Here Are 5 Possible Side Effects of Quitting Hormonal Birth Control
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Hormonal birth control can work wonders by regulating your cycle, relieving period cramps and heavy bleeding, and clearing up acne. But if your time with the pill or IUD hasn’t gone so smoothly due to unwanted side effects, you’re considering hormone-free BC options, or want to get pregnant, it’s normal to be a little worried about what could happen when you quit.
With that being said, there are some people that are actually recommended to stop using a hormonal birth control method. People at risk for medical complications while taking an estrogen and progesterone birth control pill include those who are over 35 years and smoke cigarettes, have high blood pressure (hypertension), those with estrogen sensitive cancers such as breast cancer, have a history of blood clots, strokes or heart disease, are pregnant or have migraines with aura, says Sherry Ross, M.D., women’s sexual health expert, author of She-ology and the She-quel. She adds that “if you have been diagnosed with menopause you should stop taking the birth control pill.”
Here’s how to go off hormonal birth control and what side effects to expect, according to ob/gyns.
How to safely get off birth control
Whether you’re using the pill, ring, or patch, you can stop whenever you want under the guidance of your healthcare provider. There’s no need to wait until you reach the end of a pack unless you want to make it easier to predict when your next period may be, says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale Medical School.
To have an implant or IUD taken out, you’ll just need to schedule an appointment with your doctor. Removal of an implant is similar to insertion—you’ll be given a shot to numb your arm, then they’ll make a small cut to take it out. You might have a sore arm for a few days afterwards, according to Planned Parenthood.
Typically, IUD removal is less uncomfortable or painful compared to insertion, though you might experience some cramping. Complications are rare but possible, so seek help immediately if you notice that you have a fever, chills, heavy bleeding, or extreme mood swings afterwards.
What to expect when you quit hormonal birth control
Know that it could take some time for your body to adjust to life without BC. Without hormones to regulate your cycle, your periods will likely return to what they were like before you started, notes Jessica Shepherd, M.D., an OB/GYN at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Any side effects that drove you to stop taking BC should fade relatively fast. “If you just stop the pill or remove the ring you’ve been using, your symptoms should be gone quickly, certainly within a couple of weeks,” says Dr. Minkin. One exception is the depo shot. Though the shot itself is effective as birth control for three months at a time, “symptoms can last for several more beyond that,” Dr. Minkin notes.
If you were using the pill for more regular, and lighter periods, controlling acne, balancing hormones, helping with symptoms related to Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), hormonal migraines, pain caused by endometriosis, or for protecting against ovarian cancer and anemia, you should definitely consult your doctor before deciding to quit your BC. Because once you stop the pill, you can expect these symptoms to return within 1 to 3 months, says Dr. Ross.
If you’re concerned about lingering issues or notice persistent or worsening menstrual cramps or an irregular or super heavy flow, contact your doctor. Sometimes, underlying conditions like endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) could be to blame and symptoms may worsen post-BC, adds Alyssa Dweck, M.D., a gynecologist based in Westchester County, New York and sexual and reproductive health expert for Intimina.
Here are a few potential side effects that could arise after you quit hormonal BC:
1.You could get pregnant
It’s important to know that, contrary to the common misconception that it takes your body a while to remove birth control from your system, you could get pregnant immediately after stopping, says Dr. Dweck. In fact, one in five women could become pregnant as soon as one cycle after they quit BC, according to a study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. If your partner has a penis, make sure you’re prepared for a possible pregnancy or have other contraception methods like condoms ready to go.
2. PMS might make a comeback
If you struggled with symptoms of premenstrual syndrome like tender breasts, mood swings, or painful cramps before your period when you were off BC, they could come right back when you stop. That’s because the hormones that regulate your cycle and often relieve these symptoms are no longer there to do their job, says Dr. Shepherd. With the return of hormonal shifts, you might also experience premenstrual migraines due to a dip in estrogen just before your period starts.
3. Your periods may be off schedule
After you stop BC, your period might go back to normal fast or it could be irregular for a few months as your body adjusts to the absence of extra hormones. But if it’s been three months and you still haven’t gotten your period, contact your doctor to sort out what’s going on, per the Mayo Clinic.
4. Your periods may get heavier
In order to prevent pregnancy, BC suppresses ovulation and stops the release of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins and other inflammatory chemicals which typically contribute to heavy bleeding and cramping during your period, says Dr. Shepherd. “Therefore, when you’re off birth control, the normal process of cycles is restored—which usually means bleeding and pain come back,” she says.
5. You may not get your period at all
When you stop hormonal birth control, absence of a period, also known as amenorrhea, is another common possible symptom, says Dr. Ross. Missing your period altogether might sound scary, especially if you’re not trying to get pregnant, but don’t panic if your period tracker isn’t as reliable as before.
According to Mayo Clinic, the pill prevents your body from making hormones involved in ovulation and menstruation. When you stop taking the pill, it can take some time for your body to start producing these hormones again. If you don't have a period within three months, take a pregnancy test to make sure you’re not pregnant and then see your doctor.
6. You may have acne flare-ups
If you were initially prescribed BC to treat hormonal acne or noticed it helped your face clear up, your skin woes could return when you stop. Hormones in BC help relieve acne by decreasing levels of androgens, sex hormones in your body like testosterone, which make your skin more oily, notes Geeta Patel, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of River Oaks Dermatology based in Houston.
However, there are non-hormonal options available like topical treatments including retinoids and face cleansing gels plus prescription medications such as spironolactone (Aldactone), an off-label treatment that can be extremely effective for adult acne, says Melanie Palm, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor at the University of California at San Diego. To clear up breakouts, connect with a dermatologist for a personalized skincare regimen, she says.
7. Your libido could change
Some women say birth control lowers their sex drive, possibly due to reduced levels of testosterone circulating through the body and the loss of natural peaks and valleys of sex hormones with the suppression of ovulation, notes Dr. Dweck. In this sense, one positive side effect of quitting BC could be a higher libido.
That said, others say their libido goes up on the pill due to factors like a lighter flow and the security that comes with contraception, says Dr. Dweck. Since stress is a known mood-killer, make sure you’ve got alternative contraception methods if need be so you can fully reap the benefits of a potential rise in sex drive.
8. You may experience some hair loss
If you feel like your hair might be feeling a little bit lack-luster, or you notice that your tresses are thinning, you’re not alone. Hair loss is also a common symptom you may face when you decide to quit hormonal BC, says Dr. Ross.
According to Donovan Medical Hair Clinic, stopping birth control can be associated with hair shedding. And for many individuals, the shedding occurs within 4-8 weeks after stopping birth control and eventually shedding returns to normal within 9-12 months and hair density returns to normal as well. Some studies have even shown that there may be a causal relationship between stopping estrogen and hair loss.
9. Your blood pressure may change
High blood pressure is a common side effect of taking hormonal birth control, particularly types that contain estrogen, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. With that being said, not everyone will experience changes in blood pressure while on birth control, or at least not any noticeable increases that were flagged during your last check-up. Still, if you notice any dips in your blood pressure in the months following you stopping your hormonal birth control, this may be why.
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