Went off pill - could use your advice

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Went off pill - could use your advice
4
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 9:44am
Hi all - I just started reading this board and I really like it. I was wondering if you all could give me your perspective on something.

I am 33 years old and have no kids, getting married for the first time to my awesome live-in fiance in June, four months from today. I've been on the pill on and off for years, have forgotten all the different kinds I've taken, but most recently have been on Yasmin for about two years I think. And everything was fine until a little over 4 months ago when we got engaged and moved into a ridiculously large and beautiful home. You would think I'd be so happy -- had a great fiance and new house, all of that -- but instead I started feeling depressed and not only that, but angry -- like I would wake up and immediately feel like wanting to rip someone's head off. So this has been going on for four months.

I've never wanted to take antidepressants and still don't. So recently I was thinking, what could I do that might help me feel better? So last week I decided to go off the pill - it was a Sunday and I was supposed to start another pack, and I was like I just can't do it, I want to see if I feel better off of it, away from the hormones just in case that has had something to do with this. And it hasn't even been a week and mentally, I felt like a new person. Now there are several bad things about this, though - as in a) what the heck do I do for birth control now, and b) I am worried that my endometriosis will be painful now that I'm off it, as the pill is supposed to minimize pain from endometriosis, isn't it?? I kind of made this decision w/o checking with my doc, cause heck, you can never get in to see them anyway. But I have my annual appt at the end of this month and obviously this is going to be a MAJOR topic of discussion. For now I feel so much better mentally, but I have no idea what is going to happen physically which makes me uneasy. Was I crazy for doing this?? Please share any experiences you, too, may have had. Thank you -- fzz.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 11:06am
Hi Fzz. Welcome!

I know what you mean! I never had depression, but on OTC my libido nearly died the 3rd year I was taking it. When I stopped hormones, 22 cycles ago I felt sooo much more alive and my libido came roaring back!

Your doc should be your best friend in your search for a good method of contraception. Until you sort out what you want to do be sure to use condoms and a good spermicide (not the stuff that comes with some condoms). Together they make a very effective method of BC. There are a lot of different OCs available so there is probably one that’s right for you. Or, you might want to consider NuvaRing. http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/index.asp It’s a vaginal ring that is worn for 3 weeks and removed for one for your period. It is very low dose and low maintenance and a method that works well for a lot of members.

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-30-2003
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 2:11pm
I agree. One of the main reasons I stopped taking bcp was the fact that I was pissed off all the time for absolutely no reason! I was tired of being angry all the time. I also had a very low sex drive. I stopped taking them in August, but I still haven't gotten completely back to "normal." I'm not as quick to anger, but still have my moments. My libido is better, but not as good as it was before the pill. And, my period has been nonexistent for the past 2 months. I guess different women take different amounts of time to get back to "normal."

Fortunately, I don't have endo, so I don't know what to tell you in that respect. But, I know that I, personally, am not interested in taking anymore hormonal birth control.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-03-2004
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 10:37pm
Wow, I did the same thing I had been on the same pill for years. But after two months of emotional HELL and came to believe that the birth contol was the cause and stopped taking it all together. The following month I had the worst cramps of my entire life that left me in bed for almost two days!! Pain pills couldn't even touch the pain!! But by the next month I was feeling better physically as well as emotionally. I eventually talked this over with my doctor and because of a new relationship I went back onto the pill but a different kind than I was taking before. I have yet to have any emotional chaos. If I had to do it again I would just switch to a different brand before going off of it cold turkey. Good Luck!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2004
Sat, 02-14-2004 - 1:25am
The pill is horrible and I am so glad to be off of it. I recently got an IUD and am fairly pleased with it. No more hormone instability or random hunger and my libido is back up. Also, I never have to think about birth control, etc. Such a relief! The biggest downfall for me is that my period lasts slightly longer than when I was on the pill and I have slightly more cramps than I did before. Also, I hear that this is the most effective form of birth control.

Getting an IUD requires a cost-benefit analysis because it can cost about $500 (without insurace) so if one does not keep it in for at least a couple of years, it may not be worth it financially. However, one can get an IUD for 5 years or 10 years. I don't know much about endometriosis and how an IUD affects it, but you might want to look into it.

In case you were thinking about Depo Provera- I would think twice. My best friend was on it, and it made her a psycho- worse than the pill. It nearly ended her relationship, seriously. If you cannot find an alternative to the pill, you might want to try a pill with a low dose of estrogen- this helped me to some degree.