Going off BC after A LONG time

Not even concerning weight, really.  Just wondering if anyone else has recently, or can remember from years ago, stopped taking it and any changes they felt after discontinuing birth control. 

I've been on it basically continuously since I was 17, and I'll be 25 in less than 3 weeks.  I think there was a period of about 6-7 months a little over 3 years ago when I wasn't on it, other than that I've taken it religiously for almost 8 years....yikes!  Oh and I've been on Ortho-tricyclin the whole time....don't know how much of a difference that makes.

I'm hoping that stopping it will make me less irritable, which I can be at times.  Really I'm just hoping that there will be some positive changes and not just my boobs becoming inverted...lol.

I'm coming off of the depo shot. I've been on it for 2 years and before that, I was on the patch for 2 years. I have no idea what to expect.

I went off birth control about a year ago, after over 4 years of continuous use. I didn't notice a lot of emotional differences from stopping, but I did lose some weight! My boobs got a little smaller, too.

I got my acne back - no fun. But, I am a lot happier now. Not as emotional.

When I started it, way back in the day, I didnt notice any negative or positive changes, so I'm thinking im not going to see many now that I'm coming off.  I don't think I'm sensitive to the hormones.  Hopefully my period will stay regular though.  That is the only drawback I can see.  For a while I could pin-point to the hour when I would get my period, now I can to the day.  Hopefully that will stay the same.

Acne.  It was to the point where I had blu-light treatments done and it's 100% better now.

Oh and cramps are WAY worse.

~H~

I'm not going off it the pill,but awhile back I was thinking about switching. I've been on Ortho-tricyclin for about 2 years. let me know how it is to go off it!

I went off it kind of by accident because I forgot my pills on a trip.... I figured I would just wait to get my period again and go back on it but my period never came!  I went 3 months without one and went to the dr.  He said it was very common to miss your period from 1-6 months after going off it (and no, I wasn't pregnant, I took a billion tests).  Anyways he just gave me some progesterone pills, a hormone that is supposed to make you get it again which made me extremely bloated, hopefully I get it soon.

I hope that doesn't happen.  Part of the reason I want off the pill is because I don't want to put excess hormones in my body, especially not one that will bloat me.  Plus I don't have health insurance right now so I going to the doctor isn't an option.

double post

I was on birth control for about 8 years and went off it for 6 months this year. I'm back on it because I was getting too paranoid about getting pregnant :) But, when I went off it, my period came right on time (maybe a little heavier, but I never got scary awful cramps like I used to get as a teen), I didn't lose any weight, my boobs did get a wee bit smaller maybe... basically I didn't notice any differences. No changes in mood, although some of my friends have reported HUGE improvements in mood when they went off it. I noticed when I was ovulating and I felt very fertile... lol that's basically why I went back on it.

I went off it about 8 months ago after being on it for about 4 years.  My main reason for going off it was mood swings - bad ones (and some depression).  My husband pretty much said he couldn't deal with my mood swings and I needed to stop taking the bc.  So.... reluctantly I agreed to try going off it for awhile and even he agrees that I am a different person now.  I don't have the horrible mood swings or the horrible depressed feeling all the time anymore now.  I feel much healthier and not so bloated and sore.  I really think putting those extra hormones in my body were really bad for me & I'm glad I stopped.  Hope you have good luck!  :D

I stopped taking bc about 3 1/2 years ago. I didn't have a period until after I had my son. I stopped taking it because I wanted to get pregnant, boy was it difficult judging a due date when you never had a period. I didn't have any changes as far as weight but I did notice an improvement with my mood and I can also feel when I ovulate. I feel much better without it.

Those last two posts are more of what I was hoping to hear...I'm hoping for an upturn in my mood.  I'm not depressed, I'm just a little irritable and lose my patience too quickly.  It may not be due to the pills, but it cant hurt to go off of them after so long.  I only have 4 left of this cycle so I'll be done taking them after saturday. 

I still get my period every month though, so hoping that will stay regular once I stop.  I never had bad cramps or a long period before I went on it either, so i'm not worried about that...or acne...never had that either.  Just time to give the body a break from influx of hormones.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised and feel much better after you're off it for awhile.  It stays in your system for a few months, but you'll notice less mood swings after awhile.  I was a maniac with my crazy mood swings, lol.  Didn't notice any changes in my weight, boobs, etc.... just emotional changes for the better.  Oh, and I lost a lot of hair when I was on the bc, but now I don't "shed" so much either.  My period came regularly for about six months after, but the last two or so have been off... I'm thinking it's due to my calorie counting.  I'm sure you'll be fine.  :D

I'd been on Yasmin for about 6 years, and went off it a few months ago just to see what it would be like - awful! My period was about TWICE as heavy, I had awful cramps weeks before my period and my breasts were really sore. My skin broke out a lot too - I think I'm naturally a fluctuating hormone person, so maybe being on the pill is helpful for me? I went straight to my OBGYN after the first month off. If you don't have insurance you can get inexpensive birth control (and dr. visits) at planned parenthood.

I was on BCPs from about ages 14 to 16 (due to really bad cramps), then switched to dep from ages 16 to 25, then went to the NuvaRing.  I had to stop all hormones abruptly at age 26 because I had a pulmonary embolism.   The main thing I noticed was really sore boobs right before I got my period.  Thankfully my cramps were not as bad as they were when I was young.   But, boy did my boobs hurt!  Other than that, I felt pretty normal.   

i took Depo for a year and gained about 10lbs...got off and lost 15lbs. i started a pill form of b/c and gained about 3lbs within the first month. i stopped taking them and got back down to my starting weight so going thru that "experiment" has made me decide to not even deal with the hormones in any form of B/C. i've only had one period since i've stopped taking b/c but everything else seems to be normal (emotions, moods, etc.)

I just stopped taking birth control about 3 weeks ago after being on it for about 12 years.  I never had any crazy emotional problems or significant side effects of any kind when I was on it.  I've stopped taking it because I'm sick of having the hormones in my body.  While I didn't have any depression or anything before, it seems like the past few weeks have been a little more pleasant for me and I actually think I'm a little happier.  Strange, but I'll take it. 

I'm not quite ready for a baby yet and I have allergy problems when it comes to condoms so I've starting using a device called the Lady Comp that offers a natural form of birth control by taking your temperature in the morning.  I've been using it for about 2 weeks and am really excited that I can still have a form of birth control without the hormones.  I highly recommend it.  Anyways, good luck with everything.  Hopefully you will experience only positive changes!

i'm 37 and stopped taking bcp's a little over a year and a half ago.  i had been on them since i was 18... with a couple short breaks in my early 20's.  the last few years i was taking ortho-tricyclen.  when i went off the pill my tom's were still pretty regular; these days my cycle will vary between 28 and 32 days, but that's no biggie.  the last 6 months my cramps and pms have been getting worse, but that may be due to diet and caffeine consumption. 

i didn't gain weight back then that i can attribute solely to the pill, but i probably lost about 7 lbs pretty fast when i went off it.  and now i get the occasional zit, no big deal.  makes me feel younger

i have to say i am happy not to be putting artificial hormones into my  body anymore. 

Original Post by sharem:

i'm 37 and stopped taking bcp's a little over a year and a half ago.  i had been on them since i was 18... with a couple short breaks in my early 20's.  the last few years i was taking ortho-tricyclen.  when i went off the pill my tom's were still pretty regular; these days my cycle will vary between 28 and 32 days, but that's no biggie.  the last 6 months my cramps and pms have been getting worse, but that may be due to diet and caffeine consumption. 

i didn't gain weight back then that i can attribute solely to the pill, but i probably lost about 7 lbs pretty fast when i went off it.  and now i get the occasional zit, no big deal.  makes me feel younger

i have to say i am happy not to be putting artificial hormones into my  body anymore. 

 My experience is similar to yours... similar ages being on/off etc. However - I've not been able to get off the Pill. I am on it mainly to improve cramps, back pain, sore boobs, etc. and also to have lighter flow due to family health history stuff. Actual birth control is less of the reason. The past few years when I've tried to get off the Pill I can't take the pain that comes along with no BC Pill. And I don't know what to do. My gyn continues to assure me there is no health reason for me to go off it, although I've been on it for years and years and years.

Does anyone know if I stay off the Pill for a longer time, will the cramps and other issues get better? [I have pretty bad cramps and other physiological symptoms even on the pill, too. But much improved and tolerable while on the Pill.]