What are your "side effects" of going off BCP?

[tarheels]

What's changed with you since going off BCP?

My symptom's back-ne and it's out of control. My back looks like a 15 year old boy's face +o( I have a salicylic acid body spray in the mail, but if it doesn't work, I'm going to have to go a dermatologist, it's that bad. Thank the good Lord in heaven that it's not my face!! My face isn't as smooth and clear anymore (we called them "dirt bumps" growing up - I don't know what you call them when they aren't zits but aren't smooth), but I can deal with that and be thankful.

You?

[blindyswife]

I suppose if you try to look on the bright side.... at least it's winter so you're probably not wearing bathing suits and tank tops? Hopefully it will clear up soon, tar!

[tarheels]

It gets way worse around O because of the estrogen surge. Sexxxy!

[FastHands]

my face is a hot mess, but my back is ok. I would so be willing to trade. lol

[lo]

I get ovarian cysts. Ugh!! I really miss my BCP!

[pooh8402]

Fewer mood swings and my hair is MUCH curlier. like my stylist noticed and I've completely changed how I approach haircare. My periods are slightly shorter but much less predictable, obvs. Other than that, no real changes.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using proboards

[VillainV]

I had bleeding gums and my hair started shedding like crazy.

Otherwise, my periods were about the same as they had been on the pill (4-5 days and light-to-medium) instead of going back to the way they were before I was on BCP (5-7 days of super-heavy flow and horrible cramps).

[Cricket0619]

My nipples felt like they were burning!

Sent from my MB865 using proboards

[winecheery]

My skin was sort of flared up at first (like a few pimples on my chin which I never ever get) but that seems to have been short lived thank God!

I have lost weight recently, so my boobs are less full, but I'm not sure if that's related to the pill. I feel I've been eating the same for the most part...but then I wondered if it was the change in hormones. I'm the same bra size, but less filled out for sure. And my body feels less poofy overall.

My moods were pretty awful at first, and the other month I had awful PMS, like I was exhausted and crying at nothing. So weird and not what I'm used to.

But luckily, this is it so far! Periods are 4-5 days max and besides the first one off bcp, they are not too heavy either.

I was most worried about my skin though, I'd heard things...sorry tar that is so yucky, poor thing I'd def see a dr. too. But I'm impatient and demand things.

[lauree1183]

I feel like my sex drive has gone up I pretty much never used to initiate, and now most of the time I'm the one initiating. DH loves it. I have a period now, never had one on the pill. But pre-pill it was 4-5 days. These days it's never more than 3 days. Cramps also aren't as bad as they were pre-pill. I also started charting it and love the freedom that FAM has given us and I'm pretty sure I will never go back on the pill again...

[winecheery]

Oh I'll add to lauree's comment I never had a period on the pill either. So I guess that's new lol

[bazinga]

I have only been off the pill for a couple of weeks and haven't noticed anything different. Before BC I used to get bad cramps and have heavy and irregular periods so I'm nervous that those could return.

[magpie]

I've had worse cramps, but nowhere near as bad as I remember cramps being from way back before the pill. I think my sex drive is better and my, uh, sexual response has been better too. My face is a little more broken out too, though not as bad as I was fearing (I had really bad acne as a teen and it didn't really get under control until I went in the pill when I was 15).

[cincodemayo]

I lost like 10 pounds in 2 weeks after going off BC-which was about 6% of my body weight, it was insane.

BUT, as you say, the bacne came back. Its' been slowly clearing up. My face also broke out a little more, especially on my jaw line.

I've actually experienced a little more mood swings-but I've been more stressed too.

[ashleyp728]

I have to agree that my periods are MUCH shorter and easier to deal with since going off, they seem a lit lighter. And the sex drive, WAY up!

On the negative side though, my face is a hot mess. Not really anything I can't cover with make up but eww. I also seem to cry over things a bit more now, but I'm not sure if that's really BC related.

[purplecow0206]

I'm still in my first post-BCP cycle, and I feel much more in control of my emotions, and my boobs HURT! We'll see what happens with the length of my cycle in the next few weeks.

[glauren]

I've been off BCP since October of 2010 because it was making me crazy - so all my side effects have been good! Lighter/shorter periods, less anxiety, higher sex drive. Win/win/win!

[dukesilver]

My skin is horrible now that I'm off BCP :-( :-( . I always struggled with acne and nothing ever worked for me but BCP. Other than that, nothing really seems different.

[littlemisschatty]

Nothing at all, Thank God!!!!

[jewel]

I had no acne on BCP, and now get a good amount, especially in the middle of my cycle.

Longer, heavier, more painful periods.

My migraines have completely gone away, which is almost worth the negatives.

[kelle017]

I didn't really notice any change post bc. My periods got a little lighter and shorter, but they weren't that bad before.

[KaraOrNot]

I have been off it so long, I can't remember - lol!

[awick14]

I never had cramps before taking BCP. Now they can get bad.

I do get more breakouts now. (Come to think of it I never had breakouts before, I was wry lucky)

[bunchkie]

I'm breaking out more and my smell has totally increased significantly. This is bad when you are working with middle schoolers.

[bonkers412]

My skin is a wreck. I have cramps/ headaches/ nausea during o which I obviously didn't have on Bc. PMS is worse too. I basically feel crappy for half the month now?!

I didn't think I would..... but, man, I miss bc. Except for the not getting pg part.

[aliciar6]

ovarian cysts, crazy cycles, migraines, my skin is more oily too...i have zits, i haven't had zits in ages.

also lately i've been nauseous for the past week and a half pretty much every day all day. and i went off the pill back in mid september.