coming off the pill

[Lollie81]

started off on the injection (depo) at 19 thought it was fantastic!! no remembering to take pill & periods stopped all together. 4 years in total, gained 4 stone (due to increase of appetite, longterm relationship yada yada yada) boobs went from a 32 C to a whopping 36DD which my hubby loved of course
Came off injection due to weight gain/hair loss & low sex drive nurse then told me recommend only have it for 2 years (Big thanks to the NHS for telling me, not like I didn't go see them every 12 weeks or anything!) Got hotflushes/mood swings - great experience in my 20's!
Anyway changed to pill (microgynon) for 6 months then changed to Yasmin as wasn't happy. Got first 'fake period' after two months of changing to pill. Lost weight over year and half now (age 26) back to my original size 8 (but no more big boobs ) think had alot to do with injection as takes 18months plus to get out of body ******BE WARNED CAN CAUSE INFERTILITY, which is another thing they won't tell you!)

Now off the pill completely (really bad PMT and I mean really bad ) - only been a week but my libido is certainly back. And I can feel things happening (ovulation me thinks?? ) but will have to get back to you on how long period took to return.....

Can't believe how many of you only realised how much you didn't feel like sex after coming off pill (my hubby is like a dog on heat even after 7 years together!! drove me nuts - had to sit me down with joint and porn to get me in the mood!!).

Just to prove everyone is different, one friend came off pill trying for baby took over 6 months. another got a bit surprise after only 2weeks!!!
My Sister also went on injection and didn't stop bleeding at all, implant again not stopped and getting really bad migraines.

Not that I'm a girly girl or anything but remember it's good to talk!! Share your experiences with other females not just on forums but when you meet them/know them - we all go through the same things.
Anyway as soon as I've had all the kids we want he's getting the snip as I've been through enough!!!

[xx Suz E xx]

Hi everybody - I am SO glad that I have found this site! I am after a bit of advise so hope someone can help... I came off of Femodene in November 07, had the withdrawal bleed and then about 5 weeks later (so should have made a note of the dates!) had a normal period. That was 14th January and came completely out of the blue one morning with no warning! Since then I have had pains pretty much everyday, my skin has been awful and am constantly thinking that I will be coming on - but nothing for 56 days! I am pretty sure that I am not pregnant as only stopped using condoms last Friday to try for a baby... I am starting to worry that I am not ovulating as no period, but dont want to go to the doctors as i know it can take up to 3 months for your cycle to go back to some kind of normality... Its all so confusing!!!

On the plus side, coming off the pill I have lost half a stone and much to my hubby's pleasure am much more in the mood alot more of the time!!!

xx

[jess.x]

I came of the pill mycrogynon 30 around 2 and a half months ago, after coming of the pill i had a period which i heard is called a forced period? I've had nuthin since then and slightly worried. I havent had sex unprotected but I've heard that your body jst needs time to get back to normal, i jst want some reassurance that everythings normal

[shorty22]

hi am just wondering if anyone can help? I recently came off my pill and had a light period a few days later. Its been 3weeks now and i am having quite a bit of discharge and am wondering if this is normal and if it could be down to the pill coming out of my system? Thanks!

[loppy greece]

hi...can anyone help me..i live in greece an came of the pill (CILEST) 2 weeks ago as im getting married in the sumer and want to start trying for a baby staight away, god willing. My body feels crazy i feel fat i cry for no reasons, im realy MOODY! is any one else feeling this?xxx

[Guest]

hi i have just also come off cilest 6 weeks ago, we are trying 4 a baby i want 1 so bad that i think its just my imagination as i feel pregnant. these past weeks i have felt moody emotional, tired and just generally stressed. i have not had a period 4 8 weeks all in all. 3 pregnancy tests later still negetive results i am going out o ma mind trying to get used to coming off the pill.

[Guest]

Hey can anyone help? am only just 17 n ave been on cilest for about 4 months now but i went on holiday for a week and forgot my pills. So i culdnt take it 4 a week, i panicked and jst didnt take my pills when i came back and fot if it waited until my period started and then start my pill back again that that myte sort it out like when you first take the pill. This hasnt happened yet bt im not due for like another week. Im realy confused cos a dunno if im messin myself up bt a dnt wana tell the doctor cos shell go mad for forgettin to take it in first place. Anyoned experienced this?

[Marta]

Hi everyone!
I am really glad I found you! I stopped taking the pills 2 weeks now, and my period didn't come. I started to have very sensitive breasts, even the clothes hurt sometimes. Then I had really awful pain in my belly, that went worse if I moved. I feel tired and with headaches almost everyday.

I stopped taking them because I have migraines and I smoke, and I think I have been taking them for too long now (15 years with some rest of 6 months sometimes). Before, when I had the rest period, my period came immediately, but I think it was because I was having combined pills. Now I was having the minipill, and my period stopped completely for a year. Now I stopped, I expected it to come straight away, but it was not the case. I was worried, and went to my doctor, who said I could have IBS, an infection or being pregnant... but he did not mention that my pain could be because I stopped taking the pill!!! I was so worried... After reading all your posts, I can see that my symptons were perfectly normal, and almost all of you have had them. I feel really angry with my doctor...
I am concerned that it takes so long for the normal period to come back, I think it is the first time I am looking forward to have the period lol. However, it is good to know that eventually things come back to normal.

I do have dry skin since, but I still haven't got spots. I gained 1 stone with the pill, so I hope I can lose at least half now I have stopped.

For the girl that forgot her pills... well, why don't you ask the pharmaceutic if you don't want to go to the doctor? I think if you really want to come back to the pills, it is a good idea to start again with your period, but I would also have a condom the first week, because it may be not your real period, but "the fake one" that it is produced by the pills, so if you give yourslef a full protection the first week, you should be all right. Read what does the leaflet say about "forgetting the pill" and "starting the pill" to be sure, not all the pills are the same.

When I was living at Spain, I was in another option: NUvaring. This is a vaginal ring (it is not a diafragm) which liberates hormones in contact with your vagina. It was better for me than the pills, because you don't have to remember about it and it is not as strong for the body. You put it inside for three weeks, and take it off one week, when your period the comes. It could be the equivalent to patches, but it is inside, and it is really safe, the same than the pills. By the way, it hasn't got as many secondary effects, you don't gain weight and if you have stomach problems, it doesn't affect the effectivity. You need one new ring per month, and it has to be storage in the fridge until you use it. You can buy it in almost all the EU and in US, but you cannot buy it in UK That is why I started to have the pills again. I guess you can buy it _. You can see more info in www.nuvaring.com

Well, I would love to read more about when did your period come after stopping the pill, and if you had any other effect. Thanks for getting rid of my worries!

Regards,

Marta

[Clo87]

Hello all, Iv been on the pill since I was 14 and decided to come off it about a month ago as I was worried what it was doing to my body. I had a period although after reading all the other comments here I figure this must have been a normal pill bleed. Since then I have been feeling sick having really bad pains, which I thought must be my body getting back to normal, ovulating maybe, but they are really bad low abdominal back top of my thighs, heavy dull pains which can sometimes have me doubled over. I have been to the GPs who have done a few tests and I am awaiting results as I thought there could be something seriously wrong with me, after reading all your comments it has put me at ease and Im thinking this could be all part of the parcel of coming off the pill!! My boobs are definitely bigger after only a month of coming off and Iv lost about 5lbs in weight too... bonus, also sex drive has shot right up so boyfriend is doing great!! I did have the concern that I could be pregnant due to the obivoius boob growth and pains but took a pregnancy test and it was negative, so I hope these pains start to go away... no normal period as yet but im expecting it some time in the next 2 weeks!! Has anyone else had these really bad pains? xx

[xhollyx]

Hi, I was on mycrogynon 30 for 5 years and i missed a few pills in the last pack so decided to stop taking the pill. I had my last pill 5-6 weeks ago but still haven't had a period yet! From this site, i see this is common and nothing to worry about. Just wondering that when i do have a period is it ok to start taking the pill again or do i need to give it some time before starting the pill up again?

[fee210]

i went off cilest in feb been on pill for a long time had a preg test was neg and got sore boobs, i have,nt had a period since 2 -3 months or spotting

[guest1719]

i came off the pill a good few months ago (microgynan) after which i had bleeding for a few days but since absolutely nothing at all. my skin has gotten worse too but that could be down to stress. having read this it seems pretty normal for it to disapear, i just want it to come back so its all regular again!

[redgem]

I am so glad to have some reassurance from this site. I have just come off the pill for health reasons nearly 3 months ago after being on it for 9years. I have not yet had a period, but after 2 pregnancy tests being negative i guess its just my body adjusting.

I have had loads of side effects though, bloating, sore boobs, some stomach cramps, bad skin etc! The doctors dont tell you any of this stuff!

Although its not nice to put up with, its nice to know im not the only one!

[claired]

Hi Shellie xx

i came off dianette after takin it for about 9 months. i never really worried about spots comin back and they were annoying before, but i never really had really bad acne. now after reading everything on this site im really scared about gettin terrible acne! glad to hear u havent experienced this! i was really worried to cus my period is 3 weeks late. had my withdrawl bleed as normal and now next 1 is 3weeks late. went to docs and she said it was normal to be late. also asked to be put on Yasim, but cant take it until period comes. now i duno if i wana go on it at all cus of the side effects other ppl have experienced! anybody any other ideas of good types of contraceptive? thanks. claire. xxx

[Boosey2]

Hey, just wanted to share my experience with all of you regarding this subject.

I came off the pill two years ago after taking it for 5 years, I did not have a period for 6 months! It was actually a session of acupuncture and herbs which brought it back. However, in those 6 months I lost half of my hair. I went to the doctors on numerous occasions just to be told and I quote 'if you are that worried about it go back on the pill, it can't do you any harm' To me the damage was already been done. My skin is now very very dry and my hair brittle, coarse and although better than it was is still very thin. I always had very healthy hair up until two years ago.

Of course I am not suggesting this is going to happen to any of you but it may make you reconsider taking the pill again. It is dangerous and recent research links it to breast cancer, which is not a subject often covered by press as they (the government) just want to control the population!!

With no help from god knows how many doctors I decided to do a private a private hormone saliva test. I was tested for one whole month. It revealed I have low progesterone which is called oestrogen dominace! I had asked the doctors several times about hormone testing but they wouldn't do it because I was now having regular cycles and am 'normal'. Hair is not a viable reason for doctors to spend their money on a referal. What they do not understand is that the hair is a refection of the internal body and not just about vanity (I am a holistic therapist so doctors hate me anyway!) I took these saliva tests results to my doc (a locum who got nasty!) and asked for their thoughts. Three docs looked at it and said they can not do anything because they don't understand it and the nhs did not do the tests so these tests are probably meaningless. Also that because I have a normal cycle I am not viable for any referrals. They even told me even if I PCOS (this is a condition where you can still have a cycle but not produce enough progesterone to support the egg, no luteal phase!) they would not offer me treatment unless I was trying for a child!! How rude!!

So, basically I am non the wiser of what my hormones are up to, no thanks to GPs and even two Drs of Endocrinologist who I e-mailed (they were ass holes!!)

Anyway, I would love to hear from anyone who has had the same problem as me or is going through it now. Please don't panic if you have just come off the pill that this will happen to you, I think it is uncommon and I have many friends who have come off the pill and been just fine. I guess I just have karma issues ha ha!!! For all you who are worried about not having a cycle don't worry it will come sooner or later. The ovaries are just used to being supported by the pill, your systems just need to sort themselves out and start working again. But if you are really concerned go and shout at your GP and demand a referral!!!! (or try acupuncture, I swear by it)

Anyone tried progesterone cream, Serenity? It is used to treat infertility holistically through plant progesterone but I have been told it can do more damage then good. I know this true if you plaster it on your face but wondered if anyone knew of any real dangers?