What happens if I stop taking the birth control pills?
The changes that women notice when they stop drinking birth control pills They vary greatly from one to another, depending on the constitution of each one, the individual tolerance to the medication, the indication for which the treatment was started and the reason why it was terminated.
What Happens If I Stop Taking birth control Pills Suddenly
The first question that some have about the birth control pills, is if it can be left without more and at what time treatment can be stopped. Ideally, finish it at the end of a blister for better cycle control. But really the rule with is a rule caused by the suspension of the intake of hormones (estrogens and progesterone) that contraceptives have, so treatment can be terminated at any moment always keeping in mind that the rule will appear after a few days. This is the same for pill, vaginal ring and patch contraceptives, since they all have the same hormones, but the route of administration varies.
What symptoms can we notice
- Some women notice a weight gain with treatment for increased hunger and increased fluid retention and appearance of. At the end of the pills in a few months these symptoms usually disappear and some weight is usually lost.
- On the other hand, if treatment has been started for a few irregular rules These usually reappear after stopping taking the pills since they produced regular periods when the ovaries were left at rest and produced the appearance of menstrual bleeding when taking the placebo pills or taking rest due to the decrease in the intake of hormones. Being a constant taking of 21 or 24 days of treatment and four to seven days of rest, the rule appeared regularly every 28 days.
- Contraceptives Current doses are usually very low doses and therefore they stimulate very little the endometrium, which is the innermost layer of the womb and the one that peels off with the rule. As the endometrium is very little stimulated, the amount of flow and therefore menstrual pain tend to decrease a lot and when treatment is interrupted, women report a increased menstrual bleeding and pain with menstruation.
- Oral contraceptives are also called anovulatory because they inhibit ovulation to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. But when you stop the treatment, ovulations reappear and, therefore, mid-menstrual cycle it is usually noticed more abdominal pain and a more mucous discharge (as egg white), which is produced with ovulation. After natural ovulation, the ovaries produce an increase in the progesterone which is responsible for premenstrual syndrome. As the ovaries are not inhibited by the action of the contraceptive treatment, progesterone increases its level in the blood the two weeks before the rule, producing a increased breast pain, mood swings, fluid retention, that is to say the whole picture of premenstrual syndrome.
In case of polycystic ovary ...
The ovaries that are not inhibited by the action of contraceptive treatments, in some cases such as those of the syndrome, produce a increased amount of male hormonesas, that is testosterone. This hormone increases the oiliness of the skin and therefore the most oily and prone to acne. In addition, testosterone stimulates the growth of body hair and especially facial hair, so that when the treatment is interrupted, a increased skin oil, acne and hair, with the unpleasant aesthetic consequences.
And what about libido?
Libido or sexual desire has a strong hormonal component so it is usually more important in the middle of the cycle coinciding with ovulation and decreases in menopause as a result of the decrease in estrogens. With the birth control pills estrogen pulses are not produced and therefore sexual desire tends to decrease. But when stopping medication these pulses are resumed and libido increases. Another side effect that can occur with contraceptives and that women often report improvement leaving them is the vaginal dryness. It is common for women to report progressive vaginal dryness with anovulatory drugs, especially with sexual intercourse. When the treatment is interrupted, the vaginal mucosa returns to produce more mucus and therefore improves the possible lack of lubrication.
Fertility
Finally, women often wonder when they will be fertile again after stopping birth control pills. It is highly variable and depends a lot on the basic fertility of each patient rather than on treatment with anovulatory drugs, although it is true that some women take a few months in having regular periods and with normal ovulations in the middle of the cycle.
- The changes a woman notices when she stops taking oral contraceptives vary a lot from one to another.
- When stopping treatment, women report an increase in menstrual bleeding and pain with their period.
- The theme of when will they be fertile again It worries many women, and it is true that some take a few months to have regular periods and with normal ovulations in the middle of the cycle.
- Before taking contraceptives it is best consult with your gynecologist. The insurances have a wide medical staff in gynecology and obstetrics, who will be able to perform all the necessary tests to choose the most appropriate treatment.
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(Updated at Apr 15 / 2024)