After the Pill: Side Effects of Stopping Birth Control

After the Pill: Side Effects of Stopping Birth Control

Birth control pills are among the most common birth control measures adopted by couples. They are highly effective and will keep you from getting pregnant for as long as you take them. However, they come with a few side effects.  Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here

You will experience some of these side effects once you stop taking the birth control pills. In order to understand that, you will need to understand how birth control pills work.

Birth Control Pills

These pills are usually made up of synthetic hormones. These hormones work to make sure that the hormones required for pregnancy are not produced. When you start taking them, you will experience a few side effects because your body is trying to adjust to these new hormones.

When you stop taking them too, your body will take time to go back to its previous state and this is why you experience side effects. It can take a few months for your body to bounce back to normal. Thus, you should not panic if you can’t get pregnant immediately after stopping birth control pills.

Possible side effects include:

Acne

Sometimes, acne is caused due to higher androgen levels in the body. When there is more androgen, oil production in the skin goes up. When you take the birth control pills, your acne will be under check because the synthetic estrogen balances the natural androgen levels.

Once you stop, there is imbalance and the levels of androgen go up, this is why you may experience acne. Hair growth is another side effect.

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. Don’t worry because this is normal. Since your body is trying to come back to its normal state, no menstruation after stopping birth control pills is actually extremely normal.

However, you should know that you would start having your periods within six months of stopping the use of birth control pills. If you don’t have periods even after half a year, there is a problem. You should go to the doctor and he will give you medication for hormone stimulation.

Irregular Menses

If you are lucky, your fertility will come right back after stopping the use of birth control pills. However, your menstrual cycles may be irregular. They may be lighter or darker than they used to be and they may not last for the average twenty-eight days. They may be longer or shorter than usual. You will usually experience this if you used to have irregular periods before taking the pills.

Other Side Effects

Other side effects include changes in the sex drive, in your weight, and in your appetite upon stopping birth control pills. Not all side effects will affect everybody. Everybody is different and while these are the general side effects, you may experience only a few. Some women don’t experience anything at all.

Conclusion

You need to give your body some time to bounce back. You can’t rush your body because changes are carried out at the hormonal body. There is no need to stress out and worry if you don’t get your period or have irregular menses for a while. If the side effects are prolonged though, you should see the doctor.

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Maureen Stephens, BS, RN
Maureen Stephens, BS, RN | ConceiveEasy
Ms. Stephens has spent over twenty years in the healthcare world, specializing in obstretical and medical/surgical nursing. She joined ConceiveEasy as she has a strong interest in educating and empowering women and promoting fertility awareness.

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