[gas4]

Hi everyone, I'm seriously considering going off hormonal birth control because I get more certain each time I go off it for my period that it's responsible for the crushing of my libido (and hence tension in my relationship). So I'm conducting a poll to see if I'm right or if I'm crazy. What I'm considering is just using condoms which I am scared about but I don't want to mess with my body any more and it would be ok if I got pregnant now anyway.

So, for anyone who's using hormonal BC, has it had an effect on your libido? Could you also please note in a response what type of pill you are or were on?

Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[Dirty Martini]

I was on ortho-cyclen for years, then another pill, then zovia, then another one (I forget the names). All of them caused a dramatic drop in libido and contributed to depression.

Exercise helped a little, but as I've mentioned several times, I could tell a major difference about 4-6 weeks once I stopped the pill.

If you use a condom, I highly suggest using something else too. Seriously consider a diaphragm or non-hormonal IUD (if you're looking for something long-term). And spermicide.

 

[Blue Plastic Straw]

All the variations of hormonal pills I used killed my libido, but when I used the Nuva Ring my drive was just fine. I had other problems with the Nuva Ring, but sex drive wasn't one of them

 

[strawberry]

Well, I said yes, but only you can figure out if it is what is ruining YOUR sex drive, silly.

That being said, I was on OrthoTriCyclen Lo, and then the Nuva Ring. The ring especially sucked. It completely dried me out to the point that sex was uncomfortable.

 

[Tesseract]

Yep. Impaired sex drive is a known and common side effect of hormonal BC. I tried so many different pills over a 12-year period, I can't even begin to list them, and I just continued to have a lack of libido. I even tried at least one type that had a small dose of androgens in it that was supposed to help that problem. It didn't help. I also tried an estrogen cream that was supposed to help. It didn't help. I also tried Depo-Provera, and it was even worse. Since I went off the pill nearly 18 months ago, my sex drive has been gradually coming back. That is the only thing that has helped.

 

[Dirty Martini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by strawberry

Well, I said yes, but only you can figure out if it is what is ruining YOUR sex drive, silly.

That being said, I was on OrthoTriCyclen Lo, and then the Nuva Ring. The ring especially sucked. It completely dried me out to the point that sex was uncomfortable.

good to see you back, 'berry!!

 

[bstutzma]

The pill never hurt my sex drive - but my drive has always been a little higher than normal, I think ;-) I took it for 9 years. During the last year or so, I was feeling a bit more "dried out", so we started using lubricants to make sex more comfortable. I've been off it for a couple of weeks, and I definitely feel good (no more dryness, that's for sure!) But while taking it I never felt any effects that were so severe that I might consider stopping.

 

[meatless]

Yes, the pill destroyed my libido (and it also caused a condition called patulous eustachian tube with tormented me for nearly a year and a half before I made the connection). I've been off it three months now... libido is coming back, and the eustachian tube problem has been gone for six weeks.

 

[rabid_child]

No libido problems at all.

 

[rabid_child]

No libido problems at all. I've been on them for 5 yrs now.

 

[Jinga]

I was on ortho-tricyclene for about 5 years. By the end I had zero sex-drive. When I went off it, my drive went way way up in a short period of time. Too bad I was then single

 

[gas4]

Quote:

Originally Posted by strawberry

Well, I said yes, but only you can figure out if it is what is ruining YOUR sex drive, silly.

uncomfortable.

I know, this is part of that process. I just wanted to know whether it was possible or common for the pill to have that effect, so far it looks like it is. Actually it pisses me off a bit, I'm doing this feminist paper at uni at the moment (actually I'm tutoring it) and I've learnt that women's sexual liberation hasn't actually happened, women (generally) aren't having as much sex as they'd like and this pill situation wouldn't be helping would it.

 

[RachelJC-L]

Yes, the pill reduced my libido. I was on it for approx. 8 years...about 5 different kinds. For the first four years, it was fine, but I was young and wanting lots of sex (in high school and college) so maybe I didn't notice. As I got older, my sex drive went away. When I stopped the pill in February, my libido came back. I use condoms now and they work fine. My husband is so happy that I am behaving more 'normally' that he doesn't mind condoms in the least. Anyway, if we mess up, pregnancy wouldn't be a total disaster.

 

[gas4]

Those are some pretty convincing results. I guess I'm not just crazy after all.

 

[gas4]

Well, I decided. I should have started taking my pill again today, having finished my period, and I didn't. So the experiment begins - I guess I'll soon find out whether my libido changes.

For anyone who's come of the pill before: is there anything else I should expect?

Apart from the fact that my periods will probably go back to being a bit heavier again.

 

[bstutzma]

I am a month off the pill. Things I noticed: Felt like a million bucks pre-ovulation. Post ovulation, felt mild cramps most of the 14 days, and then when "aunt flo" came, the cramps were horrific. I haven't had cramps like that since I was a teenager. My period has been a bit heavier, but nothing crazy.

If you don't want to get pregnant, be sure to use at least two methods of BC. I would recommend a barrier method/spermicide, and also, since you aren't using chemicals, try charting. You can learn about it on www.fertilityfriend.com. Don't have sex on the days when you are fertile. I thought it was bunk before I started charting, but I love it. I'm not doing it for birth control, though, I'm doing it to aid in conception - however, it can be used both ways (still, however, always use two methods of BC.)

 

[GhostUser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bstutzma

I am a month off the pill. Things I noticed: Felt like a million bucks pre-ovulation. Post ovulation, felt mild cramps most of the 14 days, and then when "aunt flo" came, the cramps were horrific. I haven't had cramps like that since I was a teenager. My period has been a bit heavier, but nothing crazy.

I am so afraid of that when I go off the pill someday.

 

[bstutzma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by veggiejanie

I am so afraid of that when I go off the pill someday.

*tylenol is your friend*

Yeah, I was a little bit surprised by it, because I didn't remember my cramps being that bad, but in retrospect, yeah, there were a couple times I went home from school because of them....

 

[GhostUser]

I'd rather have 3 days of cramps and prescription painkillers than screwing around with my hormones 24/7.

i like my libido right where it is, thankyouverymuch. not to mention all the other crappy side effects.

 

[GhostUser]

re: hormones...I think the pill tends to regulate the hormones, as a result regulating the cycle.

But yeah, anyway, the side effects suck.