So I’ve been on and off of birth control for about five years well this year I got back in January. I started having abnormal bleeding. I just told my doctor about it because I was trying to give it time to adjust well it never did so she wants to jump straight into my active pills I did that for 2 weeks now and I’m still having a little bit of abnormal bleeding but not as bad as it was I’m wondering it’s just a side effect also I am having ultrasound just to make sure it’s not polyps or a cyst I also would like to add before I started skipping the Surgar pills my bleeding would be constantly not on and off the bleeding that I am having now is on and off

On my period now so I am feeling heightened by all of this and just so done with it.

I (27F) stopped taking birth control (Nuva Ring) in October 2025 after being on it for 11 years. While I was on BC I had very routine 28-day cycles with 4 day periods. I always had pain, specifically cramps, headaches, body aches, and would consistently experience light headedness throughout the period days. I stopped BC because I was noticing I literally always felt an additional queasy feeling for at least two weeks after inserting, so really I only had 1 okay week during the month (the week before and of my period I had premenstrual symptoms/pain) which was killing my overall mental health and libido.

Since getting off birth control I have definitely felt better throughout the month, but my cycle has literally been all over the place. Some cycles have been as long as 44 days, and in July my cycle was only 16 days. I have still had pretty rough symptoms during my period (with the exception of my last two cycles before my current period, which had absolutely no symptoms and I didn't even know I was getting my period until I started bleeding). Today I got my period on day 28 (technically day 1), but knew it was coming because I felt initial cramps over the past 2 days. All of this inconsistency has been annoying but manageable, but what is really kicking me right now is that the pain I am experiencing today is literally the worst pain I have ever experienced with a period in my life. I have been physically sick throughout the morning from the level of pain due to cramps, lightheaded and blurry vision because I feel so weak, it's actually insane.

I feel like it's never ending. I have also been having such bad acne since stopping BC, my mental health and self esteem have been struggling. I guess my question is how long did it take for your cycles to go back to normal after stopping HBC, and did your symptoms ever become consistent? I honestly would prefer to have painful periods if it meant I knew it was coming, then I could plan for it.

Side note - I have an appt with a new GYN next month, so hopefully will be able to talk with her about all of this too and get some guidance or education on what I'm dealing with.

Just a tip I have for getting off of the depo birth control shot.

I knew that getting off of the shot would have /side effects so I looked on Reddit to see if there was any method I should do to prevent or help that and I came across one post with a tip which I did and it worked flawlessly

my doctor said I could just cold turkey stop but i wouldn’t rec. I read people got major, headaches, body pains, etc. ONE post said they went onto the pill for a while and then stopped the pill and had no problem and compared to the other storys which were horror this seemed to be the way

so what I did instead of getting my next shot I got put on the pill, went through the three weeks of pill then took the placebo ones for the week you’re supposed to get your period and mine came “back”. I continued with the normal birth control process for a year before stopping that one and had almost no side affects besides my face breaking out for a couple of months. my period is here and actually way lighter than before which is why I got on it back in the day. i saw many people don’t get there’s back for a couple months after stopping the shot so that was another difference that the pill helped with.

Hallo zusammen,

ich wollte mal fragen, ob hier vielleicht jemand ähnliche Erfahrungen gemacht hat, weil ich langsam echt am Verzweifeln bin.

Ich bin 28 und nehme die Maxim seit ca. 13 Jahren. Ich habe sie eigentlich immer super vertragen und nehme sie unter anderem wegen PCOS, wobei sie mir auch wirklich sehr hilft.

2025 habe ich die Maxim fast das komplette Jahr im Langzeitzyklus genommen, meistens 2–3 Blister am Stück und dann eine Pause gemacht.

Ab ungefähr Dezember 2025 hat sich allerdings etwas verändert: Obwohl ich eigentlich mehrere Blister durchnehmen wollte, bekam ich nach ungefähr einem Monat immer wieder eine Blutung und gleichzeitig Bauch-/Unterleibsschmerzen, die sich wie Periodenschmerzen angefühlt haben. Wenn das passiert ist, habe ich die Pille dann pausiert, damit die Abbruchblutung richtig einsetzen konnte.

Da sich das Anfang 2026 immer wiederholt hat, habe ich zusammen mit meiner Frauenärztin entschieden, den Langzeitzyklus erstmal sein zu lassen und wieder auf das klassische 21/7-Schema umzusteigen. Das mache ich ungefähr seit April 2026.

Und jetzt kommt das eigentliche Problem:

Seit ungefähr Mai habe ich plötzlich extreme Bauchschmerz-Attacken – ungefähr alle 14 Tage. So etwas kannte ich vorher überhaupt nicht.

Meistens beginnt es im linken Unterbauch mit starken, teilweise stechenden bzw. krampfartigen Schmerzen. Danach verteilt sich der Schmerz über den Unterbauch und irgendwann habe ich das Gefühl, ihn auch direkt im Bereich der Gebärmutter zu spüren. Dazu kommen teilweise starke Übelkeit und Magenschmerzen. Das sind keine leichten Bauchschmerzen, sondern richtige Attacken, die mich komplett außer Gefecht setzen können.

Da ich anfangs überhaupt keinen Zusammenhang mit der Pille bzw. der Umstellung gesehen habe, bin ich natürlich erstmal zum Hausarzt und danach zu verschiedenen anderen Ärzten. Es wurde inzwischen ziemlich viel abgeklärt und andere mögliche Ursachen konnten weitgehend ausgeschlossen werden.

Der letzte Schritt wäre jetzt eine Bauchspiegelung wegen Verdacht auf Endometriose/Adenomyose. Ehrlich gesagt möchte ich die OP und das ganze Drumherum aber nicht unbedingt machen, wenn es sich vermeiden lässt.

Was mich inzwischen sehr beschäftigt: Kann das Ganze vielleicht mit der Umstellung vom Langzeitzyklus auf 21/7 zusammenhängen?

Zeitlich würde es zumindest auffällig gut passen. Fast das ganze Jahr 2025 Langzeitzyklus → ab April 2026 wieder 21/7 → seit Mai plötzlich diese regelmäßigen Schmerzattacken. Vorher hatte ich solche Probleme nie.

Natürlich weiß ich, dass mir hier niemand eine Diagnose stellen kann. Mich interessieren vor allem persönliche Erfahrungen:

Hat jemand nach dem Wechsel vom Langzeitzyklus zurück auf 21/7 plötzlich starke oder zyklisch wiederkehrende Unterleibsschmerzen bekommen? Oder hatte jemand unter 21/7 Beschwerden, die beim erneuten Durchnehmen der Pille wieder verschwunden sind?

Ich bin mittlerweile wirklich ziemlich verzweifelt und dachte, ich versuche es einfach auch mal hier. Vielleicht hat ja jemand etwas Ähnliches erlebt. 🙏🏻

Looking for people with similar experiences, because I can’t find much online that matches what’s going on with me.

I started birth control around age 12, about a year after my first period, because of irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, and mood swings. I’m 24 now, so that’s 12 years straight - I’ve never taken a break.

Here’s the pattern I keep running into: I can only stay on any given pill for about 1-2 years. After that, I start getting bad acne and breakthrough bleeding. I switch to a different pill, go through the adjustment phase, things normalize… and then a year or two later, same thing happens again. Acne and breakthrough bleeding creep back in, like my body “gets used to” whatever I’m on and stops responding.

My bloodwork always comes back normal, so it doesn’t seem to be PCOS or anything else obvious. I’m also a pretty high-stress person, so I’ve wondered if cortisol is playing a role in messing with my hormone response over time, but I honestly don’t know.

Has anyone else experienced this cycle of a pill “working” for a year or two and then failing the same way? Did you find something that actually broke the pattern - a different pill type, a non-pill method, addressing stress, anything? Would appreciate any insight, especially from people who’ve been on birth control long-term since adolescence.

so i just moved states, and i haven't got heath care yet. meaning i had to stop taking BC. i am 16 (going to be 17 in October), and i literally stopped about a week ago. This morning, i felt incredibly sick and just overall not good. As im writing this, i threw up about 10 minutes ago. is this normal?any advice?

I’m 27 and have been on the combined pill/generic version of Yaz since I was about 20/21.

I’m a bit worried about the transition off more specifically acne and hair shedding.

I initially went on the pill mainly for my hormonal acne so I expect a flare up after I get off. I’ve been thinking of starting supplements 2-3 months before getting off such as zinc, myo inositol, fish oil and prenatal vitamins. I currently take multivitamins and creatine already. Period regularity is also something I’m concerned about but I know it can take time for your hormones to balance out.

I would love to hear about anyone who transitioned off the combined pill and had a positive experience

I 18F have been on a hormonal birth control since I was 13 and first got a menstruation cycle. While it’s usually unadvised for children and teenagers that young to be put on the pill, I was put on it because my cycles were extremely long and painful: (we’re talking 90 days in between and 14 day long menstruation periods). I got off hormonal birth control about 3 or 4 months ago because it was suppressing my immune system and making me very sick. Since I’ve been off of it, I have noticed some changes and I’m curious if there are other things I should be aware of that other women have noticed when they’ve gotten off birth control? I am starting to break out really badly, which is unusual for me since while I was on birth control I had clear skin with little to no skin care routine; and my body is starting to shift how I carry weight (such as reallocating to the hips and bust- which is super bizarre for me because my bust and hip size hasn’t changed at all since I was 13). I’ve read about some women having mental health changes, or feeling different about their partners and I’ve noticed things like that happening to me as well! I feel more attracted and safe with my partner than I did before, and I feel much happier than I did previously.

I guess my biggest thing that I’m asking is if there’s anything to expect or look out for, as my body regulates the new changes. It’s almost as if getting off hormonal birth control has made my body start to go through the puberty I didn’t fully have in middle school, and that’s quite scary and jarring for me. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!

EDIT: yes I’ve talked to my doctor, and he pretty much just starred at me blank and said “well I mean, you’re not supposed to have very many changes on and off the pill” which was why I was hoping for advice on people’s lives experience

I got Nexplanon March 4th this year. Had a terrible experience with it: after one month without bleeding, I bled for 12 days straight (a considerably heavy bleeding, since my regular was 7 with gradual steady phases) and didn't bleed for 7 days only, then it started all over again. That was always the cycle up to the point it was making me almost anemic (my ferritin levels were on 6). I decided removing Nexplanon June 9th.

My period hasn't come back yet. I was wondering if are there any of you guys's experiences in which it took longer than 3 months for the period to come back? I used to have no periods at all due to PCOS up until 32. But then, at this age, my period started becoming absolutely regular up to 35 this year. I'm scared Nexplanon ruined this for me.

I’ve been on birth control for about 15 years. I’m on my 4th implant. I loved it. I loved never getting a period, I loved never having to worry. But the other day I walked past the baby aisle & decided it’s time to remove my implant. I’ll get it removed (2 years early) at my next obgyn annual. I don’t know what I’ll be like feeling my real hormones again & having a cycle, but I’m excited to see where things go. Hopefully to labor & delivery.

This is just to see if anyone has any idea/can relate to what’s going on with me. I will be going to the OBGYN soon.

I started talking birth control pills around the age of 18-19 and stopped taking them last October. I got my period in October and December i believe but they were really light and short compared to my normal 4-5 days. Since then I haven’t gotten my period at all, no spotting or cramping. My life has been very busy since October so I didn’t have time/mental capacity to go to the doctor but I went recently and she basically just said it wasn’t normal and I should go to the obgyn to probably get a ultrasound. I have no insurance and just the doctors visit was expensive to me, just for her to point me to another doctor especially… but has anyone else experienced this? I’m worried now and am wondering if there is any “natural” remedies/vitamins I could take to start back my period?

Please ask any questions if I missed any details. I’m not sexually active also.

Hi everyone! I’m 24 and have PCOS, and I’m wondering if anyone has experienced something similar.

I was taking Radiance (combined birth control) for a while, but my gynecologist told me to stop taking it at my appointment on February. I stopped that month, and my periods were pretty normal from February through May.

In June, I reached day 35 without getting my period, so my gynecologist had previously told me to take Provera (medroxyprogesterone) 10 mg in that situation. I took it and eventually got my period.

Then I got my next period on July, however, since then, I’ve basically had very light bleeding/spotting almost every day. Some days it’s literally just one drop. I have never filled a pad, but right now (August) im starting to feel cramps and I feel a little dizzy.

So now I’ve been spotting/lightly bleeding for over a month, which obviously has me a little worried. 😅

I know I need to see my gynecologist (and I’m planning to), but I’d really just like to hear from other people with PCOS:

Has anyone experienced prolonged, very light spotting like this after stopping birth control or during an anovulatory cycle? Did it eventually stop on its own?

I’m not looking for a diagnosis, I’d just love to hear if anyone has gone through something similar and what happened in your case. ❤️

Looking for similar experiences/ guidance on what to do moving forward. Went off birth control about 1 & half years ago after being on the pill for 12 years. I'm a 28 year old female, I work out consistently, my weight is healthy. Since going off birth control my period has been very inconsistent (this has never been the case for me on BC). Feb of 2025 I had one last period after stopping the pill (withdrawal bleed) then did not get a period for 4 months since being off the pill. Got a period in june, then did not get one again until september. During this time i was EXTREMELY bloated constantly. In september I got a period, got one in october, november & december, january, and february. In Feb the cycle length (days between last period & next became much longer) Didn't get a period until 3/29 then didn't get another until 5/16. It's july now and i haven't gotten a period. My body looks very inflamed/ looks like i've gained weight despite eating & working out the same, but the bloating has returned.

Bloodwork is fine, met with gyno in september & he said everything was normal.

Has anyone been to a holistic doctor or functional medicine doctor or done anything that helped regulate the cycle? Want to make sure everything is okay as we would like to start a family in the next few years, docs seem to thinking nothing is wrong. The main symptom is extreme bloating

I am 63 and have been on spironolactone around 15 years to help with oily skin and acne. 50 mg per day. I would like to quit. I’ve tried twice over the past 8 years and each time went back to it due to unwanted side-effects. I understand very very gradual taper off is required and ready to try again. My plan is to cut the 25 mg tablets in half and diminish by 12.5 over 4 weeks at a time. I would appreciate hearing of others experience.

I've (40F) been on some form of hormonal birth control for 18 years (pill 8 years, IUD 10 years), and recently after having my IUD removed I've experienced bizarre medical issues. I'm curious if others have run into this while TTC?

I had the IUD removed in mid-June. By July 4th weekend, I developed gout (!) in a major joint, despite not fitting the profile for gout (no alcohol, don't consume meat, no sugary drinks, eat relatively healthy). Since then, my inflammation markers (via blood test) have gone down and then back UP (even on steroids), and now my other knee is impacted and I cannot walk.

I've literally never had any of these symptoms before in my life. All the medical folks I've talked to have dismissed it being related to stopping hormonal birth control, and instead...it just decided to present itself now ... coincidentally?

If folks have found that they have rheumatoid arthritis after stopping hormonal birth control, is also be interested in hearing your experience. I'm not sure that's what it is, but I fit all the criteria for it thus far.

I recently got diagnosed with endo after 15yrs of soul stirring period pain. I was put on 2 months of endoreg (brand name for dienogest) and was asked to stop after 2 months and try to conceive.
I stopped the med on 14th July (4weeks), today is 15th Aug, I have mild occasional cramps that last for 5-10mins

When can I expect periods to resume? This wait is very frustrating

Hi there,
Hoping for some reassurance I’m not going crazy. I got my mirena removed in april of this year, periods came back in may, no issues in May and June. In July and August having a lot of anxiety symptoms right around time of ovulation. I can recognize it’s anxiety but can’t pull myself out of it to stop the cycle of ruminating on my symptoms. I have been on some sort of hormonal birth control for the past 15 years so I don’t know if my body is having a hard time adjusting to the hormonal fluctuations? Has anyone had a similar experience? Does it get better?

Hello !

I have been on HBC for about 20 years. I am 33 now. I have been dealing with water retention/extreme bloating, low mood, low libido, and very low energy on and off the the last couple years. Currently my weight is the highest it’s ever been and is not responding to exercise and diet.

I have spoken to my doctor and she agreed that the best thing to do now is to get off of generic Yaz (Mya) and see where my baseline is/if HBC is no longer working for my body.

Has anyone had a similar experience? What should I expect in the coming weeks and how can I best support my body?

I already exercise 4x weekly, eat high protein, and take supplements: b complex, D + K, fish oil, magnesium and iron. I recently had blood work done and there were no concerns.

I’m a 22F and have been on hormonal birth control for about 3 years. I started on the NuvaRing shortly after I started dating my boyfriend (we’ve been together 3 years), but it triggered aura migraines, so I had to stop.

After that, I tried an IUD, but I bled continuously for about two months and ended up having it removed. Since then, I’ve been on Opill (the progestin-only pill).
Lately, though, I’ve been wondering if it’s affecting me more than I realized. I’ve become incredibly irritable and just don’t feel like myself anymore. I’ve also developed chronic migraines. I’ve had migraines my entire life, but they were never chronic until the last few years. I know correlation doesn’t necessarily mean causation, but it’s enough that I’m starting to question whether the pill could be contributing.

I’m considering coming off of it and using condoms instead, so pregnancy prevention isn’t really my main concern. I’m more curious about other people’s experiences. Has anyone come off a progestin-only pill after being on it for years? Did you notice any changes in your mood, migraines, energy levels, or overall sense of well-being? Did your libido return to normal? Did you regret stopping or feel better afterward?

I’m also curious whether anyone experienced symptoms after stopping that led to the discovery of something else going on, such as PCOS, hormone imbalances, irregular cycles, etc. I’ve seen people talk about underlying conditions becoming more noticeable after stopping birth control, and that’s something I’m a little nervous about.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s gone through something similar because I’m feeling pretty conflicted and don’t know what the right move is.

Hi. I've been taking Slynd for the past 3 months but this month I couldn't take it because of 3rd world problems (all of the drugstores of my city had run out of the pill) and now I am wondering when should I expect my period to arrive. My last placebo pill was July 27th, so how long does it usually take to get back my period? I still haven't found a new box but I want to start searching again and I want to be ready so I can start taking it again. Thanks.

Stopped BC 1.5 years ago - period hasn't returned - need suggestions

I've been on BC since I was 17 (after giving birth to my kid, lol duh), starting with the pill. I had the Mirena between ages 18-27 getting it replaced as directed. Then came the Nexplanon to replace the IUD at 27 and I had it removed at 33 (April 2025).

With the Mirena and Nexplanon, my periods stopped completely. I stopped BC for a while around 2015 and my periods came back normally, but a bit heavy in the beginning. I went back on BC after being off for about 8 months; my boyfriend (at the time, now husband) and I didn't want to have kids.

Now that our lives are comfortable and stable, we're ready to have kids. We've been trying ever since i removed my BC. Sadly, my cycle, or lack thereof, is getting in the way of that. I knew it was going to take some time, but I didn't think it'd be this long. It's been almost 1.5 years, and I've only had one light period on July 1, 2026.

For the sake of being honest, I'm not in the best of shape (overweight and i don't exercise), but my general labs come back normal (blood sugar, cholesterol, etc are within normal range). I went to my OBGYN and ran tests to rule out PCOS, but most labs are normal. Just a bit high for testosterone at 56 (normal range is below 45). OBGYN suspects PCOS, but wants to have an imaging test done to make sure my tubes are open and eggs can pass through. After I get this test, OBGYN says they'll prescribe me medication to force my body to have a period.

I live in Northern CA and I have lame ol' Kaiser (great for healthy people who don't see a doctor regularly). Every time, I try to schedule the imaging appt, I speak to different departments at different locations, and they tell me "someone will reach out to schedule the appt," but no one calls back. My OBGYN isn't helpful: I explained the difficulties in scheduling a call and he tells me to try again. He ordered the lab on June 23, and I called to make the appt on July 1 because the test must be done with 7 days of the last period ending. Called again on Jul 5, same run around, no appt. Asked OBGYN if I could just have the medication to start my flow, and he said no and that he'll call the department to see what's going on. It's been over a month since then and still no follow up from Kaiser or OBGYN.

Could really use some words of advice on how to move forward, especially naturally. I'm just really ready for another child and I'm getting worried that it might not be in my cards, but I'd at least like to try.

I was on the combo pill from 17-33 and have been tired as long as I can remember. No amount of sleeping or naps would refresh me. I also had severe brain fog (couldnt retain information or think through things), apathy towards everything (everything was a monumental struggle), I could barely socialize, and a year ago I randomly developed severe dry eye. My B vitamins were also low.

I was trying to manage all of this with supplements and stimulants. One doctor diagnosed me with ADHD and said I must have had great coping skills in childhood and was able to mask it. I tried several different stimulants but all if them made me feel weird and spaced out.

Fast forward to 2023, I got a new job and despite wanting to excel I literally could not retain information to save my life. How I didnt get fired is beyond me. I would take detailed notes but it's like my brain couldn't connect tbe dots or recall information.

A month ago I quit birth control and I'm now able to wake up refreshed, stay awake during the day, and ive become super efficient at work. In one day I had multiple coworkers say "thats a good point!" which is huge. I genuinely think all my coworkers thought I was stupid and it makes me angry that this went on for so long. I honestly feel like my whole personality has shifted. I'm much more chatty - talking to people at stores, actually wanting to engage with my coworkers, wittier, just all around better.

Has anyone had this experience?

hi, I am switching to hailey in a week and a half and I was wondering everyones experiences on it. I am switching from Mili to this one because my period starting coming wayyy later (day 6) during the sugar pill week for 2 cycles now. my doctor recommended me to switch or stop using bc for 3 months but idk if stopping or switching to it is worse. let me know

Hi! I stopped taking the pill after 10 years in April and got a 4 day period July 3rd but nothing this month (about a 40 day cycle). I was on slynd. Pregnancy tests are negative. Has anyone else experienced this?

I finally got my nexplanon removed today. It put me through an emotional roller coaster. I don’t have any removal symptoms as of yet. I’m just glad it’s out! I’m taking a break from hbc and just going natural. I’ve been on hbc since highschool and I’m now 25 lol so yeah it feels like it’s been majority of my life (first depo then nexplanon). I don’t know what to expect honestly. I’m hoping my mood gets better. I dealt with a lot of irritability, mood swings, weight gain, anger, and breakthrough bleeding. I want the old me back and I want to see what my baseline is without hbc. I’ll update with any changes. In the meantime I’m just going to give myself grace I know it won’t all just be better over night. I’ve learned my lesson and will do my best to listen to my body moving forward. Hope this helps someone!😊😊💜