https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 04:46:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-440737 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:56:13 +0000 LindsayInNY 440737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ModernDaisy @Edelweiss - Thanks!! I'm in the middle of my sugar pills now so we'll see what happens/how I'm feeling next week! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-440719 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:50:31 +0000 edelweiss 440719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>so exciting! i was on bc for about 15 years and surprisingly i had little to no symptoms going off of it. i was particularly worried about acne, but my skin was fine--that is, until i got pregnant! then i had to deal with it for a few weeks before it calmed down. everyone's different, but in any case, good luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-440716 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:49:27 +0000 Modern Daisy 440716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was on BC for 15 years and when I got off I found out I have PCOS! It had gone undiagnosed since I starting taking BC right around the time I first got my period. Other than that honestly no symptoms, but then again I never had any negative response to BC to begin with which is probably why.</p> <p>Good luck to you - keep us updated!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-440707 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:46:04 +0000 LindsayInNY 440707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsJYW - Thanks!!! I'm half excited, half nervous/oh shit, LOL. Hopefully my experience is similar to yours :) I'm anticipating being heavier (was 7 days pre-BC aka age 12 to 17 and 5 days with BC) which sucks but hopefully I won't have to deal with it for long ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-439349 Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:14:10 +0000 mrsjyw 439349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNYC: HOOORAY!! :):):) baby dust your way friend!</p> <p>I was on bc consistently for ten years before our TTC journey and aside from the heavier periods, the transition wasn't too bad. the PMS symptoms were a lot stronger, but as far as excessive side effects I didn't have any! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-439330 Sat, 08 Dec 2012 17:32:38 +0000 evenstar982 439330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I came off BCP in September, after about 10 years on (with maybe an 18mo break somewhere in the middle), My cycles have been longish, but steadily getting shorter - and from what I remember they used to be on the long side anyway. </p> <p>Have to say, unfortunately I have been experiencing both skin breakouts AND gained a few lbs... not really what I wanted, BUT, in myself I actually feel much better! More positive I guess; since I feel like I am starting to get to know my own body much better, and kinda feel more in control now I can 'see the signs' etc! We're now actively TTC although tbh I'm not 100% sure I've actually ovulated for definite yet. That's been the hardest thing for me I think - not knowing for sure if my body is doing what it's supposed to, since it's kind of "mission critical" to baby-making, haha!</p> <p>Best thing about coming off BCP? Sex drive is much higher now, I was starting to feel like somebody stole my libido so glad to discover that wasn't the case at all!</p> <p>Best of luck with TTC! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-429931 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:55:49 +0000 LindsayInNY 429931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Char54 - Oh man, never thought about the CM part! Totally curious about that... Dare I ask about the differences? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-429118 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:31:59 +0000 Charm54 429118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel much better off BC as well. My cycle days since being off have been 28, 25, 29 and 30. I get bad acne right around O time. The differences in CM is also crazy...did not see that coming! Lol</p> <p>Overall I feel like I have more energy and am more myself. Now that we are TTC I am glad I went off a few months ago to get my body used to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425801 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:15:40 +0000 daniellemybelle 425801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel WAY better off birth control. I still am emotional, and I get bad PMS, but I feel more "normal" - I can't put my finger on it. I also had pain during sex and that is mostly improved. I didn't experience any weight gain or breast size changes, but I was already overweight. My skin did get more oily and I've noticed my hair grows a little thicker / faster, except on my head where I've had a lot of hair loss... but I think I might have some undiagnosed hormonal issues that going off BC is revealing.</p> <p>As far as regulating my cycles, at first they were a perfect 28-29 days, but after 6 months they started getting wonky! And my periods are really painful / heavy but that's to be expected. Personally I would rather deal with terrible periods than the side effects I had from BC. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425698 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:19:17 +0000 LindsayInNY 425698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyLynn - I'm basically expecting some emotional changes but hopefully that's it. My sex drive is just ehh as well - I don't know how much of it to attribute to the pill versus work/life/stress/etc. but I'm hoping it changes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425596 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:27:31 +0000 jennylynn 425596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was on BCP for 10 years and I felt soooo much better when I stopped taking it. The first month was a little rockier emotionally, but I think that was just bc my hormones were adjusting. I had a few more breakouts than normal at first but that balanced out after a few months. As far as my cycle went, I bounced right back to normal the 2nd month. I never had much of a sex drive while on the pill, so I was thrilled when it came back when I stopped taking it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425583 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:15:01 +0000 Bao 425583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was only on it for 7 years or so but nothing really changed when coming off from it, my cycles regulated right away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425573 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:12:11 +0000 lawbee11 425573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went off BC in May after being on it for 7 years. I had no problems with regularity--my cycles were pretty regular almost immediately. The worst part since being off has been my skin (I look like a pre-pubescent teen) and cramps are much worse around AF. But, I feel much better and am much less moody/irritable. So I think it's a very good trade-off. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425563 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:09:18 +0000 LindsayInNY 425563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm - Yeah, I fear non-stop PMS1 Hopefully that's not the case though.</p> <p>@AutumnLove - Thanks!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425556 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:06:13 +0000 aprk 425556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNYC: we had one cycle of NTNP and then one successful cycle. I didn't chart or anything, I just made an educated guess on my fertile days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425503 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:54:27 +0000 Mrs Bicycle 425503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was on BCP for about 10 years. When I went off I gained a few pounds, my skin did break out (but is slowly getting better), my hair seemed to change (thinner) and I started getting cramps (which I've never had before). My cycles are still on the long side of 35 days but each month get shorter and shorter. It seems like all negatives but I am so happy to be off of it. I'm charting and it's really crazy what your body can tell you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425475 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:42:12 +0000 autumnlove 425475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both of my pregnancies happened soon after coming off BCP...3 months and 1 month. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425425 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:17:07 +0000 Bookish 425425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was on BC for about 10ish years, and the first month off was pretty rough. I had really awful PMS and cramps almost the whole first cycle! BUT the next three cycles (which became pretty regular right away) between going off and getting a BFP were great! I had no weight gain, no bad cramps, not even my usual menstrual migraine. It was lovely :) Good luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425385 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:03:57 +0000 thismustbetheplace 425385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was on BC for over 11 years, and was amenorrhic before that so I never had real periods on my own. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly my cycle recovered. I'm not 'regular' per se, but have been off BC since January and only had a few super long/anovulatory cycles. I chart so it makes it a bit easier to see what's going on. </p> <p>Skin was a bit oilier, but balanced out over time. No weight gain. Periods felt basically the same as when on BC. Definite increase in sex drive (yay!) and increase in CM. No noticible bust changes but i'm not well endowed in that department anyway ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425284 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:24:21 +0000 Mrs. Blue 425284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt soooo much better! BC makes me achy and a little bit depressed, so within two days, I felt soo much better in those regards. I had a few breakouts, but nothing terrible. My first cycle was relatively regular, but I had a super short period the first time. After that I had a longer than normal cycle, and then things seemed to smoothe out. Oh, and my atrocious cramps came back. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425267 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:18:11 +0000 mizjl 425267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I was also on BCP for about 12 years. When I got off, my first cycle was the one and only to last 28 days. I thought I regulated about 34-35 days until one cycle lasted 42 days, and the one after that became 80+ days! I started temping and charting in the middle of that 80+ cycle so at least I had a better idea when my next period would start.</p> <p>I wasn't one of the lucky ones with predictable cycles but aside from that, I had no other serious side effects from going off the pill. My skin was relatively normal, no crazy weight gain (that I can feel), just a bit more cramping, heavier bleeding, maybe I can feel my boobs being slightly sore, but that's normal for being off the hormones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425255 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:14:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 425255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNYC: I gave it several months off before TTC-- stopped the pill in April, started trying in Sept. I was super nervous that it would take a really long time to regular, but it really didn't. I also started charting temps right when I went off so I could make sure I was ovulating, since i was really nervous about that too, but it wasn't a problem for me. It made me feel better about waiting until the fall to start trying, since I knew everything was working as it should be. If we didn't have a scheduled time to start we would have probably given it a month.</p> <p>Oh and my skin issues weren't that bad, it was more that I had to get used to having oily skin instead of dry skin. Like I needed different face products. </p> <p>I forgot-- I also go some awful menstrual migraines the first month-- seriously brutal, but didn't get one after the first month until the day I got my BFP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425250 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:10:57 +0000 LindsayInNY 425250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@APRK - Thanks!! I'm just hoping no skin/weight issues. I can manage cramps and even heaviness (which will suck). If my cycle goes back to like it was, I'm anticipating about 7 days bleeding and a little heavier than currently (sucky). Did you give yourself any time off it before actively TTC? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425246 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:10:10 +0000 pastemoo 425246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNYC: They came back (and then some) when I got pregnant--makes sense since BC works by tricking your system into thinking you're already pregnant.<br /> Actually if you had side effects on BC that is a preview of some symptoms you'll have in pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425236 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:06:50 +0000 aprk 425236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went off after about 10 years, and I was similar to @FutureMrsMcK, and was immediately regulated with 28 day cycles (lucky).</p> <p>My cramps were worse also, and the bleeding a bit heavier. I didn't noticed any weight gain resulting from the BC, but that's probably because I got pregnant on our first cycle trying (second cycle ... again, really lucky).</p> <p>Best wishes to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425235 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:06:30 +0000 LindsayInNY 425235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette - Ooh, good news! Well, except for the breakouts ;) I wanted to give us a month of no BC but still protected (or pulling out, I guess?) to let my cycle regulate itself but DH doesn't want to wait any longer. So we'll see!!</p> <p>@Pastemoo - Oh no!!! I can't afford to lose any boobage, LOL! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425223 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:01:38 +0000 pastemoo 425223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My boobs shrunk! Nothing else noticeable. My cycles came back long.</p> <p>ETA Yes with the others with heavy period and worse cramps--but honestly I expected it--it's why I went on BC in the first place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425219 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:58:57 +0000 Smurfette 425219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was on it for 14 years and I didn't have any issues going off it. Well other then more skin breakouts. Cycle went regular right away. Only difference was I would spot a couple days before my period start. I went right off the pill to TTC, and we got pregnant on cycle #3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425199 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:48:04 +0000 LindsayInNY 425199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FutureMrsMcK - I'm slightly optimistic only because my cycles were pretty regular before going on birth control (and we're talking ages 12 to 17 too!)</p> <p>I really hope my skin isn't affected... It's troublesome enough as it is =/ Or weight gain. But I didn't gain going on it either so who knows! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-off-bc#post-425194 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:46:35 +0000 lovehoneybee 425194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went off after 10 years, and had no problems with my cycle normalizing. I think maybe the first cycle after I went off was 5 weeks? But after that it immediately got into a consistent 27 day cycle. </p> <p>Pros: My skin wasn't affected at all and my sex drive increased.</p> <p>Cons: I put on around 10 lbs I couldn't ever shake, my cramps were worse (not awful, but worse than they had been). I was a little bit more hormonal right before my period, and always got a bad headache or migraine the day before or day I started my period. </p>