I need some experiences. I've been on the Pill since I was 17. I'm now 25. I came off it about a month ago (maybe a bit less). What are the sorts of changes I can expect as my natural cycles come back? I'm not talking period-wise, I'm talking hormonal, sex drive, smell (yes, smell) etc. I've noticed my sex drive coming back full force (YAY!), been unbelievably up and down hormonally, and either I have a really good sense of smell or I've got faint sweat odour (I can't call it BO, because it is really ephemeral... I can smell something, but if I do the discreet pit sniff it only smells like deoderant... weird!)... does this sound familiar to anyone? I expected my libido would come back, and the hormones aren't too weird... anything else I should expect?

The couple times I went off of it (only for a year or two at a time) the main thing I notice was a lot of mood swings. But this never went away for me, so maybe I naturally have hormonal problems or something. I also noticed a change in "feminine wetness" :)

I was on the pill from age 16 to 26 and just went off it about 6 months ago. (I'm 27 now) I haven't really noticed too much or had any problems, except for a slightly irregular (and longer) period. Everything else seems the same!

I was on the pill from age 16 to 26 and just went off it about 6 months ago. (I'm 27 now) I haven't really noticed too much or had any problems, except for a slightly irregular (and longer) period. Everything else seems the same!

Hmm. I was expecting my libido to come back (I was a hornbag in my youth and about 4 years ago it sort of disintegrated... I've been told by others that the pill I was on can affect your libido and can make you feel depressed if you have a history of depression). This smell thing is bothering me... I usually don't smell at all as long as I remember the deoderant LOL... maybe it's pheromones? Haha.... there is the faintest possibility that I'm already pregnant though I doubt it... Jake and I aren't exactly being careful, but I wouldn't have thought I'd be fertile yet...

Hmm. I was expecting my libido to come back (I was a hornbag in my youth and about 4 years ago it sort of disintegrated... I've been told by others that the pill I was on can affect your libido and can make you feel depressed if you have a history of depression). This smell thing is bothering me... I usually don't smell at all as long as I remember the deoderant LOL... maybe it's pheromones? Haha.... there is the faintest possibility that I'm already pregnant though I doubt it... Jake and I aren't exactly being careful, but I wouldn't have thought I'd be fertile yet...

Well, you know, when you mentioned the smell thing the first thing I thought of is, "Are you pregnant?" They say that your chances of getting pregnant are super-high immediately after you stop the pill. When is your next period due??? When I was pregnant for a short time I had a super-heightened sense of smell and was particularly sensitive to body odor.

:surprised:

I went off the pill for about 8 months. My skin got oily for a month, but after that I was fine. I was also less moody (the pill does wacky things to my moods), and my sex drive improved. My periods were really irregular and painful, though, and I started to get ovarian cysts. I went back on the pill after one of them ruptured, which was the worst pain I've ever experienced. I really don't like being on the pill, though, and I'd like to go off it again, but I'm afraid!

Well, you know, when you mentioned the smell thing the first thing I thought of is, "Are you pregnant?" They say that your chances of getting pregnant are super-high immediately after you stop the pill. When is your next period due??? When I was pregnant for a short time I had a super-heightened sense of smell and was particularly sensitive to body odor.

:surprised:

I had a 3 day period that ended on my birthday (first one off the Pill)... that was the 1st of Sep. So I guess I'd be due... about now? I guess I'll see if it happens... I'm feeling no signs of a period today...

I started the pill at age 16, and stopped taking it at 27, about a year and a half ago. I dropped ten pounds almost immediately after going off them, but my body eventually readjusted back to my normal weight. My periods were very irregular for about eight months after, but they are finally *almost* regular. My skin is alot less oily, but I don't know if it's because of the hormones or not. That's pretty much it for me!

edited because I can't spell

I have been on and off several times. I never had any effects from going off the pill (or back on the pill for that matter; just the first time I started it).

Well, you know, when you mentioned the smell thing the first thing I thought of is, "Are you pregnant?" They say that your chances of getting pregnant are super-high immediately after you stop the pill.

Some women become more fertile after they stop taking the pill, but most are unable to get pregnant for months or even years. It all depends on your unique body.

When I quit the pill for the first time, I had a six-week period: complete with fatigue, diareah, vomiting, body aches, and, of course, cramps. I don't know if I had any more mood swings than normal. I started taking the pill again, later. When I quit the second time, I went vegan and decided to dump my husband. I went from a size 14 to a size 3 (US), in no time. I'll never take birth control again.

I've been on the pill for about 3 years now, and I've definitely noticed a drop in my libido and a few other side effects, but man I hate condoms and so does my husband. What are those of you who don't want to become pregnant doing now that you're off the pill?

Shewolf, the smell will probably stabilize after a bit. I wouldn't be too concerned, when you immediately stop the hormone stream your body does all sorts of odd things to mellow out. Also, my gyn informed me that anyone can become pregnant immediately after stopping the pill. Just think about those who've missed one or two days of the pill and got pregnant. Happens all the time. I believe the main reason for failure with the pill is misuse, so even those who are trying to be vigilant with it can still get pregnant. Go off of it altogether and you could surely become pregnant right away all other things being in favor of that.

" What are those of you who don't want to become pregnant doing now that you're off the pill? "

We just use condoms. I hate 'em too, but I didn't want to take hormones anymore. So, for me, condoms are my best option.

You can become pregnant as soon as you miss a pill these days. You are considered "hormone-free" after 1 cycle (typically, 28 days).The pills today are not like the older ones, where you had the hormones for 6 months in your body.

After the 1 month cycle, your body is on it's own.

That's not true at all, Krista. Some women and some hormones act different than other women and other hormones. I have a high metabolism and a clean system, but I still did not get pregnant between the time I quit birth control and started using condoms. The length of time that birth control was taken factors in as well. Some hormones can cause changes in your uterus, and make it inhospitable for a long time after you quit the pill. Any who are curious about this should ask their doctors for more information.

Inhospitable uterus. Is there a way to put a sign up?

Anyway, I was very sensitive to smell when I was pregnant at 16 (but didn't know it). I wonder how the hormones (pregnant or not) affect your sense of smell. Doesn't the pill make your body think it's pregnant to stop ovulation? Hmmmm.

I have been on the pill for a total of 25 years. I was off of it once to try to get pregnant, then again 4 years later when I did get pregnant. Getting off of it was no biggie at all. I really couldn't tell the difference except that my period was heavier off the pill.

I never noticed any "symptoms" of being on the pill or off of the pill at all. I am, in fact, going to get off of the pill right now (I just finished my last pack), as I no longer need to be on it anymore.

I would never assume that I couldn't get pregnant the first week that I was off of the pill. Just remember that you are only truly fertile for 5 days per month max (most say 3). Just get an ovulation thermometer, use it for a few months until you can chart your cycle, then abstain (or don't have intercourse) for those 5 days. No biggie.

BTW, when I WAS pregnant (and I was 35) my sense of smell went nuts. I could smell EVERYTHING, and some odors were unbearable (coffee was the worst - I couldn't handle the slightest wiff of it). I also smelled different. In fact that was one of the big differences of being pregnant - your odor changes substancially, especially your vaginal odor. It doesn't get nasty, just very different. I notice now that I might be entering peri-menopause, that my body odors are again changing. Very interesting.

Thanks guys... being pregnant would not be a bad thing, that's the whole reason I went off the pill... :) I think I'll see what happens over the next week or so. Realistically I doubt I am, it's probably just my body getting used to things being normal again... :beer:

I only took it for 2 weeks so I can't really say much to help...
I thought it was giving me heart palpitations, so I stopped...

I'm not sexually active, and was only taking it to slow
my bleeding (heavy and prolonged periods)

A word of warning, I read in a magazine just today, that dosages
are extremely important and from what I read should be
based on ones weight...
(That is, if you are overweight, you might need more, and could even accidentally get pregnant if your dose is too low I heard the normal
dose will suffice in anyone who IS NOT over 150 pounds, anything more,
and you might not be getting enough hormone to prevent conception...)

I personally would like to get married and have some kids in the near
future so I'm not planning on using it, ever again...
I am also of the belief that life is sacred, and if I conceive, then
I was meant to conceive...:)

Anyone else have heavies?
And does it negatively affect your sex life?

If mine come back, I'd much rather put up with the bleeding then
take the pill...

But of course I only have eyes for a certain very special man...

I'm not so easily tempted, considering I am a still a virgin and
over 30...:sealed:

Cougar,

I have to disagree with you. I've had a few doctor friends over the years and they all say that you are hormone-free within 1 cycle of quitting the pill. I even took the liberty to call my doctor yesterday and ask. 1 cycle.

Of course each body is different, but just because you didn't get pregnant, doesn't mean it was the fault of the pill. You only have a small window where you can get pregnant, top that with your partner's sperm production, your stress level, activities that you did afterwards, if a fertilized egg planted, etc.

I realize you are a anti-pill person, so obviously you would blame the pill. I am not an anti-pill person, so obviously I would not blame the pill :)

STOPPING PILLS
Pill use can be discontinued at the end of any cycle. Consider yourself fertile at the time and begin using another method promptly (remember that you can buy foam and/or condoms at any drugstore!). If you intend to get pregnant, stop pills three months before having unprotected intercourse. It is not unusual for a woman to miss a period or two after stopping pills (although most women begin cycling regularly right away). Do not assume, however, that this is the problem: if you’ve been having intercourse and miss your first two periods off the pills, you must come in and get a pregnancy test - even if you have been using another methods.

http://scc.uchicago.edu/instructionscombinedpillusers.htm

Well, since I'm now 28 days thru my cycle with no sign of a period, I did a test today. One blue line only. Negative. Hopefully it turns up soon... this is just frustrating. Hormones are still pretty crazy too...

ok, so i had some questions myself about going of the pill - i stopped taking the pill 83 days ago as my husband & i want to start a family, however 83 days later im not pregnant (have done numerous HPT) and still haven't had my period!
I have been seeing a natropath to work out some stuff, but having waited so long i went to my doctor last night who informed me that it can take up to 12 months for my period to return! so now I have to start the waiting game i know prior to taking the pill my period was so screwed up that i really believe im not capable of children and now 7 years later am informed that at present i can only wait! maybe in 2 months i can have some testing done but not until then. Anyway i think i will go get another opinion - i think 12 months without a period is not normal and therefore a problem.

I have noticed an incresed libido since going off the pill which is definately a good thing.

:gun: i'm ready to shoot the doctor who told me that going on the pill would regulate my periods - even when i stopped them!!

Well, since I'm now 28 days thru my cycle with no sign of a period, I did a test today. One blue line only. Negative. Hopefully it turns up soon... this is just frustrating. Hormones are still pretty crazy too...
Back when I was on the pill (from age 16 to age 18) my period was incredibly regular. When I went off, I was a month or two late. My period was rarely regular before the pill and is rarely regular now that I'm off it. Other than that, I can't recall any major changes.

specialness, you're not underweight are you?

Anyway, waiting over, got my period today... wonder how long it'll last!

specialness, you're not underweight are you?

Anyway, waiting over, got my period today... wonder how long it'll last!


NO - not underweight, if anything i carry a little too much weight - but have all my life, and have learnt to accept that is how i am built - i eat heathy, exercise regularly and still stay the same, the only time i weighed less was when i worked out a minimum of 2 hours a day 7 days a week!

I think i may go get another opinion, as i know from before starting the pill i had really irregular - ie - some times would get them every 6 weeks then occasionally it would go past 6 months etc. and don't feel that waiting 12 months before getting a period healthy - anyway will let you know what i end up doing, perhaps im just way to impatient.

:bow: