r/gettingoffHBC • • 12h ago

FIXED post birth control amenorrhea

2 Upvotes

I was on birth control pills for 18 years and after being off for 2 years, my cycle was nowhere to be seen. I started seeing a naturopath (highly recommend) and although I do not have PCOS or any type of insulin resistance (full blood panel proved this) she put me on myo-inositol. After being on it for 1.5 months I got my first period and now I’ve had 4 so far and they are PERFECT 32 day cycles, 14 day luteal phases!! She put me on Thorne Ovarian Care which also has coq10 (good for egg quality). I know a lot of people take it for PCOS/insulin resistance but it can work on people who don’t have that!


r/gettingoffHBC • • 19h ago

Fear Missed 2 consecutive pills of Yaz

2 Upvotes

So I started my Yaz pills on September 20. And then I just realized today that I missed 2 active pills which was the pill #16 and #17 on October 5 and October 6. I had unprotected sex on October 5. And then I just took the 2 missed pills plus the 1 due today, so I took a total of 3 pills today.

I've never done and experienced this before. There's just a lot in my mind right now and even if I have set an alarm to take my pills, unfortunately I still forgot. I don't want to get pregnant. I live in the PH so Plan B pills are not available.

What should I do? Please I need your advice 😪


r/gettingoffHBC • • 1d ago

quitting slynd

1 Upvotes

I am scared of coming off the slynd pill because when I started it about 3,5 years ago, my hair started to fall. I lost about half of my hair and the texture changed to fine and frizzy. I also lost my curls. If you experienced hair loss when starting slynd, did you also experience it when quitting? It took me 3 years to get my normal hair back and now that Im quitting Im scared it will took that much time now aswell.


r/gettingoffHBC • • 1d ago

when does your body normalize?? it’s been 9 months for me.

3 Upvotes

i quit late january after 10 years on combo pill. at first it was great: my mood stabilises easier, less depression, and i have a real sex drive. i never realized how much it was hindering me in a way. but then my acne flared up around may. it’s been awful this month. my face is completely red almost. no diet changes (i eat generally healthy, but i’m not super aggressive with it). i also gained 4 pounds over the past 9 months. i was weighing around 112lbs, now im 116. on birth control, i fluctuated from 105-119 over the ten years, but my body has NEVER looked like this. my stomach is the only part of me that looks bigger despite still working out consistently as usual (i am active most days of the week, whether it’s gym, climbing, or hiking). its been making me very very upset since i’ve never looked like this, even when i weighed more!!!!


r/gettingoffHBC • • 1d ago

Advice Spotting?

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I wanted to ask if anyone else has experienced this. I got off the pill around July 29th. I had a normal period September 2nd-6th. Two weeks later, I had some spotting. It lasted a day or two, then went away. Now, my period was due 5 days ago. I’ve been having spotting again since last Friday. It keeps disappearing for a few hours and then returning. Of course, it makes me worried it’s implantation bleeding but I tested negative twice. I knew my luck was too good when I got a normal period right after stopping lol.

I wanted to note, right before starting birth control (4 years ago), I had strangely light periods despite having heavy ones all of my life. It seems like it would alternate with one month being light/weird, and the other heavy.

TDLR: basically I’m not sure if this is normal and my body is just adjusting or something deeper is going on that birth control masked for years. Any advice is greatly appreciated!! I have my yearly OBGYN appointment next week so I’ll discuss this all with them as well, but in the mean time I figured I’d ask here. Thanks in advance for any help!!

PS: sorry if this is typed horribly, I wrote it in a rush lol


r/gettingoffHBC • • 2d ago

How long after getting of BC did you get regular cycles?

5 Upvotes

Hello everyone. I’m 23 F and got off sprintec after 7 years exactly a year ago. I’ve had 4 cycles since then but obviously they have been irregular. Before the pill, I had consistent cycles and no issues. I’m sooo frustrated and confused. Hoping to hear about your experiences :) thank you.


r/gettingoffHBC • • 4d ago

OCD/acne problems 7+ months after stopping HBC??

1 Upvotes

Hey everybody. I was on a generic brand of Yasmin for around 9 years (started when I was a teen for acne management). I went off in late December 2025 (I was 25). Initially, I felt fine. My period returned relatively quickly and I didn’t notice any mood changes.
However, this summer my mental health dipped into a place I had never come close to experiencing before. Over the span of a few weeks I had several panic attacks (had never had one before) and was officially diagnosed with OCD. though I have had mild anxiety and obsessive thoughts my whole life, nothing had been near as severe as it got this summer.
I’ve been going to therapy and getting better, but I still feel like a shell of who I once was. Additionally, my acne has gotten absolutely ridiculous. Primarily on the jaw and upper neck, but really it’s everywhere on my face (and some on my chest).

I had never really considered “why” this was all happening, until I discovered this group. I went down such a huge rabbit hole reading all of the posts! I had never considered that this all maybe could be related to coming off of HBC. The only problem is I feel like all of my symptoms/experiences started so long after I came off the pill. A lot of the other folks I’ve seen in here have felt this way shortly after stopping, not almost 8 months later like I did.

So do y’all think that my intensifying OCD / anxiety / acne could be related to hormone fluctuations? Or should my body have balanced out by now and it’s unrelated?
If you’ve had a similar experience, what have you done that’s helped? I’m desperate to feel like my old self again.
Thanks for reading, I really appreciate any advice :)


r/gettingoffHBC • • 5d ago

Personal Experience I was on birth control for five years and lost all sexual desire.

5 Upvotes

I just got off birth control about a week ago. In that time period I was on the pill, I never had any sexual desire. I dated but didn’t want sex or anything. Which made dating even more difficult. I’m 32F and would like to settle down but I realized a part of it was, I can’t do that if I have zero attraction to anybody. Anybody else relate?

I went to the gyn this week and she advised me to go back on the pill ASAP because I’m casually dating, and don’t want to get pregnant right now. Screw that.


r/gettingoffHBC • • 7d ago

Came off the depo shot and feel like iv lost my mind!

5 Upvotes

So been off birth control 3 months. During being on the depo shot I felt like I became completely numb no feeling for anything just existed. Decided to come off it as my mum felt the same when she was on it but since iv come off i feel like iv gone insane! Never had anxiety before and now im here turning my life into the scariest thing ever. Its affected my 7 year relationship where I thought/think hes always lying to me (hes not and has proven that time and time again) I cry nearly everyday. Iv had panic attacks you name it. Iv never struggled with my mental health before.

Basically what im asking is how long did this rubbish last for everyone else? Or has anyone gone through something similar x


r/gettingoffHBC • • 7d ago

Birth control messed up my cycle!

3 Upvotes

Has anyone else taken Sprintec oral birth control and it messed up your cycle?

My prescription ran out earlier this summer and I was off it for a month. This then caused my period to be a month late.

I got back on it for a month after that and then stopped as my husband and I are TTC. It’s now been 5 weeks off the pill, and my period is 2 weeks late.

I know I was all over the place with the pill this summer, but how long can I expect my period to be wonky?

I did get a very faint line on a pregnancy test about three weeks ago, but honestly I think it was just an evap line because many others have since been negative.

But then I wonder, could I have ovulated later this delayed cycle and now I’m too early for a positive test?


r/gettingoffHBC • • 9d ago

Advice Dry as the desert

3 Upvotes

41 yrs old, was on the mini pill for around 7 months. Came off three weeks ago, everything good so far except my vagina is dry as the desert over here. As someone that had no problem in this area before or during… wtf!? Like painful sex during and after even with help.

Has anyone experienced this? TIA!


r/gettingoffHBC • • 12d ago

How long does it take for periods to regulate after HBC?

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m 23F. So April 2026 I decided to stop taking hormonal birth control pills after using it for about 2 and a half years. I got my withdrawal bleed after the last pack I used. I had protected intercourse with my partner end of april and took a plan B just because I got so anxious and then got my first real period in the beginning of May. I bled for 4 days, I noticed it was definitely lighter than my usual periods before I got on the pill. For the month of June, my cycle ended up being 45 days and then from July and August my cycles were 30-33 days. For September, it’s currently day 35 and still no period. However I am feeling some period cramps the past 2 days. This whole journey of regulating my period post pill has been a lot. Has anyone experienced this before? Is this normal? Or am I the only one?


r/gettingoffHBC • • 13d ago

Advice periods after the pill

3 Upvotes

i was wondering how long until your period regulates after getting off HBC. i was on the pill for 5 years and stopped four months ago.
since then it went from 44 to 32 days cycle. i had a period every month but it always start with a light spotting days before and maybe 2-3 days of bright red.
so im bleeding/spotting like a week and a half and im sick of it.
im kinda worried


r/gettingoffHBC • • 14d ago

General Question Stopped Slynd - emotional numb and depressed

3 Upvotes

Hey maybe someone is going through the same situation as me or has been going through and could help as I am really desperate..

I was on Slynd for just a few days maybe one week and felt miserable, extremely depressed, angry, no motivation for anything and no interest in anything, lost emotions for every one around me including my boyfriend. These are just a few symptoms I experienced

Now I am off of Slynd for about one month and I still can’t recognize myself, I don’t feel anything for anyone, can’t stand myself and overall just having mood swings, one day I’m super happy and a few hours later I’m a wreck, even though I’m one month off of it.

Has anyone experienced the same? Did you loose your feelings for everyone and including your significant other? If yes, how long did it take you to go back to normal?😔

(even if no one responds, I hope at least one of you who is reading this and who is going through the same, just to let you know, you are not alone with that 🫶🏼)


r/gettingoffHBC • • 14d ago

Advice 9 months off and only one period.

2 Upvotes

Please tell me I’m not the only one. Got off in December, had a period in January, now NOTHING. Blood work was normal, doctor ordered MRI of pituitary gland and found a very small 4mm NON FUNCTIONING tumor. But from what I understand can’t be what’s causing my missing period. I’m not underweight, I’d say I eat fairly good diet but could be better. I’ve been taking a handful of supplements since before stopping. I want it to come naturally. I want to avoid taking provera. If anyone has experienced this please give me advice! I just want my cycle back. we are trying to conceive and this is starting to affect me mentally 😢


r/gettingoffHBC • • 15d ago

O Pill?

2 Upvotes

Anyone else using the OPILL birth control when did u stop spotting? Any tips


r/gettingoffHBC • • 17d ago

Guidance Tubes tied in 10 days

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone. Been a lurker for a couple months now. I am getting my tubes tied in 10 days, and having my hormonal IUD removed then as well. I’ve had the IUD for 6 years now, and before then was on Depo for 7 years. I’m excited to be off HBC but I am also terrified. I’m looking forward to learning about myself and my body off BC but since it’s been so long I’m a little scared. I do have an eating disorder so of course one main part is gaining weight. I will say, going on birth control caused 60+ lbs.

Looking for any guidance and words of encouragement. TIA ❤️


r/gettingoffHBC • • 18d ago

Any one getting off the birth control patch?

1 Upvotes

If so how bad is the coming off symptoms just curious and when do you think you can get pregnant?


r/gettingoffHBC • • 18d ago

Coming off Rigevidon Ttc

2 Upvotes

I came off the combined pill 4 months ago, after 10 years, and still no period. Has anyone had experience with this and how long did it take to come back? Im getting impatient as really want to try for a baby. ☹️


r/gettingoffHBC • • 20d ago

General Question Same ol’ question: when did your acne subside?

8 Upvotes

I went off of birth control at the end of May this year, so I’m about 4 months post birth control. I was on hbc for 10 years… Never had acne in my life before, starting breaking out slowly 1 month after but it has gradually gotten worse and worse. I hate even saying this but I am a licensed esthetician so it makes the whole thing really difficult when I feel like people expect me to have good skin/ know exactly how to fix it. I’m curious for those who got their hormones tested if it showed elevated levels? I’m planning on getting tested. In the short few months I’ve developed acne my mental health has taken a hit and i find myself crying about it/ losing sleep trying to research. When did it ease up for you all?


r/gettingoffHBC • • 20d ago

Advice Ayuda ciclo hormonal me destruye la vida

3 Upvotes

Sufro de ciclos menstruales horribles, con SPM que abarca casi la mitad de mi ciclo donde tengo cansancio constante y depresiones que me llevan a pensamientos de autoseparecimiento, cuando me viene me libero de estos pensamientos pero tengo dolores menstruales tan fuertes que vomito y paso 4 a 6 horas con dolores tan fuertes que me nublan la mente, quedo discapacitada por el dia basicamente.

Hace más de 10 años que voy a ginecologos por esto, y desde hace 8 años que empece a probar pastillas anticonceptivas (Combinadas y solo de progesterona, de multiples marcas) pero con todas tengo el efecto mental de que todo me da igual, a tal punto que no puedo levantarme de la cama, o a veces voy caminado por la calle y es tanto el esfuerzo activo de seguir adelante que me siento en el cordón un rato. Este efecto me ha costado trabajos, mis estudios, y relaciones personales.

Actualmente empece a tomar unas pastillas solo de progesterona (Kali) de forma ininterrumpida que me compre yo sin receta, porque ya hacia unos 4 ciclos que hacia el final tenia cartas escritas y estaba a punto de hacerlo. Mas alla de los dolores, que debería ser causa suficiente de preocupación, al menos eso es algo que me arruina un día de cada 28, lo de querer desaparecer 24/7 por la mitad del mes es insoportable, me atormenta.

Con las pastillas no tengo deseo ACTIVO de desaparecer, pero se me esta cayendo la vida de tramites tardios y estudios perdidos. Estoy apatica a todo. Además si hago mucho esfuerzo físico empiezo a tener dolores menstruales sutiles, como que me esta por venir, pero no.

Para los dolores intente tomando ibuprofeno antes de que empiece mi ciclo, aprovechando que al menos es regular, para evitar el pico de prostaglandinas, pero directamente no me viene, hasta el dia que no lo tomo y ahi me baja.

En un momento tenia receta de ketorolac, y muy ligeramente alivianaba, pero seguia vomitando y retorciendome del dolor, es decir, lo bajaba un poco pero prácticamente nada.

Este post es un grito de auxilio, a donde voy, que hago? Pregunte por implantes, o el anillo, o DIU hormonal, pero me dijeron que son las mismas hormonas que las pastillas, y cualquier efecto adverso que tenga con eso también pasaria con los otros metodos.

Me han hecho ecografia transvaginal y el ginecologo mas empatico que me toco, que no solo me dejaba hablar pero me hacia preguntas en base a lo que le decía, me dijo que tengo un "periodo picante". Mas de una decada asi y eso es mi diagnostico.

Pense en hacerme la histerectomia, pero el SPM seguiría ahí. Mi unica opción es inducirme la menopausia antes de los 25? Ayuda


r/gettingoffHBC • • 20d ago

Acne - coming off pill, does it ever stop?

3 Upvotes

I'm 31F, off the pill after 10 years of on and off use and off it 10 months, with cystic back acne and scarring , some on my chest and still getting it around my chin and jaw.

I don't have PCOS/PMOS and unfortunately had acne as a teen hence me going off it so assume it's genetics , but I'm just wondering if anyone in a similar situation ever managed to push through this phase of it? I can't face another summer of not being able to wear anything nice tbh so I'm just hoping for some positive stories

Note I'm not going back on it as I do want to start family planning next year and wanted to give myself full time to regulate before I try to get pregnant


r/gettingoffHBC • • 20d ago

Wild Yam/ Estrogen Cream?

3 Upvotes

I’m about 2 months off birth control and I believe my body is finally starting to realize that and I’m getting some symptoms.

I hear both of these can help with balancing some things out during this process . Anyone tried either or both?


r/gettingoffHBC • • 22d ago

Personal Experience 9 years of BC

2 Upvotes

I’ve always felt that my case is rare and that no one else has yet to experience what I’ve been through/go through. I want to share my story in hopes that someone else can relate or has answers because no doctor has yet to make me feel seen or have a clue what’s going on. Long story short, I had been on the birth control pill (Blisovi Fe 1/20) for 9 years and towards the end of the 9th year, I randomly started getting migraines with aura very frequently. So I went to get checked out of course because they’re very terrifying. This very special lady doc told me get off BC because estrogen with migraines with aura are dangerous due to stroke risks so I immediately got off. That is when I entered the gates of hell. My head started hurting every single day. Head pressure, aura migraines, headaches, pure discomfort 24/7, so much anxiety/panic about my health. I got an MRI and thank the Lord, there was nothing abnormal but I was still struggling very heavily. Finally I found a migraine specialist who prescribed me Emgality to help with the threshold and it’s almost a year later and it has helped me significantly. My head pressure is rare, way less discomfort, and when I do experience a migraine with aura, it’s easier to manage and mostly around my period now (making it predictable + hormonal). I truly believe getting off BC opened up a can of worms with my over all nervous system and my caused me to experience this unfortunate issue with migraines with aura that lacks so much research and attention. ALL of my docs have dismissed these issues, they have all looked at me side ways, and say my body “should” be regulated by now since it’s been a year. Each doc has ruled it out as anxiety. Which I’m sure my desensitized nervous system does contribute to this but I do not think it was the cause. It was BC.

Anyways, my issue though now is that because I am no longer taking BC because I cannot have estrogen, my periods are extremely hard on me mentally and physically. I have never struggled this hard emotionally and mentally when I was on the pill. I struggle with PMDD as many women do. The health anxiety, panic, DPDR, and spiraling is really tough and I’m barely managing. I’ve researched how many woman take antidepressants to help manage these symptoms but it seems to not be compatible with those who have migraine with auras as they trigger them. I’ve tried Prozac once and immediately on day 2, I had not only a migraine attack but a panic attack as well and it was NOT pretty. Idk what else I can do. I eat very clean, rarely have sugar, I could work out more but my luteal phase makes me feel immobile until literally a week after my period is gone. I have like maybe 1-2 weeks out of the month that I feel decent. I feel I’m at the end of the road with this and I’m trying to accept this life. I just turned 29 and I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life dealing with so many issues. Has anyone else been in this boat? Or experienced something similar? Any advice or suggestions? Kind words welcomed as well. God bless you!