Getting Off Birth Control - A Good Idea?

[Sweetfudge]

so i just got a gym membership and my husband thinks it would help maximize my work at the gym if i were to get off birth control. he's willing to compensate in keeping us from getting pregnant (condoms), but i guess i'm doubting that it will really help that much. and i'm terrified that i'll get pregnant. will it help? i do remember gaining a bit of weight right after getting on the stuff...just not sure what to do. thanks in advance

[grey]

You might look into an IUD. It's more effective than the pill, has for many people less side effects (and I really don't think messing around with my hormones was doing me any good!), and has the bonuses of decreasing period length, bleeding, & pain, AND being really cost efficient (my insurance paid for mine!). And you don't have to think about it for years.

If later you want kids, it's also great because if you do want to have kids, you just have it taken out and then you can get pregnant. It doesn't have the fertility problems post-pill, post-IUD

For me, it helped my migraines to get off pills. Also, my sex drive went way up. I can't tell if I lost weight from that, I think I did a little - it shifted around, definately. I felt better (until I had my celiac flare spiral...).

I definately recommend it!

This is the link to IUD info at planned parenthood:

Open Original Shared Link

It's great info on the pros and cons. Best, of course, is to talk to your gyn.

so i just got a gym membership and my husband thinks it would help maximize my work at the gym if i were to get off birth control. he's willing to compensate in keeping us from getting pregnant (condoms), but i guess i'm doubting that it will really help that much. and i'm terrified that i'll get pregnant. will it help? i do remember gaining a bit of weight right after getting on the stuff...just not sure what to do. thanks in advance

[tarnalberry]

it's hard to say if it'll help *you*. it may help some people lose weight, but it's highly individual.

there are a number of other reasons to get off it, including the fact that is lowers the levels of free testosterone for most women, even at least a year after getting off the pill. the fake progesterones are ... *shudder*. I'm not a fan. sometimes the benefits may outweigh the side effects, but those effects are too often underplayed.

[zarfkitty]

The pill doesn't affect my weight one way or the other. I take Yasmin.

[Mango04]

I gain weight when I go off the pill. Others lose weight though. There are so many different types of pills and they effect people differently, so it's hard to say.

[Babygirl6915]

I quit taking the pill & started my gluten-free diet the same month & I dropped 10 lbs. I am not sure which helped more but I do notice I am not nearly as bloated feeling around my period as I was before. It is a trade off though as I take the pill for severe PMS related symptoms & those are all back with a vengance!!! So it is just a personal decision. If you are terrified of getting pregnant either stay on current pill, look for a new pill, or try the IUD thing. I would LOVE an IUD but I have never had a child so they won't give me one.

[CarlaB]

I use the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning. It's as reliable as the pill without the side-effects.

Years ago (over 20) I took the pill for a short time. The worst side effect for me was lack of libido.

I would think it can only help your body's balance if you got off it. They are strong hormones.

[grey]

Babygirl,

I have an IUD and I've never had a child ... if you're interested in one, I'd find another gyn. My gyn had no problem with an IUD for me, nor did my insurance company .. it cost $10 out of pocket! In fact, my gyn RECOMMENDS the Mirena for people with PMS symptoms.

It's the #1 form of protection outside the US - we're a little backward re. IUDs and some older practioners may not be as familiar with them.

Seriously - if you're having PMS Babygirl (and you're over 18) you might try taking the planned Parenthood info from the link I gave above to another gyn. It doesn't mention anything about that. Find one who works with IUDs and is experienced with the insertion (which is a more painful if you haven't given birth, because you're smaller, but it's totally bearable and over quickly).

(And, if by chance you're in southern VA, I'll recommend my gyn, who I adored.)

grey

I quit taking the pill & started my gluten-free diet the same month & I dropped 10 lbs. I am not sure which helped more but I do notice I am not nearly as bloated feeling around my period as I was before. It is a trade off though as I take the pill for severe PMS related symptoms & those are all back with a vengance!!! So it is just a personal decision. If you are terrified of getting pregnant either stay on current pill, look for a new pill, or try the IUD thing. I would LOVE an IUD but I have never had a child so they won't give me one.

[Jestgar]

Babygirl,

I have an IUD and I've never had a child ... if you're interested in one, I'd find another gyn. My gyn had no problem with an IUD for me, nor did my insurance company .. it cost $10 out of pocket! In fact, my gyn RECOMMENDS the Mirena for people with PMS symptoms.

It's the #1 form of protection outside the US - we're a little backward re. IUDs and some older practioners may not be as familiar with them.

Seriously - if you're having PMS Babygirl (and you're over 18) you might try taking the planned Parenthood info from the link I gave above to another gyn. It doesn't mention anything about that. Find one who works with IUDs and is experienced with the insertion (which is a more painful if you haven't given birth, because you're smaller, but it's totally bearable and over quickly).

What she said.

[Sweetfudge]

I quit taking the pill & started my gluten-free diet the same month & I dropped 10 lbs. I am not sure which helped more but I do notice I am not nearly as bloated feeling around my period as I was before. It is a trade off though as I take the pill for severe PMS related symptoms & those are all back with a vengance!!! So it is just a personal decision. If you are terrified of getting pregnant either stay on current pill, look for a new pill, or try the IUD thing. I would LOVE an IUD but I have never had a child so they won't give me one.

that's what my dr told me. i read that using an iud can cause damage to the uterus, complicating things for first time pregnancy.

I use the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning. It's as reliable as the pill without the side-effects.

what is this?

i'm also interested in getting off it b/c of a low libido. helpful?

[CarlaB]

what is this?

i'm also interested in getting off it b/c of a low libido. helpful?

Yes, I think it is helpful. You need to be sure your thyroid levels are good, too. There can be many causes of low libido ... the Pill can be one of them.

Natural family planning (nfp) is using the body's natural cycles to either avoid or achieve pregnancy.

The method I use is the sympto-thermal method. You look at symptoms -- cervical mucus, temperature, etc. to tell what part of the month it is for you. It is NOT old fashioned calendar rythym, this is a scientific method that uses clinical observations and is as effective as the Pill.

I've used it since 1993 and have gotten pregnant when I've wanted to and avoided it when I wanted to. My youngest is 9, so it's been working great. I have a serious reason right now to avoid pregnancy (medication that I'm on for Lyme), and it's still the only method I use ... I trust it that much.

An interesting statistic (please don't let it start a debate, it's just a fact), the divorce rate for NFP users is below 5%!!

You can get more info on it at Open Original Shared Link. That's where I learned it ... I taught it for 7 years, too.

[tarnalberry]

I also use FAM (fertility awareness method, and a catch-all phrase for a couple of methods which include sympto-thermal). I'm quite happy with it. (We do use condoms for backup.)

[debmidge]

I always gained weight on Pill and once really read the Physican's Desk Reference about the side effects of weight gain. It mentioned that at higher doses (like mine was) diabetics had to watch out as it could change their glucose levels.

Now, I am a firm believer in watching carbs to lose weight. I believe Dr. Atkins - that higher blood sugar levels cause and keep weight gain....also this was confirmed to me in books by Dr. James Herriot - animal vet --- he had a patient (milk cow) that had infection (prior to anti biotics) and the farmer was afraid the cow would die; cow was very, very thin, so Dr. Herriot on several visits injected sugar/glucose into the cow, cow fought off the infection and gained weight. Herriot knew that higher blood sugar level will gain weight - this was 1930's . Atkins says the same thing (1970's+).

The Pill does the same thing in some women - increases the glucose levels... so if I am extrapolating this correctly, it could cause weight gain.

There is a new lawsuit against "Nuva Ring" - it caused a stroke in a young woman (non smoker) who used it only 3 weeks. IUDs absolutely scare me..I'd rather have a baby than have an IUD...in the 1970's there was particular IUD which killed women (I forgot the name of it). Some women, like me, had problems and could not use diaphrams either.

You have to be very dedicated using the natural method and I'm sure ccli.org place can refer you to a practioner in your area that can coach you on this. I'd look into that.

[CarlaB]

You have to be very dedicated using the natural method and I'm sure ccli.org place can refer you to a practioner in your area that can coach you on this. I'd look into that.

Yes, there are teaching couples all over the country. If there's not one in your area, there is a very good correspondence course.

I remember some comments from you before ... I think you'd like it. During certain times of the month, if you're avoiding pregnancy, then you abstain. During other times of the month, you don't. This would probably be good for you because you'd have your times of the month where you are open to intimacy, then your times of the month where you are "off the hook" and can feel love and affection in different ways ... more like it was when you were dating.

It also helps both of you appreciate the mystery of the female body.

Obviously, I'm sold on it.

[grey]

Here's Mayo Clinic's table of various BC methods (including sympto-thermal). They have info on all the methods on links to the side as well, including the pros and cons to each (the pill, for example).

Open Original Shared Link

Mayo is saying the sympto-thermal is about 87% effective, but I think they include 'human error' - so, if you were very precise and good at it, the numbers would be higher.

I chose an IUD because I wouldn't be able to manage the method at this point in my life. There are a lot of pros to different methods - especially sympto-thermal it sounds like and of course your need to choose what fits you. Make sure you have all facts you can get.

Regarding the IUD, there have been a couple of common myths mentioned and I think it's important have the facts. It's far less dangerous and has far less side effects than the pill, for example, but a lot of people don't know the facts. So - here's some info and links.

On the safety of the IUD from the US CDC (Center for DIsease control):Open Original Shared Link

There were 12 deaths from miscarriage out of 2.8 million women using the Dalkon Shield (a specific kind of IUD) in the early 1970s, that tarnished the reputation of all IUDs and generated many myths that they are unsafe. No similar deaths related to IUDs have been reported since. 156 million+ women use it safely today. (World Health Organization (2002). "The intrauterine device (IUD)-worth singing about". Progress in Reproductive Health Research (60): 1

[CarlaB]

Mayo is saying the sympto-thermal is about 87% effective, but I think they include 'human error' - so, if you were very precise and good at it, the numbers would be higher.

Depends on the study as statistics can be easily manipulated. In fact, Mayo does not cite their source of information.

Here are some government studies that show a much higher rate. Open Original Shared Link

[grey]

I just want to make clear that I didn't mean to say S-T method wasn't effective; what I meant was the Mayo seemed low on the % and offered a possible explanation. On the CCLI site, the page on "User Effectiveness" has similar stats as the Mayo if the methods aren't followed properly - which was the explanation I was aiming for, so maybe these are the studies where the Mayo numbers came from?

Open Original Shared Link

Why I brought up the Mayo site at all was because it offered a table about a *lot* of different methods with pros and cons. It cites sources at the end of the article as a whole, but I agree that it should have citations to where the stats come from. I liked that about the CCLI page.

So, I just want to say - utmost respect for the method and those who practice it. The all-natural element is especially appealing. My (our) choice was based on my ability to track my body, which at the time for physical and emotional reasons was harder to do.

I wasn't meaning to argue mehtods, my main interest was just provide more information about the IUD and counter some misleading information.

Depends on the study as statistics can be easily manipulated. In fact, Mayo does not cite their source of information.

Here are some government studies that show a much higher rate. Open Original Shared Link

[CarlaB]

I wasn't meaning to argue mehtods, my main interest was just provide more information about the IUD and counter some misleading information.

Maybe someday NFP will work for you.

[ItchyMeredith]

I used the non hormonal IUD Paraguard. I loved it!

[Sweetfudge]

Yes, I think it is helpful. You need to be sure your thyroid levels are good, too. There can be many causes of low libido ... the Pill can be one of them.

Natural family planning (nfp) is using the body's natural cycles to either avoid or achieve pregnancy.

The method I use is the sympto-thermal method. You look at symptoms -- cervical mucus, temperature, etc. to tell what part of the month it is for you. It is NOT old fashioned calendar rythym, this is a scientific method that uses clinical observations and is as effective as the Pill.

I've used it since 1993 and have gotten pregnant when I've wanted to and avoided it when I wanted to. My youngest is 9, so it's been working great. I have a serious reason right now to avoid pregnancy (medication that I'm on for Lyme), and it's still the only method I use ... I trust it that much.

An interesting statistic (please don't let it start a debate, it's just a fact), the divorce rate for NFP users is below 5%!!

You can get more info on it at Open Original Shared Link. That's where I learned it ... I taught it for 7 years, too.

thanks for the info, i'm going to read up on it.

Yes, there are teaching couples all over the country. If there's not one in your area, there is a very good correspondence course.

I remember some comments from you before ... I think you'd like it. During certain times of the month, if you're avoiding pregnancy, then you abstain. During other times of the month, you don't. This would probably be good for you because you'd have your times of the month where you are open to intimacy, then your times of the month where you are "off the hook" and can feel love and affection in different ways ... more like it was when you were dating.

It also helps both of you appreciate the mystery of the female body.

Obviously, I'm sold on it.

sounds great. definitely something i could use

[Sweetfudge]

will i have a problem going off bc cold turkey? i've just gotten over withdrawals from not refilling my anti-depressant meds, and i don't wanna go through that again. but i'm at the end of my month, and wondered if i could just stop taking it? should be ok right?

[tarnalberry]

yes, birth control isn't something you wean off. in fact, there's one week a month you "go cold turkey" off of it anyway - the placebo pills.

[CarlaB]

yes, birth control isn't something you wean off. in fact, there's one week a month you "go cold turkey" off of it anyway - the placebo pills.

I agree.

[confusedks]

Sweetfudge,

This is really funny because I am about to go on BC again to regulate my periods, but I was on it for awhile last year and it caused me to gain weight. When I went off of it, I thought I would lose everything I gained, but I actually had to diet, etc. to get the weight off. But again, it's totally different for everyone.

Kassandra

[CarlaB]

Kassandra, they don't really regulate your period ... the period with the Pill is false. There are even some pills that you can stay on for months at a time with no periods. It will seem more regular.