Stopping birth control to feel good?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2003
Stopping birth control to feel good?
9
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 5:10am
I've recently decided that bc may not be for me but I'm very afraid of getting pregnant. I'm in a long term relationship and have tried two forms of birth control (depo-provera for two years and ortho tri-cyclen lo for nearly a year) and have sensed severe changes in my moods and my sex drive. I generally don't feel as happy on the pill and frequently question if there's something wrong with my relationship since I don't get as easily aroused as I once did-I had this same experience on the dep-shot. Although my boyfriend and I always use protection, I'm still very afraid of becoming pregnant but I also want my sex drive to return. Is only using condoms safe or do pregnancies frequently occur? Any advice would be greatly appreciated and if anybody is/has been in my position, I'd really appreciate your opinion. Thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2006
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 7:09am
Tox, I just stopped Using BCP and its only been 2wks and WOW what a difference. I was on the pill for 16 years and loved it because I only had 5 periods since being on it. I loved not having a period but I realized over the past couple yrs it really put my sex drive to an ultimate low. I can't give you advice on the condoms because I have never used them for BC, I have 2 DS's and had a tubal done in april. I can just say that I have noticed the difference of being off the BC in as little as the 2 wks so now I wait for my period.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 12:28pm

Hi toxicnimphy, welcome!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 7:27am

When I quit using Nuvaring last spring, I was a lot happier (until I started having issues with being off the hormones for the first time in 9 years).

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2006
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 11:50am
I to just went off the pill. It's been a couple of days since stopping and already feel better and less bloated. I was on it for 12 1/2 years. I am in a serious relationship as well and what my partner and I are doing for BC is condoms and charting. This is something that is very easy to do, but it basically lets you know the days you are at risk and will also let you know when to expect your next period, the one thing that was handy in taking the pill. So far so good. This could be an option for you to consider for perventing pregnancy and getting off the pill altogether.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2003
Sat, 10-21-2006 - 2:49am
Thank you all for your responses! I'm starting to feel more confident about my decision and your advice helps too! I realize that we need to use condoms and I also liked the spermicide and charting ideas so I think I'll give each of those suggestions a try as well. Once again, thanks so much for your support and advice!
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2006
Sat, 10-21-2006 - 7:21pm
Did you take pills back-to-back? I'm on tri-cyclen and I find it fine as long as I let myself have a period every month. It's one of the lowest hormone doses out there. You may do better on a monophasic pill type which could level out your hormones and moods.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2006
Sun, 10-22-2006 - 9:52pm

My last birth control pill will be on October 31st. I have been on the pill for 12 years and I am going off to give myself time before starting to try to become pregnant and b/c I want to stop taking hormones. Everyone says that you feel amazing after going off and that your sex drive comes back. I'm so excited! We plan to use condoms and chart. How did you figure out how to make charting work?

Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2002
Sun, 10-22-2006 - 11:49pm

Hi there,


Look into the nearest fertility clinic and see if they have a fertility awareness advisor, or courses on charting.

 


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2004
Sun, 11-12-2006 - 9:13pm
I agree, get the book Taking charge of your Fertility. I was going to recommend it to and see someone else already did. I already know when I ovulate because I have pain when it happens, but the book is great.
After reading all these posts, I'm dumping the pill. I was off it all summer and my sex drive was incredible. I just went on it again in August and feel like an entirely different person now. I'm thru with the pill, I'm just going to use condoms and pay attention to my cycle/ovulation.