symptoms of coming off bcp for new comers

[alikat2014]

I thought this might be a good thread for anyone in here just going off bcp and wondering if what they feel is normal or not. Also I hope people who have gone through this already will share their experiences too. I have been off bcp 2 months going on 3 and it has been weird. My 2 periods came at normal times, but I have this weird crampy/ acidy feel when my body is making cervical mucus, I read online that bcp dries it up so cm can be a little unusual at first. I've also had mostly a much better sex drive and mood , however when it is around my period I get horribly sad ( which could just be because I was sad there was no baby). I have had nausea, so I don't think its just a preggo thing. My periods are more painful after bcp and I am sure that is normal as some drs use bcp to alleviate some women's pmdd pmmd? I forget what the abrev is for that. Well that's my bcp exp hope it is helpful to anyone new to TTC!

 

[Buffyx]

This is a good thread. I needed these answers when I came off BCP about 3 weeks ago!

The only thing I've noticed was my withdrawal bleed was extremely heavy. I've had very sore nipples for about 4-5 days, but that's stopped now.

No other symptoms. Due for AF in about a week. Hoping all goes according to plan with my cycles returning to normal

 

[alikat2014]

Oh ya this last cycle I had very sore nipples too! I thought it was a preggo symptom but I was wrong

 

[charlie1510]

I came of in June and have had 2 very small AFs. I was expecting them to be much heavier than before but they're not. My first cycle was 37 days and my second one was 25 so tracking ovulation is very difficult. I'm on CD20 today and no O so far so I think it's going to be a long one this time. My sex drive is definitely better and I'm not so dry. I'm less moody and unreasonable too.

 

[littlelily]

Thanks for this ladies. Very helpful. I'm wtt next year and am planning to come off bcp in Jan so it's useful to see what to expect. Keep us updated

 

[biscuits104]

I came off bcp at the end of September and DH thinks I'm already pregnant because I cry all the time. To be fair we have a lot of changes going on in our life and I cry pretty easily anyway. I don't feel different so I think the crying is a result of stopping the pill. Overall though I feel happier and less hungry, which is a weird symptom to me. Thankfully I haven't had sore boobs or hot flashes or even an acne flare up. I'm sorry to those you who have had all those crazy symptoms!

 

[KatO79]

I took my last round of BCPs back in September 2013 and here are some of the things I experienced during my first few cycles after (some made me think I was pregnant):

Back pain, nausea (had a few episodes where I even threw up, mostly 1-2 days before O day so must have been the hormones), sore breasts, sore nipples, dizziness, headaches, cramping (sometimes pretty painful), constipation, stomach issues and hot flashes

These are just what I can remember off the top of my head I remember my first month off was the absolute worst and we didn't really try that hard to get pregnant that month because I just felt so incredibly awful I think the first 2-3 months where the worst and then it got better.

By the way, my cycles where pretty normal at 26-27 days like they where before BCPs right from the start.

 

[crystlmcd]

I was on depo for 11 years and then switched to bcp. I was on bcp for 8 months and then stopped taking it in April. My withdrawal bleed was also very heavy. My first cycle was really long (50+ days) and got shorter each cycle after. It took 4 months before my cycles were back to a normal 28 days. My periods were 4-5 days on bcp and are now 6-7 days.

I also have sore boobs now from shortly after O until AF. I've also become very emotional. I've never been one to cry easily (except when I'm watching a sad movie) but now I find myself crying at commercials and some songs on the radio. Mostly this happens during the TWW. Last, I am much crampier than when I was on bcp. It's nothing unbearable but definitely different

That's all I can think of. Hopefully this helps those coming off of bcp as I know I had tons of questions about what was going on when I first stopped taking it.

 

[alikat2014]

Hey ladies, updated my signature so you can see progress for TTC. I wanted to update with symptoms, I went on bcp originally to get rid of acne, it is back with lots of them but they are tiny, not big ones like before, but used to have clear skin on bcp was nice. Also first two months had really sore boobs before period but not anymore, whew. And for ladies thinking about TTC, it seems that it can take a while, so start earlier then you want a baby, no one told me that

 

[LavenderLove]

Good thread! I just came off Nuvaring last month after being on it for almost 4 years. My withdrawal bleed came like a normal AF but with no pain at all which was awesome since I have endo.

Everything seemed okay after the withdrawal until it felt like I O'd with pains on my right side, and teeny tiny pains on my left side, too. I've had that before, so wasn't surprised. Very very mild cramping here and there after the O feeling, too.

The new weird things are being very lightheaded and dizzy, sore nipples, lots of fatigue, dry eyes and mouth, and an odd cooling, "icy hot" sensation in my abdomen. Never had all these things happen at once ever!

To add to this craziness my OH and I did fool around some without really TTC, so now I'm waiting if AF comes in a little over a week when I think it might. AF used to come like clockwork before BC so I'm hoping it'll be that way again but I just don't know yet.

My friend became pregnant with her first child almost exactly a year after stopping BC, so I'm just telling myself to relax right now and just concentrate more on observing my body settling into a natural rhythm again. Easier said than done!

 

[Bluefairy1]

Great thread!

I came off Rivegidon (previously Microgynon) in August after being on & off BCP for almost the last 20 years.

First cycle was 43 days in which i had every weird pms/pregnancy symptom going - headaches/back ache/bloating/cramps/nausea/mood swings/sore boobs. When I finally got AF i was much more crampy than usual and very very teary & irritable!!

Currently on CD19 of my 2nd cycle off BCP and have been temping and using OPK's and look set to ovulate in the next day or so. So hopefully a shorter cycle this time. Had much less symptom wise this month - mainly just a bit of cramping this week and I think that may be ovulation related.

Good luck to you all x

 

[bluebird44]

I stopped taking Natazia 9/6 and did not have a withdrawal bleed. That was not terribly surprising though because I did not have periods for the last few years on that BCP. (It was pretty awesome!) I started temping and charting shortly thereafter to try to figure out what my body was up to and did not identify ovulation, but I started my period 10/6, so I'm glad to now have a baseline. The 2 weeks leading up to AF I had increasingly sore boobs, and my nipples HURT! I was definitely emotional and cried at the drop of a hat too.

 

[prettybirdy27]

I went off the nuvaring 8 days ago. I had a withdrawal bleed that was heavier, but shorter than a regular period for me. The cramps were crazy heavy.

I'm nervous for what's to come. I was on pills from 2007 to about 2011, and then I switched to the nuvaring. In that time, I would always have a three month cycle, and I am REALLY not looking forward to having AF every month now.

 

[crazycatlady5]

This thread is super helpful!

I went off bcp close to a month ago now. I've had bloated/sore stomach about a week now, then just today had some new symptoms. Felt dizzy and more nauseous, had painful stabbing feeling in my uterus during sex, very tender nipples. I'm maybe 13dpo but not sure as not using opks and it's my first cycle off bcp so not sure how long it'll be. Not sure if these are prefix symptoms or just bcp related. I've had two bfns but maybe it's still early to tell? If they are bcp related and I'm not pregnant (which may be too good to be true since it's my first month trying) I hope my cycles not a super long one do I can get started trying again!

 

[Pruili01]

Glad to see this thread!

I was on BC for 9 yrs and my periods were so irregular and heavy for the few months I had my period before starting BC. Took my last pill on 9/19 and had a normal withdrawal bleed on 9/22. I really haven't had any abnormal symptoms, but my biggest concern is that I won't ovulate for a few months. I'm currently on CD23 and still getting negative OPKs. It's getting frustrating because I feel like my period is going to be really irregular like it used to.

 

[Rscha]

On Zovia (pill) for the last 13 years! I was nauseous for the first 5 or 6 weeks. I would also get really hot and sweat at weird times. I take a train to work and I had to get off once because I thought I was going to throw up. That has subsided since.

My periods are much heavier than before but on time. My cramping and sore boobs are less though. Sex drive plummeted to nothing and now it's back to normal (which is like every two days or I get grumps).

THE WORST PART was/is the mood swings that I still get and feeling so horribly depressed during my first period after withdrawal bleed. I was seriously concerned and asked my doctor if I needed to go on meds. She said to try limiting caffeine and eating high cholesterol fatty foods like eggs. I got past that and it hasn't returned but I was really scared I was depressed for life!

 

[Rscha]

Three more things...

My hair and skin is oily now! Yuck. I never had any oil problems before.
I'm far less anxiety ridden.
I lost something like 8 lbs.

 

[spicyorange]

Watching thud thread with great interest, I come off cilest after 9 years in one more packs time and well be ttc straight away. I get some symptoms still on the pill, I get a fair amount of cm (I'm hoping I dont get more ick!) Including some ewcm, I get back pain and migraines just before I finish a pack. I can't remember what af was like before but fairly stable I think and not too too painful. I how it's not awful and that I ovulate quickly.

 

[Leggiero]

Great thread! I've experienced many of the things described here. I started taking BC to clear my severe acne and it worked beautifully...unfortunately, while my skin was lovely, I was always hungry and lost all interest in sex (which is ironic considering I finally regained self-confidence when my skin cleared up!). Now that I've been off the BCP for a few months, literally all of the side effects have reversed. I'm not as hungry, my libido has returned to normal, but my acne is back too. It's been tough, as it really affects my self-esteem. I've also had irregular periods - very, very light bleeds but they sometimes go on for two weeks! I'm really hoping it's nothing to worry about, however I am now considering seeing my doctor about it.

It's such a love-hate relationship with BC! I miss many of the perks, such as clear skin and, I'll admit it, fuller breasts. But I still somehow feel better and "more myself" when I am off the pills and just letting my body do its own thing.

 

[Pruili01]

Has anyone else struggled to ovulate after stopping BC? I'm day 29 now and I have yet to see a positive opk. I test twice daily so I doubt I would miss the surge. It's frustrating because there obviously is no possibility to getting pregnant if I'm just not ovulating!