Getting off birth control pills

[watmann8]

Hi everyone, I am 23 and I never had any problems connected with periods or female health. I started birth control pills (0,15/0,03 mg desogestrel/ethinylestradiol) for contraceptive reasons only this winter. I didn’t get any side effects while taking it, but my mom is very worried about high blood pressure risks. So I decided to quite after 8 months of taking it. Luckily, I am currently a single woman, so there is no need to switch to another contraception. I read a bit on the internet about many possible side effects that can appear after you get off the pill from acne to migraines. Could you please share me your tips of how to get ready and go through this period? I really want to hear some average story, because mainly on the internet you get comments about severe cases. Maybe some supplements that should be taken or tests that should be done after a while? Thank you very much

[dpooley-tolkien]

Look at two books, 1) Laura Briden, The Period Repair Manuel. It has a huge amount dedicated to breaking up with the pill. 2) Maisie Hill, Period Power. They are amazing. (In my opinion there’s not enough released about the pill from doctors, they don’t tell you that they actually shut down your ovarian function and replace your hormones with steroid hormones so you don’t ovulate. From what I have read it is bad news!) If you’re looking for contraception then look at the coil, either hormonal or copper, they still allow you to ovulate and help balance your hormones rather than replace them/are a natural spermicide so you don’t need the hormones.

[watmann8 in reply to dpooley-tolkien]

Thanks! I will look for the books. Yeah, doctor just asked me about thrombosis. I am surprised pills are considered the “easiest” contraception available for young women I was thinking about copper coil, but I heard that it’s not very good before pregnancy.

[dpooley-tolkien in reply to watmann8]

That’s become more of an old wives tale as of late. Another one to look into is the ring, it’s a little more expensive for the NHS so they don’t tend to suggest it. But it sits at the entrance of the vagina and you simply take it out so have natural periods and then replace it after it’s finished. I think the hormones levels are closer to the coil rather than the pill but something to explore too.

The reason the pill is listed as the easiest is because it’s the cheapest. The invention of the pill is miraculous and has been pinnacle in women’s rights etc, but I’m just super wary of taking something that was developed 50+ years ago and hasn’t really changed since!

[gardengnome]

I'm coming off slowly, halving the tablet, then quartering it,

I've been on them so long for pmmd that I found the idea of gong cold turkey very scary..

When i stopped them previously i noticed that the pattern of my periods changed

[watmann8 in reply to gardengnome]

That’s a smart way of doing it However I already went all in, so I don’t want to come back and start all over