First time poster, question about stopping the pill.

[bellekitsune.livejournal.com]

So, I have recently realized that I have been on birth control for over 5 years. Non stop. I am considering stopping it for a few months. Just to take a break, you know?
It just feels... wrong to be under the influence of these hormones for SUCH a long time. What is everyone's opinion on this?

Here are a few things to consider in my case:

I am already on a low-hormone pill.
I have a history of bad cramps. The pill helps a bit.
I have had one case of ovarian cysts (that ruptured and so I ended up having emergency surgery). The doctor told me that staying on birth control could help it from happening again, however I was already on birth control when it happened. So that confuses me a bit.

Any opinions would be appreciated :)

Comments

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Personally, I'm a big fan of just knowing what your body is like naturally. I'm in the process of growing out my pit hair, just because I don't really know what it looks like when I don't shave, and that seems fucking weird. Knowing what you're like without HBC could be beneficial in that you will have a good reminder of whether or not you're experiencing side effects.

Given the cyst thing though, you might want to talk it over with a doc first, just in case.

[chiyo-no-saru.livejournal.com]

I... also have no idea what my armpit hair looks like. Hmmm.

I agree about the going off HBC for a period--I did, and it was hellish, but I'm absolutely glad I did because it helped me learn my own cycles and symptoms and better know how to regulate them and see how the HBC was actually affecting them.

[cailin-t.livejournal.com]

i'm with you - i couldn't fuck with my body like that. i've never been on hormonal bc and i personally would never try it. that being the case, i have no useful advice for you because i don't know much regarding the specifics of bc, not needing to personally.

[jenn-possible.livejournal.com]

There isn't a medical reason why you would need to take a break from the pill; it's perfectly safe to be on it long-term. But if you would just like to see what your body does w/o the influence of HBC, that's a perfectly okay reason to go off the pill for a few months. That said, it might take a few months for your body to readjust to not being on the pill, so you might experience weirdness during those months that won't happen later.

[frecklestars.livejournal.com]

I've also been on hormonal birth control for a long time (seven years) and have never taken a break either (I also have a history of ovarian cysts). My reasons for not doing so:

• when I'm not on hormones, I can't function for 3-4 days out of the month
• I have yet to find a condom that doesn't upset my cunt
• I'm in a committed relationship and not ready for babies

Your reasons, to me, sound plenty good to stay on hormonal bc. I'd seriously consider whether I were feeling guilty because of peer pressure to get off hbc, or whether I had personal uncomfortableness with being on it. The reason I bring this up is because quite a few of my feminist friends are of the opinion that hbc is wrong, messing with your system and such. They have made various snide comments about my use of it, etc, and while I'm sick of hearing it, that's not a valid enough reason for me.

So, weight the pros and cons. Is it worth it to you to have the cramps in order to know your body? Is it worth it to risk cysts getting worse (mine improved greatly after being on hbc; they've put me in the hospital twice previously)? There is a chance they might not, but that chance they might...that's enough of a reason for me. Is it for you?

(Also, please note, I don't mean to make it sound like I think you'd be a total idiot for getting off hbc. I don't think that. Just wanted to point out things that could happen, what-if the situation to death, you know...the usual.)

[bellekitsune.livejournal.com]

The cysts were a one-time isolated incident, I don't have cysts regularly.
I've never heard of the feminist 'anti-birth control' peer pressure thing until now. It sounds pretty awful that people actually judge others for choosing hormonal birth control. I am not against it at all just to make it clear.
I just feel like I haven't known what my body naturally does since I was 18. I feel like I might be experiencing long term side effects from these years of taking the pill, like constant fatigue and change in libido.

[frecklestars.livejournal.com]

My apologies I misunderstood about the cysts; since mine have been around for years and years, I assume they're an ongoing thing and forget some people have better luck. :P I gather that the feminist anti-bc is not a common stance. I've just been...blessed to know such people. heh

If you're experiencing effects, like I said, I'd weigh the pros and cons. Hormonal bc is not good for everyone, so if it's not good for you, do what's better. *hug*

[archangelbeth]

While you're at it -- because this is my pet hobby-horse -- check your thyroid levels (TSH, free T3, and free T4; get the numbers and never trust a verbal "oh, normal"!) and maybe cortisol levels (again, get the numbers; some people ignore "sub-clinical" till it's life-threatening on that stuff, apparently). Constant fatigue has some potential sources that are, indeed, hormonal -- but not HBC hormonal.

[dayglow.livejournal.com]

Unless you're planning on going off it for a long time (6+ months, probably) then it's likely less irritating to your body to just stay on the pill, especially since you didn't state any reason to get off it besides 'I feel weird about it'. If you go off it for say, 3 months, your body will barely have time to readjust to a regular cycle before you throw HBC back into it again and then you get to go through another adjustment period.