Hi! I'm 42 and have been on the pill since I was 16 (for PCOS symptoms). I went off once - cold turkey - and my body went bonkers. Heavy period that wouldn't stop, crying all the time, acne, weight gain...I begged my doctor to put me back on. That was years ago.
Now I'm realizing that the pill is to blame for years of low libido. My poor husband and I have suffered for years, all the while thinking it was my fault. Now I want to try to go off the pill again for the sake of my marriage. But no cold turkey for me this time!
Has anyone tried reducing the pill gradually? I'm thinking about skipping one pill a week for awhile to see how I feel. If I do ok, maybe I'll drop another day, and so on. If I start having negative symptoms I'll jump back up a notch.
Maybe, just maybe, I can find a compromise that will restore my sex drive without sending my body over a cliff. Let's hope!
You might want to run that past your doctor. I wouldn't be comfortable doing that, it would be telling my body that I wanted something different from it everyday (if that makes sense?)
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Diagnosed Aug 2005. Symptoms: No periods, obese, excessive hair
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I agree with februarystar. That's not how hormonal birth control is meant to be taken, and I bet that would put you on more of a health/emotional rollercoaster than cold turkey would, and it sounds unhealthy. But your doctor would know for sure.
__________________ Previously on Met, currently on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Spiro, and cinnamon
I agree with all the above comments. I came off the pill a few years ago because it was making me feel worse. I finished the pack, had my withdrawal bleed and took vitamin and mineral supplements to give my body a boost. Things like Magnesium, Sea Kelp etc can be found in your health store and i my opinion can help with the emotional and physical side. I would DEFINITELY never skip pills due to a) risk of pregnancy, b) breakthrough bleeding (annoying) and c) causing more problems for myself.
A pill with a less potent progestogen may not affect your libido so much. I'm guessing you have tried a great variety though...
You would be spotting and bleeding all the time which also tends to be a libido killer.
What pill are you on? Perhaps there is one with less hormones you could take? Cold turkey is pretty much how it is done, though.
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"We've tried to wash our hands of all of this
We never talk of our lacking relationships
And how we're guilt-stricken, sobbing, with our heads on the floor
We fell through the ice when we tried not to slip..."
- the verve pipe
"A pill with a less potent progestogen may not affect your libido so much. I'm guessing you have tried a great variety though..."
Oh, yes. I've tried many. No luck.
Well, status quo is unacceptable. Cold turkey is also unacceptable. After talking it over with my husband I think I'm going to try something a little different.
I will start my new pack on Sunday and take a pill every day like I'm supposed to, but I will stop taking them three days before the end of my pack. I'll try this for a few months and see if I notice anything different.
That should be subtle enough not to create havoc but just may help with libido for a few days per month. We'll see. I will report back.
So Ashley, if I ever did work up the nerve to quit the pill cold again, what supplements would help me? I'm looking for specifics. I don't think a Centrum would be enough to ward off the plague that hit me last time.
So Ashley, if I ever did work up the nerve to quit the pill cold again, what supplements would help me? I'm looking for specifics. I don't think a Centrum would be enough to ward off the plague that hit me last time.
Laura
I've never tried them but I have seen womens-multi's that have practically everything in them like a regular multi-vitamin but also have 'PMS strength' doses of other 'ingredients'. They might be worth a look, though you would probably want to talk to your doctor about them. I couldn't take them because they had St Johns Wort in them and I was on Anti-Ds. There might be other contradictions too.
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Diagnosed Aug 2005. Symptoms: No periods, obese, excessive hair
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This is going to sound snarky, but it is not aimed at anyone in here. I'm just completely frustrated and I'm going to vent now.
I've been to dozens of doctors before and since I was diagnosed with PCOS.
Not one of them had anything to offer me but prescriptions that made me so ill I went off of them within a few months. I just don't need side effects on top of all my existing symptoms. I know many of you have gotten relief from prescriptions -- I have not. I believe they are poisonous, including the pill.
Not one of those doctors gave a rat's a$$ about my libido issues, depression issues, marital problems, etc.
All they know how to do is operate an rx pad, charge me a copay, and tell me I have to stay on the pill for the rest of my life. That's not medical care. That's bull****. I'm done with it.
I'm on my own in this thing and I have been from the beginning. So I'm going to have to find the answers myself because the medical community doesn't have anything to offer.
Sorry, not from me. LOL
I once had such a crap doctor who didn't listen to a word I said so I went back to reception and told them I wasn't paying for that appt and I was going to sit in the waiting room until they could fit me in with another.
Surprisingly, that doctor only lasted a few weeks at that clinic.
I would never advocate anyone taking more than a low dose multi-vitamin or a fish oil supplement without running it past a medical professional.
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Diagnosed Aug 2005. Symptoms: No periods, obese, excessive hair
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Finished my BSc (Nutrition),
Almost finished BCom (Economics)
I know doctors don't care much libido issues in my experience, either.
But your plan to stop the pills 3 days early... does that mean you plan to take 10 days off the pill per cycle... or 18 active pills and 7 placebo days per cycle???
If the former you are really gonna whack with your cycles IMO... if the later I really don't think you will see a difference....
I hate chasing side effect with more pills but have you ever tried the anti depressant Wellbutrin? It can help with sex drive.
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"We've tried to wash our hands of all of this
We never talk of our lacking relationships
And how we're guilt-stricken, sobbing, with our heads on the floor
We fell through the ice when we tried not to slip..."
- the verve pipe
...you are really gonna whack with your cycles IMO... if the later I really don't think you will see a difference....
I hate chasing side effect with more pills but have you ever tried the anti depressant Wellbutrin? It can help with sex drive.
You are all probably right. I need to just get myself as healthy as I can and take the plunge. Maybe I'll make it this time.
Regarding Wellbutrin, I had a terrible experience with that. Granted, I was on it at the same time as metformin so maybe it was the combination. Yes, my sex drive came back and I lost lots of weight, but at a great cost. I couldn't stand to eat anything that wasn't sweet and cold. I was living on Slim Fast drinks because that was all I wanted. I was nauseous much of the time and hyper. My personality completely changed (!). I nearly ruined my marriage behaving in ways that I would never behave normally. I couldn't sleep and I cried all the time. I finally went off both medications because so much bizarre stuff was happening.
I'll never go on Wellbutrin again. Prescriptions in general, including the pill, just aren't good for me. I'm very sensitive to them and they make me feel awful. It's important to me to get off all of them forever!
Sorry, not from me. LOL
I once had such a crap doctor who didn't listen to a word I said so I went back to reception and told them I wasn't paying for that appt and I was going to sit in the waiting room until they could fit me in with another.
Surprisingly, that doctor only lasted a few weeks at that clinic.
I would never advocate anyone taking more than a low dose multi-vitamin or a fish oil supplement without running it past a medical professional.
I have to agree here. I can't say amen to that!
I understand people being frustrated with doctors. I understand taking care into your own hands when you don't feel like you can depend on them. Even though I personally trust my doctors, I can even understand you feeling like they're only wreaking havoc upon your life if that's the experience you've had.
But in many situations, especially this one, I just cannot think that doing this without a doctor's consent is a good idea. Even if you think your doctors are idiots, they ARE pretty well versed in birth control. Soooo many women are on it. They will be able to tell you if your plan is going to mess you up.
I'm guessing that it will. I think "weaning" yourself off BCP and doing it halfway is going to cause a lot more problems than being on it all the way or being off it all the way. BCP isn't tylenol or vitamins - missing a dose will likely really mess you up.
__________________ Previously on Met, currently on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Spiro, and cinnamon
anyone tried SLOWLY weaning off the pill? 
