How to competently refuse birth control pills: dispel fears
So you”ve decided to stop taking combined oral contraceptives (COCs). Or birth control pills, as they are called in wide circles of the population. The smartest thing you can do in this case is to talk to your doctor.
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Dr. Bert Putterman from Texas (USA) recommends that women discuss this issue with their gynecologist. And it doesn’t matter whether we are talking about the desire to conceive a child. Or, for that matter, the concept would be undesirable.
Are the side effects really that bad?
Some women are afraid that if they stop taking birth control, it will have less of an impact on their physical health. For example, they gain excess weight. Los Angeles-based MD Shelley Thomas says there”s nothing to worry about in this regard. “When starting to use contraceptives, many more women suffer from side effects than if they could be stopped. Any unpleasant symptoms that occur after stopping taking COCs disappear fairly quickly. However, it is important to remember that when you stop taking contraceptives, the risk of pregnancy increases. Therefore, it is necessary to use other methods of contraception,” explains Shelley.
“On the contrary, some women fear that after stopping COCs it will be difficult to conceive a child. This is not so — even if you have been taking contraceptives for a long time, the body quickly returns to its original state,” the expert adds.
What could be the consequences?
“Both girls and women may be prescribed the pill for certain purposes, such as to control their menstrual cycle, make bleeding more heavy, or relieve severe pain. But often these problems return after stopping COC,” warns Patterman.
“If you take medications to relieve uncomfortable symptoms in the case of dysmenopause, then after stopping the drug, the symptoms of ebbs and flows may return.” The same thing happens with facial rashes, premenstrual syndrome and other symptoms that were originally prescribed by COCs and which should be eliminated.”
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Excess weight and COC withdrawal
Some women experience a temporary increase in appetite after stopping COCs. And, of course, this factor can affect weight. However, the opposite is also true. For example, this happens when birth control pills cause fluid retention in the body. In this case, their failure leads to weight loss due to the excretion of this fluid.
“Minor side effects, even if they occur after stopping the COC, last no more than one to two months. After that, everything goes in circles,” explains Thomas. “Keep in mind that if you are taking low-dose hormone pills, the side effects may be milder or less severe when you may want to stop them.”
How to “correctly” cancel hormones/exit schemes
When should you stop taking birth control pills?
You can stop taking the tablets at any time. However, this can have consequences. For example, if you give up COC mid-cycle, you may get lost. Failure can also lead to bleeding. Sometimes it happens that this lasts a week or two. Therefore, it is much better to wait until the end of the COC pack before discarding the pills. And, of course, you need to stop taking them strictly as directed and under the supervision of a doctor,” explains Thomas.
Why give up COCs?
In most cases, women do this in order to conceive a child. Without contraception, it is easier to determine when ovulation begins, which is the best time to conceive.
For all those who have decided to stop taking the pills, Dr. Thomas warns that if you are not back to normal after two to three months, you need to see a doctor.”
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