What side effects did you experience when you went off bcp?

[Anonymous]

Acne, horrible awful acne - and it takes months to get in to see a dermatologist, so I am just trying to deal with it on my own for now. The weight loss that was supposed to happen hasn't happened, if anything I've gained weight since I've gone off nuvaring.

[Anonymous]

Acne, I was wondering what caused it. Thought maybe the prenatals. Also more moodiness, again may also be TTC stress. Am 6 months off bcp and did not think the switch would still be effecting me but I think maybe it is. Thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

I did not get my period for a year after going off hormones (nuvaring). Was on BCP and then Nuvaring straight from ages 18-32. I waited three to six months (can't remember) and then went to the doc. They will test your hormones and maybe say wait another 3 months or may give you a hormone to try to induce it. That didn't work for me. I went to an RE, got more tests, did another round of pills to try to induce it, no results. Was tested for PCOS etc. (negative). RE said come back when you are ready to get pregnant, we'll try clomid and some other things. I was still not in that mindset (was waiting for my sister to get married, take some big trips etc). Decided to try acupuncture. Got my period back within a month (this was about 11 months after I went off the pill). stuck with acupuncture for another year, period came very irregularly, but came at least - 45-60 day cycles. Made an appt with RE to try to start getting pregnant about 9 months after it came back, and was still trying to time things as best I could within that crazy range-- and actually got pregnant on our own!

This all took a LONG time to resolve but I wasn't aggressive because I wasn't planning to try to get pregnant then - my idea had been to go off the pill a year or so before starting to try. I was happy I built in the time, but this situation was not normal or expected.

Also, now that I have a DC, my period is extremely regular, every 28 days. It's nuts - I was not expecting that. I do think the hormones really screwed up my system, though the docs would never say that. They always said the hormones probably masked a problem.

Other side effect of going off the pill - sex is much better!

[Anonymous]

Your experiences sound so interesting! I went off of BCP long before we ever tried to conceive because it made me crazy, made my blood pressure rise, made me gain weight, and I had near-constant spotting. Going off BCP made me feel human for the first time in a long time!

[Anonymous]

acne and dandruff (???)
The acne has subsided, but the dandruff got worse

[Anonymous]

The withdrawal symptoms have lessened, though I still have very dry eyes and blurry vision. No period in the three months off bcp and six months including time on bcp. I'm starting to worry a little. . . . And btw, I am never going back on the pill--the withdrawal was unsettling and unpleasant.