Post Pill Cycles

[teabea]

So glad I found this thread! Came off the pill in December after years of contraceptives including the pill, mini pill and the patch. Long story short, my body just doesn’t deal well with any of that and although I am in a relationship, we are getting married this year and both agreed to take other precautions but if we fell pregnant, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
I’ve had two ‘periods’ since, both lighter and shorter than I remember them being before contraceptives (I’ve taken them since I was 18 and I’m now 23) but this cycle I’m late. First thought was pregnancy but two tests down, days apart, and both were negative. I didn’t even consider that it could be withdrawal from the pill messing it up as I thought I’d had two normal cycles. It’s put my mind at ease!
Post pill life is amazing compared. Even though struggling with it was what prompted our decision that I should come off them, I guess I really didn’t realise just how much I suffered whilst taking it, especially both forms of pill!

 

[sarahboo]

Came off Desogestrel mid Jan in view of TTC later this year. One withdrawal bleed & a period since coming off. Overall I think I feel better in myself. Haven't noticed a drastic change in my skin, have broken out a bit but I wear masks 13 hours a day so can't tell if its mask or hormone related as it was happening whilst on the pill too. I've noticed greasier hair, hadn't realised that could be to do with hormones til reading this thread. Ngl I was expecting to lose a lot of weight when coming off the pill but think it's more my denial of how much I eat was definitely blaming the pill last few months. Tracking my cycle using flo, find it useful to understand why I feel certain ways at certain points in my cycle. I'd been on different pills for 9 years so couldn't really remember my cycles (apart from very painful & heavy!).

My periods have been a bit painful but only for the first day or two. I know it can take 6 months to properly regulate so preparing myself to go back to heavy, painful periods. I am actually waiting for a second lap to see if I have endo (long story short they've found endo scarring on my first lap but wouldn't officially diagnose me) but my symptoms are actually better off the pill which makes me wonder if my recent issues were hormone related. They also want me to fit the coil when I have the lap, even though I said I'd like to conceive at some point later this year. The gyny Dr even wrote it on my notes to have it fitted & said I can give them a straight answer on surgery day, I'm not keen on it at all!

Glad this tread was started though, I found it so hard finding different people's experiences of coming off the pill. Dr's are so keen to get you on it.

 

[under the ivy]

I was thinking of coming off my pill (Cilest). Been on it for 12 years I’m not in a relationship and not currently looking. Feel like my body needs a break after being on it for so long, but worried about the side effects.

 

[alex650]

Sorry if somebody has already said this but when I came off the pill my periods were irregular and I assumed it was because I’d been on it for 7/8 years so it was just taking a while to regulate! Turns out I’ve got PCOS so if you are concerned or you’re ttc then deffo go to the doctors xxxx

 

[Gym&Tonic]

I think The pill is often an easy option for a lot of GP’s. When I started to think about coming off it I did quite a lot of research and found that a lot of women went on it at about 14/15 because they were having heavy, painful or irregular periods. I think that’s awful because I know that my periods didn’t properly settle down and become regular (as in 28 day cycles) until I was in my 20’s! So there are women out there who dont really know what their natural cycle should be like because they were so young when they started taking it. I wonder if there’s an ulterior motive there because it reduces teen pregnancy rates?

Another thing I read is that in other parts of the world GP’s are reluctant to give women the pill, there was one story I read by an American woman who moved to Germany and her doctors wouldn’t prescribe it to her because it’s not seen favourably there. I believe its similar in Asia. Interestingly for contraceptive reasons the NHS now seems to prefer coils and depo injections. I wonder why that is?

 

[Rxt156]

I’m pleased to see this thread! I stopped taking the pill around July/Aug ish. can’t remember exactly. 2-3 months no period at all. Irregular cycles now anywhere between 28-40 days. Didn’t think it’d take this long for them to get back to some sort of normal.

 

[Gym&Tonic]

I can honestly say I wish I’d stopped taking it ages before I did. The difference in my mental health is unbelievable and even though I still get anxious and down the closer I get to my periods, when I was on the pill I felt like that ALL. THE. TIME!

 

[PreciousVenus]

Ok has anyone else experienced this. For the past 2 cycles around the same time (just before ovulation I think) I’ve had about 3 or 4 days where I cannot STAND my partner. However what is worrying is that I seem to notice other men a lot more/think about other guys. Even guys that I’m mates with or work with that I have never thought about in that way, suddenly now everyone’s a bloody option according to my brain Oh except my partner apparently! I’m worried I just don’t want to be with him anymore and my feelings were repressed by the pill for so long- I know it can alter who you’re attracted to

I get the absolute rage towards my partner in the days before my period, and well, tmi but in the days before I ovulate I can barely function because I'm daydreaming about shagging fantasy men.

 

[Helloimgems]

I stopped taking Cerelle in July 2020 looking to TTC after taking it for 8 years and so far still no period or any sort of bleed yet currently awaiting an appointment with a gynae consultant, all blood tests and a scan have come back normal. I’ve spoken to a fertility nurse and she has no explanation but thinks ill need something to kick start things. Just got to wait and see I guess

 

[Brianbadonde]

Came off my combined pill in September due to severe risk of sudden stroke and have been super regular every month since, bar one period which was 3 days late.. was expecting the horrific painful periods of my 20s and been pleasantly surprised at how good they’ve been with length, pain free and not heavy (I ’m now 34) I’m using natural cycles for contraception which I’m finding great and really interesting to know what my body is doing. Actually find my worse symptoms now are at ovulation time. Skin has played up although this has never been great but does mean I’m taking more care skin wise which is never a bad thing. Doctor did say it can take up to 6 months for hormones to regulate.

 

[theweekend]

Coming off the pill was an EXPERIENCE. Went on it at 16 for my skin - worked beautifully btw - came off it at 20. No period for 6 months and cystic acne like you wouldn't believe, skin constantly like an oil slick, hair was so greasy that I would have to wash it on the day I was going out - washing it the night before to wake up with 4 day hair was bizarre. I felt so disgusting and dirty all the time.

That was 5 years ago - skin oiliness cleared up but acne remained, waited 5 years for it to sort itself out as I got older and my hormones levelled (never happened) but now on accutane which has finally got rid of it. Managed to train my hair to be able to wash it every other day (which isn't great but better than before) but I think it's ruined for life, loads fell out and it is now so thin and limp.

I loved being on it, no side effects whatsoever and grateful for it giving me clear skin in my prime teen years (when appearance was everything) but it honestly fucked me up. Coming off it changed everything about my body including my periods along with other things that are TMI. Hate how as women we're just expected to put hormones in our bodies for 25 years straight with absolutely no knowledge/warning re the reality of being on it and the fallout from coming off.

FYI - Got a migraine after being on it for 4 years which is why I came off, now not allowed to take it again along with any other estrogen contraception.

 

[Ninetiesbitxh]

I’m still waiting for a period 60 days post coming off the pill

Mine took 89 days if that makes you feel better , then 42 days and then 18.. so hoping for some regularity soon

 

[Gym&Tonic]

It took around about a month for me to get what I now think was a withdrawl bleed. I logged it on the flo app, and I then had a 26 day cycle before getting my proper period. My periods were always regular, as in they came every month, but i never used to track the exact days so I don’t know if 26 days is normal for me. I’m assuming it is.

 

[Dramabyname]

Roots yes! In lockdown I was washing my hair once a week, now I’ve got oily roots after 2 days. Also noticed my skin has a “sheen” in the afternoon

Ah yes ‘the sheen’ ahaha the make up just sliding off your nose I’m still working from home so that doesn’t bother me too much but like you said the roots of my hair are awful... there isn’t enough dry shampoo at the minute. I’m glad it’s not just me, you’ve made me feel better!

 

[Dramabyname]

Has anyone’s hair become super oily since coming off the pill? Or does anyone have any past experience of this happening when coming of birth control. It’s driving me mad

 

[Ellzbellz2020]

I was on the combined pill rivegdion just short of 3 years since I was 18. I felt like I wanted a break from all the hormones so came off it the start of December, had my withdrawal bleed then had 2 periods both on the 6th of jan and feb then my March period was 42 days later opposed to the normal 32. I’ve heard the first 3 months / cycles can be very irregular or not come at all due to your body getting used to not being on the pill will be interesting to see when my next one will be !

 

[BeansOnBeans]

Glad to see this thread! Recently came off the pill and currently using a mix of Natural Cycles and 'fertility awareness' and trying to avoid pregnancy! So far so good and I have found so many books and support groups on fb that are great!

 

[JLXRD]

I’m 2 days without the pill (excluding 7 day break) and I’m having the most intense headaches! Is this a side effect?

I think so - I had this for about 9 days after my 7 day break. I put it down to withdrawal from the hormones as I wasn’t getting them from the pill but my body probably wasn’t creating them on their own at the required level yet either. It went away about cycle day 17.

 

[Gym&Tonic]

I’ve come on my period today! Definitely a proper period this time! Heavier and proper period pains. I think the last bleed was actually a withdrawl going from how I feel today. Even though I’m in pain it feels good to know everything still works properly. Obviously I know there’s no guarantee I’ll get another one in a months time, because it can take a while to get back into a proper rhythm. I’m shocked at how quickly my cycle has returned as I’ve read stories of it taking months. I wish I’d quit the pill years ago.

 

[Gym&Tonic]

I think I’ve ovulated on both sides this cycle. I’m tracking using the flo app and predicted ovulation was today. Had the classic right sided ovulation pain which I always had pre pill about two days ago, then today the same pain on the left side! So two eggs this month. Apparently if I were to fall pregnant this cycle then there’s a good chance I’d end up with fraternal twins The last three cycles have been right side only, so I’m assuming this is my left side ‘waking up’. Not sure how this will affect my period when it arrives though.