I stopped the birth control pill;  and now?

I stopped the birth control pill; and now?


Know the expected reactions in the woman’s body and when to seek medical attention

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Whether it’s because of the desire to change contraceptive methods or even temporarily stop contraception, women already expect changes in their menstrual cycle when they stop using the pill. Oral medications, which can be used continuously or with a break between packages, are one of the most common ways to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

When its use is abruptly stopped, the ovary that was blocked, “as if it were a menopause”, returns to producing natural hormones, explains gynecologist, obstetrician and mastologist Monique Novacek.

“So instead of a synthetic hormone that didn’t allow women to menstruate or mimic the menstrual cycle, we will now have natural hormones,” the doctor points out, before listing the main implications women can have on the body. Are they:

weight change

“There can be a change in weight, either more or less, because sometimes we have slightly more water retention with the use of the pill and when the woman stops, it can go down.” The opposite reaction is more related to anxiety, which can make the patient eat more and, consequently, gain weight.

Improved body composition

“Women see an effect on muscle gain. If she’s a fan of the gym, she sees a much better response from her body by reducing the bloat,” says Monique.

skin changes

Stopping the pill can increase the oiliness of the skin and, consequently, promote acne and more hair loss. “This is because the hormone that had been blocked, mainly testosterone, comes back to work in our body and the main effect in this transition is precisely these androgens, which we are talking about, therefore increased facial hair, acne and oily skin” . These changes, however, can be transient.

contraceptive card

Increased libido

Again, due to testosterone, a hormone that is one of the main culprits in libido. The doctor points out that the woman may still feel an increase in vaginal discharge and lubrication, as the vaginal mucosa tends to be very dry with the use of contraceptives.

back from cramps

This point is clarified by the gynecologist and obstetrician Leonardo Valladão, a master in the field. He teaches that women who use the progestin pill (continuous use) are in “aminorrhea”, a technical term used to indicate the phase in which they do not have menstruation. If you stop taking the pill and start menstruating again, the effects compound.

“Symptoms such as menstrual cramps, cramps caused by endometriosis, pelvic pain, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as irritation, pain in the breasts, may recur,” clarifies the specialist.

Mood changes

The famous Pre-Menstrual Tension has everything to highlight, with mood swings more frequent throughout the month.

But what happens when the signs go further than expected?

Valladão highlights two extremes to alert women who have stopped using contraceptives. The first is the lack of menstruation, as the gynecologist Monique adds, for three months.

“If this woman goes off the pill and her periods don’t come, she may have become pregnant. She should be evaluated by a doctor and take a pregnancy test to understand if this absence of periods is caused by the going off the pill or if it is something related to the pregnancy.” “, says the expert.

On the other hand, there are women who experience the opposite: very excessive bleeding.

These are patients with fibroids or other problems who also use the pill to reduce symptoms. When worrisome, bleeding can lead to anemia and the need to replace iron. This reinforces the need for a gynecological check-up before and after stopping any contraceptives.

Source: Terra

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