Women who quit B/C pills:

-Why'd you do it?
-What method of birth control did you use to replace the pills?
-Would you recommend it?

I have been playing around with the idea for a couple months. I've been taking 'the pill' (Alesse) for over four years now and I'm just not sure if it is best for my health, physically and mentally. I believe it has decreased my sex drive and contributed to my depression. (I sometimes joke that the pill doesn't actually do anything to prevent pregnancy, rather, it just makes you feel so crappy that you don't want to have sex. :tongue: )

So, give me some sisterly advice here mamas.

 

I've been pill-free for about two weeks now. I stopped because I had been feeling like shit for a few months, crazy mood swings.. I was an emotional nutcase. And that's not me. And I figured it was probably the pill because around the time I started feeling that way I also changed to a different brand. Of course, I could go back on the one I was using before that which was fine but now I don't really want to... because why put something in my body that can potentially be very harmful and make me act like a psycho. :tongue:
At the moment, we're just using condoms but it reeeeally isn't ideal at all, too much hassle and just annoying. I'm gonna go talk with my GP about other options in the beginning of January so we'll see... The pill does definitely seem like the most convenient and easiest option. But I dunno...
It also wouldn't be the end of the world if I were to get pregnant, we've talked about it and in many ways I think we might even be ready for it. So because of that, I might even try the rhythm method.

Anyway, if you feel uncomfortable on the pill, then I say drop it. There ARE other options out there that are worth trying. Your mental health is more important.

 

I stopped using tri-cyclin lo about 3 years ago. I stopped because my sex drive was horrible and I was very moody. I'm back to "normal" these days.

 

Thanks for the replies. It helps to know that I'm not alone.

I've done quite a bit of research by now and I really think I am going to just drop the pills. The idea feels increasingly "right". I'm 20 now and I've been taking the pill since I was 16. Pills have been great as a pretty-damn-sure-thing for preventing pregnancy as a teen, but now I just think it is time to move on. I would just really like to see how I feel after a few months without the constant ingestion of synthetic hormones, and I am looking forward to getting in touch with my natural cycles once again.

I am planning on getting a copy of Toni Weschler's book on the fertility awareness method (FAM) so I can really get my cycle down. My plan for birth control is to combine the FAM with condoms (or possibly a sponge, or both) and abstinence during my fertile days.

 

when I first came off the pill my cycle was way out of whack. to this day my cycle is a bit crazy. So be prepared for an out-of-sync cycle for at least the next year, but you will feel better without the synthetic hormones.

 

Thank you , yes I anticipate the possibility of a screwy cycle but I'm hoping my body bounces back quickly. I have taken a few month-long breaks from the pill in the 4+ years I've been on it and I had normal periods during those months. I'm hopeful that this is an indication but I'm prepared for whatever.

I have a little over a week left on this pack of pills before my inactives and I'm wondering whether it is important to finish the pack or not.

 

I stopped taking my BC after four months. It gave me headaches, one every few days at first, then it became every single day ... sometimes up to four times a day. Blinding headaches. It also made me sick to my stomach. My method of birth control now is the hysterectomy I had. It works like you wouldnt believe.

 

I stopped a year ago after 3 years. Ironically, I stopped my antidepressants at the same time, and I actually felt much better emotionally. I'm currently not getting any, so abstinence works fine. But I would just plan on being militant about condoms. FAM seems interesting too, but I've heard of too many girls getting pregnant when they're not "supposed" to be able to...It just wouldn't make me feel secure enough for it to be the only method.

 

Make sure you talk to your doctor about going off the pills. I went off the Depo- Provera shot after 4 years and it messed up my cycle. I was bleeding almost everyday until I went to the doctor to find out what was going on! Now I have to be on the pills in order for me not to bleed everyday. Its different with everyone...............

 

-Why'd you do it? I did it because I was sick of pumping all those whacky hormones into my body...i took the pill for about five years or so...and didn't feel right about what I was doing to my body...

-What method of birth control did you use to replace the pills? Condoms and natural family planning (aka knowing my fertility cycle)

-Would you recommend it? I definitely recommend it. I feel that many of the fertility problems women are having nowadays are directly caused by being on some sort of
birth control. I think it is highly unnatural for women to not have their periods because of birth control.

 

i stopped using the pill because it was wrecking me physically. going off them was one of the best things i ever did. but since i was in a permanent relationship the risk of getting pregnant wasn't really that much to worry about. we just did the whole "pull out" thing, and it worked for a couple years. still, wouldn't recommend it unless getting pregnant isn't really a problem.

 

I've been on the pill since I was 14 and went off once for a month a few years ago... and my face broke out, I was moody, and I didn't get my period... so it wasn't good. I imagine it takes time for your body to adjust... a lot of time maybe. I'm glad you posted this thread though cuz I was wondering the same thing... I'd like to stop putting hormones in my body but its really the best method for me, I'm allergic to condoms, the ones I like are $40 a pack (lambskin) plus my boyfriend doesn't like condoms either, I don't think I'd be comfortable having a diaphragm up my coochie all day, and I don't know what else is a sure thing other than tying my tubes but I'm young so I don't want to do that now of course. I guess I've thought about the IUD but I've heard weird things about it so I'd be kinda iffy. So yeah once someone presents something more natural and safe and 99% sure then I'll consider it!

 

Ha! Yeah I bet. :tongue:

Yeah, I don't think I'd feel secure enough either using only FAM. I mean, with the possibility for sperm to live several days and all. With FAM, supposedly one is supposed to be able to have sex without protection during most of the month, only needing backup protection during those few fertile days. ...But this just doesn't seem safe enough for me, so I think a better plan would be to use condoms during my infertile days and abstain completely during my fertile days. Plus...having my partner pull out (while wearing a condom). I feel pretty confident that this combination of methods will be effective.

I've been pill free since Saturday and I'm looking forward to seeing how I feel over the next couple months. I'm excited, actually, at the possibility of feeling like myself again.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

 

So how's pill-free life working for you?

I'm feeling loads better, less insane and moody and my skin is looking awesome. But my period is over a week late. I know it's more than likely because of quitting the pill, however it's ALWAYS been so punctual that I can't help but freak out a little bit. Booo.

 

I was on BC pills for a year when I was 16-17. Not really a good age to load a developing teenager's body full of artifical hormones. I partially blame that on my lack of breast tissue.

I stopped at 17.5 years, and went through a period of increased acne and mood swings, and then leveled out. My periods always remained consistent.

I now practice FAM, I know when I am fertile now using only the signals my body sends (increased slippery mucous, horny like you wouldn't believe, increased blood flow to my vaginal area, sensitivity in my yoni and breasts). It's so much easier than remembering a pill every day!

 

I am really against birth control...I have taken it before, and I hated it. I think it is absolutley wrong to fool your body into being pregnant so you can't get pregnant. I tried the ring, but the though of doing that to your body really does not sit well with me.
Granted, it is nice to have sex and not worry about being pregnant, i simply cannot bring myself to take it for more than a month though.

 

So far so good, thanks for thinking of me. Glad to hear you're doing well off the pill as well and I hope your period shows up soon to alleviate your worry.

I checked out Taking Charge of Your Fertility at the library last week and I am impressed with how packed with information it is. I printed up a chart similar to the one she provides in the back of the book and I picked up a basal thermometer earlier this week. I am slowly but surely getting the hang of charting and I have high hopes that this is going to work out well for me. Boyfriend and I are taking somewhat of a hiatus from sex while figuring this out. I really appreciate his support.

I haven't yet experienced much change in terms of my mood or sex drive, but considering I've only been off the pill two weeks (and one of those weeks was my normal 'inactive' pill week), I am not expecting to feel different just yet. I know it will take time.

Interesting theory, and one I've considered for myself as well. I feel like my boobs haven't grown a bit since I was 15--when I first started going out with SO, and also when I first started the Pill. I am torn though, because I know so many women who took the pill during high school that developed just fine. Hmm, I really don't know.

Awesome, I'm glad to hear directly from someone who is using FAM with success. I just think it is so cool that our bodies give us concrete signs that tell us that we're fertile and I can't wait until I'm able to read mine really well. Are you tracking your temperature as well?

 

I've never been really into the idea of hormonal birth control, and it's never been that into me. I've tried several different pills, at different points in my life. Never on any of them longer than 6 months. Even the ones that I didn't have a really BAD reaction to, they made me feel "not quite right".

I also firmly believe that it was those short excursions into the world of BC that messed up my hormones so bad from a young age. When I was 15-16, I went to the (family) doc and said that I'd had my period for two or three years, and they were still totally unpredictable. Without pause or question he put me on birth control - didn't bring up diet/exercise/weight loss or anything, just tried to regulate it unnaturally. At that time I was still in puberty and if I'd gotten myself under control then I probably wouldn't have the problems I have now.

Sorry for the rant. My husband I I still use condoms. Not the greatest, I know... but it has the added benefit of being something BOTH of you participate in. That way, there's no fault to either party if one of his little guys gets loose! Eventually, when my body is in better shape and my cycle more predictable, we hope to rely on the natural family planning method so we can FINALLY stop using condoms. But keep in mind that in this future of ours, we won't take that step until we've officially crossed the line where pregnancy wouldn't be quite so disastrous.

Good luck!

 

LOL, I never do that, but I replied before reading the rest of the thread! I meant FAM in that last paragraph. And when I mentioned the pill's responsibility for my current issues, I was in fact referring to both breast tissue and cycle issues.

Almost every *responsible woman* I've known to use FAM is totally successful with it. The ones I know who end up "accidentally pregnant" using that method all seem to be girls who want to pick and choose what parts to follow, in an effort to take less responsibility for their reproductive capabilities.

 

I have been pill free for about 2 years now. I just turn into a freaking mess....like Im PMSing ALL THE TIME. Moody, irrational, bitchy...every day of the month. And i've tried several kinds, dosages, etc. Hate it.

I can definately tell when Im ovulating...I feel more in sync with my body's natural rhythm....so that's what we've been using. And Im at the point in my life to where if I do get preggers, I'll be totally stoked It's a win-win for us!