I want to stop BCPs

Chuckie21 · 07-05-2006, 10:11 PM

Has anybody stopped taking bcps but isnt trying to ttc?

i feel that yasmin and dianette both made me worse and have zapped my sex drive and given me worse mood swings than i had before

will it benefit me to stop?

violamarie · 07-05-2006, 10:34 PM

It might benefit you to stop. I've never taken either of the BCP that you have, but I just wanted to say that I don't trust BCP very much at all. I feel they mask the underlying issue. But that's just me...if you feel BCP are right for you, it may just be a matter of finding the right one.

mlbarry · 07-05-2006, 10:51 PM

I don't really have an answer for you, but I am with you on the bcp killing your sex drive. I did stop mine for a little while and my drive was back to normal, but then when i started them again it all went downhill!

sleepydumpling · 07-06-2006, 03:00 PM

I stopped at Christmas time, and boy have I felt better for it. I now know I'm finally working towards long term health, not just a "bandaid" cure of BCP's.

shorty5628 · 07-06-2006, 04:34 PM

My husband and I were talking about this this morning, the only thing i am worried about is that the BCP are bringing on my period, i went 5 years with out one. It doesn't kill my sex drive, well i get sick for upto 3 hours after taking it, so durning that time i don't wanna be touched,but after i a ready to go. HEE HEE HEE

jmg · 07-06-2006, 09:03 PM

I am right with you! I stopped taking Yasmin last week. I was on Yasmin four months and prior to that Nortrel 7/7/7 for 10 years. I feel like bcp's can cause more problems than they can help and I really want to see what my body does naturally. I did not like Yasmin at all-it also caused me to have major mood swings. Ugh. I am currently taking Chinese herbs and going to an acupuncturist and naturopath. Before I was on the bcp I had periods, just irregular ones. I hope I still have them without bcp. It is definitely important to have periods, but there are other ways to bring them on. THat progesterone cream is one way, I believe. My friend who never has periods started acupuncture and she had her period for the first time in a year! Good luck.

hsuter · 07-07-2006, 10:48 PM

I stopped taking BCP's in September of 2005 as my husband and I had decided to try to conceive. When I went off the BCP's (yasmin) the acne I had when I was a teenager (before going on BCP's) came back, my periods were irregular and were very heavy, I had dandruff, I had belly and facial hair, and my hair was thinning. After TTC for about six months I went to my dr...this is when I found out I had PCOS. Soon thereafter my husband decided to go to graduate school so we decided it might not be the best time to TTC, so I went back on yasmin. Since going back on BCP's my acne is gone, I no longer have thinning hair, I no longer have facial hair, my periods are of course regular and much lighter. While I would like to stop taking BCP's at some point I did not feel comfortable in my body while off the pill.

Furrygirl · 07-09-2006, 06:31 PM

I also quit Yasmin, cold turkey, about 3 months ago. I have mixed feelings about this..On one hand, Yasmin caused me to have horrible mood swings, vomiting, migranes, a complete lack of sex drive, IBS, vaginal dryness, weight gain, bloating and fatigue. I didn't realize how bad the side affects were until after I stopped taking it. On the other hand..stopping the pill has caused my PCOS symptoms to progressively get worse. Though I have had a couple regular periods, they have been painful and long. My facial hair is getting out of control as is my acne. I know I will probably have to be back on some sort of BCP...but I hate the thought of going back on YASMIN!! I go see my GYN in a month....I hope she can help me!

sleepydumpling · 07-10-2006, 06:18 AM

Have you tried Metformin Furrygirl? That's what I'm trying now I'm BCP free.

one-hit_wonder · 07-11-2006, 12:51 AM

I stopped bcp cold turkey around 5 years ago. I couldn't hack the weight gain, the utter lack of libido (and I was a newlywed!), and the horrendous mood swings. As soon as I stopped, so did the mood swings. During the past year, as I've tried to eat well and to exercise, I've found that not only has my libido returned, but I've lost lots of other symptoms, like acne and hair loss.

The only thing that sticks, though, is the initial weight gain. It wasn't much, but it irritates me a lot!

Anyway, I would never, ever go back on the pill again.

guineapig · 07-11-2006, 04:01 AM

Can you use a diaphragm or get an IUD (copper non hormone) if you're just looking for birth control? I quit the pill 8 years ago and have never looked back. IMO they made me crazy. IR meds can usually help the PCOS symptoms (Avandia, met, Actos, DCI, Byetta, special diet, chromium, etc).

Furrygirl · 07-11-2006, 03:34 PM

Sleepydumpling...I'm going to ask my Dr. about Met. I hope she is receptive to a treatment other than BCP for me!!

jmg · 07-11-2006, 06:56 PM

I opted not to use an IUD b/c major side effects are increased cramping and bleeding which I already have plenty of if I'm not on bcp! I tried the diaphragm once so far and myhusband and I could both feel it. But,we tried condoms twice so far and he had a real lack of sensation. It's going to take awhile to get used to not having something as convenient and pleasurable as the pill! But, I have been off it now for 2 weeks and I feel pretty good. NO real changes so far. It will be interesting to see what happens at my time of the month. Will I get it late like I used to or not at all (which was never a problem for me)? We'll see.....

Shyrae02 · 07-11-2006, 07:25 PM

I also am going to try to stop taking bcps starting this week.. its my last pack and last week..I guess we'll see what happens.. It seems as if it up in the air as to what the pros and cons are.

sleepydumpling · 07-12-2006, 05:24 AM

Furrygirl it is worth a try. You could look on the Met board here and get some articles to print and take with you.