Ladies, this one is for you. Sorry men, but this is a very important subject that we have to discuss over on www.ameliaphillips.com.au.
You’re probably aware of all the changes that can happen to your body when you go on the Pill – lighter periods, fewer cramps, almost no pregnancy scares. But what about when you go off of it? Whether you’re getting off birth control to get pregnant or just because you don’t need it right now, you’re probably curious about any changes that may come with going pill-free.
Find out how going off hormonal birth control can affect your body, but keep in mind that these symptoms may vary from woman to woman.
Heavier Periods and Worse Cramps
A lot of women go on the Pill just to avoid raging PMS and menstrual cramps, and you must know that they will come back once you get off the Pill. This is because the Pill elevates the levels of progesterone and estrogen so to stop your body from ovulating, which is what causes the discomfort around that time of the month. So when your body starts ovulating again, the pain and mood swings will return.
Lose a Little Weight
“Science shows that a third of women lose weight, a third gain weight, and a third stay the same when on the pill,” writes Alyssa Dweck, M.D., in her book V is For Vagina. When you go on the Pill, your body goes through a hormonal change, a change in appetite, water retention and such, which may result in weight gain. But you may notice that you will drop a few kilos when you stop the birth control, most of which is water retention.
Breasts May Deflate a Tiny Bit
If your boobs grew on birth control—thanks to the progesterone and estrogen components—they may shrink back to their original size when you get off the Pill.
Sex Drive May Improve
The biggest complain women have with the Pill is that it kills their sex drive, while this might not affect every women, getting off it definitely helps the libido come back to life! Some women have lower testosterone levels on the Pill, and because they don’t ovulate, it can affect their sex drive. Also, gynaecologists say that some women also experience vaginal dryness on birth control, which also stops when you get off the Pill.
PMS Symptoms Might Get Worse
If your PMS was the most painful to deal with every month, get ready for that to return. Doctors say that if you were already moody when you were on the pill chances are you will still be moody off of it. Any headaches, breast tenderness, food cravings, and other symptoms you experienced prior to being on birth control may come back as well.
Actually Feel or See Yourself Ovulating
For some women, ovulation isn’t just a blur of a monthly activity each month, it’s a fairly obvious one. When you’re off the birth control, during ovulation, women may feel discomfort for a few hours on a daily basis, see an increased vaginal secretion that are clear and may even feel a little more aroused. In fact, these are all cues that some women look for if they’re trying to get pregnant.
That Dreaded Acne May Come Back
Some women choose to go on birth control to control their acne. Sadly, the downside of going off birth control can is that your skin might break out again. This is because when you’re on the Pill, your testosterone levels go down which prevents breakouts. But it goes up when you go off of it, and as a result, acne returns. See a dermatologist if it gets worse.
Have you gone off the Pill recently or in the past? What side affects fit you experience?
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