bloated
4. My periods include cramps now (never had any on the pill).
5. My cycle stayed normal...ie I've had my period when I was supposed to (this is a good thing).
6. TMI alert: My nipples hurt so bad during ovulation.
7. I am always hungry
8. I am always tired
Coming off the pill actually made me feel better. I lost about 10 pounds almost immediately, my skin is fine, but my cycles are still very wonky (I went off in February - still waiting for some kind of 'normal' pattern to them). Although my cramps are 10x worse off the pill, it's a small price to pay for having my sanity back :) I was a raging hormonal bitch on the pill!
@MrsMaine: I hear you on the sanity and clarity thing. I've noticed some weight loss too. I feel so much more even about things. I didn't realize how much the pill screwed with me until I was off it. I worried about change in relationship with my husband because I've heard stuff where the relationship worsens because the woman went off of the pill. Ours is doing great and we're happy minus using condoms until I get my period back.
I was on the pill for roughly 12 years. I got my first period 35 days after going off the pill...cycles a little longer than when on the pill. Also, now I get really bad period cramps for the first two days of my period. And, I have ovulation cramps for about 3 days every cycle (they feel like very mild period cramps). Oddly, I also have more of a sweet tooth now!
I was on the pill for 8 years and recently discontinued taking it. My skin has broken out a little here and there (nothing a prescription from the derm can't take care of), my breasts have been sore, but I have maintained the same weight. I stopped taking BC because it wasn't "working" for me anymore and I was switching brands/types very frequently. I felt like my ob-gyn's science experiment.
I have had similar issues which is another reason I am planning to go off even though we're 6-12 months away from TTC!! I have been on 4 or 5 different brands.
I'm really glad to hear that not everyone had a terrible experience! That's a little encouraging.
I was the same as I was on the pill. (Was on it for 10yrs)The only differences I had was my 1st cycle was 45 before I got my period, then the rest were like clockwork, except for one in March. My periods also got longer and I had cramps for the 1st time in 10yrs.lol
Otherwise, I was straight.
I went off the pill in late May after almost 14 years and still haven't had period. I have to agree with @missmaine. I feel better. I have had problems with swelling for no reason in my lower legs the last couple of years and after getting off the pill the swelling has stoped almost completely. I have lost about 5 lbs but will admit I am breaking out a little.
I had hoped to have some sign of a period by this point. We are actively TTC, but who knows until I have a cycle. I really wanted to get off in Janurary but my husband talked me out of it since we had a big vacation planned for May. Now, I whish I would of gotten off a month or two earlier.
Good luck!
I went on the pill because my periods used to be HORRENDOUS (migraines, vomiting, major cramps, too many days of bleeding).
The first time I went off the pill I had no extra periods, but I didn't have a period for 6 months. Sort of-- I got the first (withdrawal) period right away, and light. A month later I had another period. Then... 6 months till the next one. Then I cycled regularly.
The second time I went off the pill I had the withdrawal period, bled again 2 weeks later (lots of cramps), bled again 2 weeks later (lots of cramps), and decided to go back on the pill!.
I am VERY nervous about TTC because I don't want to go off the pill and deal with a real cycle again.
Talk to your pharmacist, they went to school to learn about medications and the various reactions.
I was on the pill for 10 years before I went off last summer. I got my period exactly when I was expecting to, and my cycles have been consistent, pretty much to the day, since, so I'm very lucky in that respect. I have, however, had bad problems with acne (but in spurts--usually just before ovulation and when I start my period--I think it's my body reacting to hormone changes). I've put on about 10 pounds around my midsection that I can't seem to work off, and I got bad cramps, which I never got when I was in the pill. Also, I'm a lot moodier/more emotional right before/during my period, which was also never something I experienced. That first month, my poor husband didn't know what to do.
I was worried that I'd have had experiences, but for me I haven't had anything bad happen. I got my first period right away as always and then another after 28 days, but now the next cycle has already been 35 days, so I guess it's working things out.
The first month I felt really sensitive to things: smells, hunger in the morning, mild cramps mid-month. This month, I feel nothing.
I had cramps from hell before I went on the pill and I was armed with my Advil, ready for a terrible first period, but so far no more cramps from hell, which is great.
I don't weigh myself, but I think my weight is the same.
I also have a history of bad acne and was worried about that too, but my skin seems the same as all the years on the pill.
So, from this girl: nothing much to report. I would advise that you start taking your temperature every morning when you go off so that you can see if/when you ovulate. I didn't do that and now that I'm on day 35 of a cycle I'm wishing I had done that.
Good luck and welcome back to 'normal'! I know that my friend who is a naturopath told me to get off the pill because it robs your body of everything good.....and now I am glad for that reason to be off too.
Right now it's been about 10 days and I am headachey, moody, emotional, irritable, crampy, flu like symptoms, nauseous, decreased appetite, SO TIRED, rapid heart rate, chest pains, low blood pressure.
Other than those I feel great......lol
This was good to read an horrible to know! It seems like people who didn't have side effects of going of the pill also didn't regulate and those who regulated had unpleasant side effects.
I went off birth control after being on for close to ten years. I had been on yaz for close to 4 years. I really didn't have very many symptoms. A little nausea/dizziness. The only really strange symptom I had was very VERY vivid dreams for the first two months I was off. Totally unusual for me. Other than that my cycle went back to normal quickly ranging between 30-34 days. I lost a few pounds, and all the bloat I used to have in my stomach is gone. I can honestly say I have never felt better than I do now off birth control now. I don't know how to explain it other than feeling so much better all around.
When i did last time i got my period as it regularly was supposed to come. I had every symptom under the sun of pregnancy. Sore boobs, headaches, cramping, etc. Everyones different it is hard to say.
I went off of it in early May, and I feel much better. I actually did think I was pregnant on our honeymoon though, my boobs were INCREDIBLY sore - like I've never experienced.
Overall, definitely worth it 
update: my cycle 2 has come to a close 35 days and AF is much heavier than the 1st cycle off.....it has more similar symptoms to before going on the pill. (achey lower back, TMI: loose stool, heavier flow.....everything but the cramps. And 24 hours ago I threw a little hissy-fit at my husband, which was a bit uncharacteristic of me....now I can tell him it was PMS......he's never known me off the pill!!!
Oh! and charting temperatures was so cool! I took my temp this morning and thought: hmm. that's lower.....and of course, my period had just begun.
So I say, don't be scared: most likely you will have a gradual return to exactly how you were before the pill. (but yes, chances of worse things are scary even if they are small chances).
@OttawaBride2011: Sorry, totally missed your question to me! I would say that my first cycle was 84 days, then it was around 55 days, then it started to level off at 40-45 days. So I was never down to a "normal" 28 day cycle. I guess my "normal" is 40-45 days off the pill! Before I started, I was around 30-35, so this was definitely new for me.
Edit: One plus side was that I lost a good 10-15 pounds coming off the pill! Woohoo!
I'm glad to hear some people had a great experience. I would love to be in the "lost 10-15 lbs" camp, lol!!!
I plan to come back and update this thread once I go off in 1.5months :)
Off the pill, I had increased libido, weight loss (but then going off both times coincided with triathlon training season for me, so...). Acne seemed about the same. Overall mood surprisingly better or the same. PMS stayed the same. My cycles varied between 28-35 days. I started charting, and saw that any variation from 29 days was stress related, so I'm guessing the variation after I came right off the pill was also due to stress.
The only downside I found was that my periods became heavier and more painful, but usually a couple of Advil at the first feeling of cramping helped, and by 4 hrs in or so, the Advil would be doing its thing and I'd be normal-ish. Overall, I responded well going off the pill. The good outweighs the bad for me... I'm hoping to be BC free from here on out. I also second the charting your temps suggestion-- knowing when/if you ovulate can be helpful, but when your temp drops it's awesome to know to throw Advil and a tampon/pad in your purse that day-- and never worry about it any other time wondering 'is it going to start today? ok, what about tomorrow?..."
I went off the pill almost 2 years ago. I had been on the pill for about 4 years at that point (from 19 until 23). My husband and I aren't TTC yet, but I was just so.freaking.sick of taking the pill! I was starting to get some weird side effects like blurry vision and mood swings, so I just quit taking it when I got to the sugar pills. I got the non-hormonal IUD (paragard) a few months later.
I'm just so glad I got off the pill! I lost some weight, had increased libido, saw results more quickly at the gym (gained lean muscle more easily) and just felt more energetic and more put-together emotionally. Also, I like that I have my natural cycles now, so I can be more "in-tune" with my body. My period came back after one month, and my cycles have been very regular since (always 27 days long). The only negative side effect I experienced was some jawline acne for a few months after going off the pill. However, that cleared up and my skin is actually better now than it was on the pill. That could be due to a host of other factors like getting a little older or having less stress in my life, however.
Anyway, I just wanted to share that I also had a really positive experience from coming off the pill, so you may not need to worry!
Thanks everyone for responding! I stopped taking the pill 2 days a go, a bit earlier than planned. So far nothing but I am bracing myself lol.
I went off around Christmas after being on for about 15 years. I was fine for about 4 months, and then my face, chest and back exploded in acne. Ugh. I've gotten it under control (mostly, still have minor flare ups about a week out from my period) with the Clinique Acne Solutions line. I've gained a bit of weight, and my PMS is insane. I get super super super super grumpy and irritated with everyone and everything around me. LOL. Poor DH. I keep reminding him it was his idea I go off BCP.
On the plus side, I feel better. Happier. I don't know how to explain it, but I just feel so much more content. I definitely have more energy. My libido is starting to improve slowly but surely. AND I'm loving having a 32 day cycle. SCORE!
So far it's been about 3 weeks and most of the horrible stuff went away but now i'm incredibly bloated and crampy. I NEVER get this bad. I am expecting AF by the end of this week so i'm assuming that's what it is but it's really sharp pains and I feel like i'm lugging a basketball i'm so bloated.
I went off the pill January 29th after taking it for 10 years! My first cycle was 49 days long - second one was 35... third one was 28... and I have been at 27-28 days ever since. I must say though - the first month off - I had a lot of premature bleeding which made me think I had implantation bleeding or something. Definitely wasn't - and I was very moody and had very heavy bleeding :( Good luck! It does get better!
Ok so it is day 4, and I definitely have what seems like a period but I guess it could be a withdrawal bleed too. The biggest thing I've noticed is my boobs no longer being sore! I also have cramps which I didn't really have on the pill.
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