Effects of stopping the pill...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Effects of stopping the pill...
22
Sat, 03-27-2004 - 5:46pm
Hi, I'm new to the board. I'm 27 years old, married, and have been on the pill for about 8 years. I'm considering stopping the pill. I am having some metabolic issues and would like to get my body back to as natural a state as possible (meaning not taking any medications that aren't absolutely necessary). I have had a low sex drive, semi-severe headaches, and mood swings and it's gotten worse in the last few months. I have no idea if those issues are related to the pill, but I'm thinking I'd like to experiment to see how I feel off the pill.

Has anyone had any experiences stopping the pill? Positive or negative side effects? I'm interested in any thoughts anyone wants to share. Thanks so much for your time.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2004
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 4:38pm
I stopped taking the pill on Wednesday. I was taking Mircette, then switched to Levlite on Sunday, felt terrible, and stopped taking it altogether Wednesday. Today (Saturday), I have cramping and spotting, ick. But I appear to have a sex drive again, which is a very strange feeling indeed.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2004
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 4:50pm
. . . and one bummer side effect: my full and pert Mircetteified boobs are back down to their normal, deflated selves. Dag.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2004
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 7:22pm
Me again . . .

Last pill taken was midnight Wednesday night. It was the fourth pill of the pack (quit due to bad reaction to new pill). Right now I started bleeding and . . . uh . . . this is probably TMI but it doesn't LOOK like period blood. It looks like plain blood. Kind of orangey and thin. I'm a little freaked out.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 8:30pm
Hi Sarahp,

I’m sorry, that sometimes happens. Your having taken only 4 days of pills there was very little endometrium to shed. Stopping mid pack can cause irregular bleeding. Sometimes quite heavy other times not and it might go on for a while. Marrymeflyfree mentioned in her post “Most likely you'll have no problems - just be sure to get to the end of a full pill pack before stopping for an easier transition.” Your body is confused right now. It was expecting to get 21 days of hormones. Hopefully the bleeding will stop soon. Hang in there it will get better.

Hugs

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2004
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 8:41pm
Phew, thanks. My poor body. I also have some sort of ear/sinus infection/virus thing, plus I think I fractured my toe yesterday! Not a good week for ole Sarah. :P
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 9:02pm
Sheesh! Poor you! What did you do to your toe? If I did that I couldn't dance! Viruses are a bummer! Hope your feeling better in the morning... What are doing/taking for it?

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 9:17pm

". . . and one bummer side effect: my full and pert Mircetteified boobs are back down to their normal, deflated selves. Dag."


It is a bummer, eh?

`
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2003
Sun, 04-04-2004 - 10:03pm
gymrat76

i've been on the pill for almost 3 years. i've finally made the decision to quit and have about a week's worth of pills left and then it's tata pills! my main concern was my sex drive which practically DOES NOT EXIST anymore. not to mention the bloating and weight gain (which has becomes so much harder to lose). so anyway i talked to my gyno about it and she suggested i try an IUD instead (paragard which is non-hormonal as opposed to the mirena IUD which contains hormones). it's made of copper and lasts 10 years! and it's 99% effective. unfortunately the IUD costs about $500 but your insurance might cover that (mine thankfully did).

i inserted it in on tuesday (today is sunday). inserting it (you have to go to a clinician) was a bit painful. and i am still slightly cramping and bleeding but that happens the first couple of months so it's normal. i don't know yet if i would recommend it coz it's too soon to say. but i just couldn't take the pill anymore and like you i wanted to clean my body out of anything unnatural.

i'll let you know how it goes with the IUD.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Sun, 04-04-2004 - 11:18pm
Yes, please do post an update. I have been looking at my options and considered the IUD, but have reconsidered since it's also hormonal. I want to be completely off hormones... at least for a few months. But I'm definitely interested to hear how it's working for you.

Thanks for posting. :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 8:45am
Remember, the Paragard(copper T) does not have hormones. The Minera has a tiny amount of progestin.