According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s most recent data, over 65 percent of females between the age of 15 and 49 are currently using some form of birth control in the U.S.1 Frustratingly, this number lumps together all sorts of contraceptives—from the pill to male condoms—so it’s hard to parse out exactly what percentage of these women were using hormonal birth control.
And for anyone who’s ever been on hormonal birth control of any kind, you know that’s an entirely different ballgame.
Here’s what we mean:
Hormonal birth controls can include oral contraceptive pills, transdermal patches, IUDs, vaginal rings, implants beneath the skin, and even these days injections.2 Any one of these methods of birth control can be highly effective at preventing pregnancy–but changing your body’s natural hormones long-term can have its own effects. Some of these may actually be positive (hello shining hair!), while others, not so fun (hi adult acne.) It really depends on the type of birth control and the individual person; what works for one woman may not work for another.
But sometimes the side effects from hormonal birth control may be reason enough for a woman to want to stop using it. And unfortunately, this may lead to even more fun side effects (at least temporarily.)
The side effects from stopping birth control are called “post birth control syndrome,” and in this article, we’ll tell you all about navigating it, how long it may last, and what to do to make the transition off of birth control an easier one.
What happens when you stop taking birth control?
When you’re on hormonal birth control of any kind, your body’s natural menstrual cycle is essentially replaced by the pill, patch, IUD, etc.’s synthetic hormones. The idea is, these contraceptives prevent your body from ovulating so you can’t get pregnant. The details vary depending on the type of birth control you’re on—for example, some forms of hormonal birth control are estrogen and progesterone-based, while others are progesterone only. Some have you bleed every four weeks like a regular period, while others have you bleed as rarely as once a year. No matter what, though, hormonal birth control will be altering your body’s natural menstrual cycle and hormone levels. That’s simply how it works.3
So when you abruptly stop taking the pill, remove your device, or stop wearing that patch, it will naturally take some time for your body to figure out how to “do that hormone thing” on its own again, because for a while, it was relying on the contraceptive. During this “figuring out” period, many women experience some side effects.
What is post birth control syndrome?
Post birth control syndrome isn’t a disease or condition that requires treatment; it’s simply the slew of symptoms that some women experience after getting off hormonal birth control. Again, this is just because the body’s hormone levels are fluctuating and trying to get to a new normal after the synthetic hormones that were introduced on birth control.
This may start pretty immediately after stopping birth control or up to three months afterward and can last one to six months.4 We wish there was a more exact timeline, but of course, this varies depending on the person, the type of birth control they used, and for how long. But the good news is—your body will find homeostasis after birth control.
Side effects of stopping birth control
Remember, not all women experience post birth control syndrome, but those that do may have one or more of these symptoms4:
- Changes in your menstrual period, like lighter, heavier, or missed periods
- Mood swings or PMS-like symptoms
- Headaches
- Acne
- Hair loss
- Changes in sex drive
- Breast tenderness
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Vaginal dryness
How to go off birth control
Symptoms will eventually resolve on their own once your hormone levels even out. That can happen anywhere between a month or six months—but luckily, there are some things you can do to help your body along the way (alongside advice from your doctor):
- Eat a diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, complex carbs, and plenty of healthy fats. These foods supply vital nutrients that help everything in your body, including your hormones, work better.
- Ask your healthcare provider about supplements. Being low in certain nutrients, like omega-3s, vitamin D, or B vitamins, may worsen hormonal symptoms. A doctor can review your diet, or even bloodwork, and guide you in which vitamins or supplements to add in.
- You might also consider supplementing with FLO Ovarian Support after two or three months if your cycle hasn’t found its way back to a new normal.
- Get plenty of exercise. A combination of regular cardio and strength training is vital for hormonal regulation. Even better: take your workouts outside (when you can) for that boost of vitamin D.
- Talk to your healthcare provider if symptoms like headaches, mood swings, depression, or anxiety are interfering with your life. They may recommend medication or seeing a specialist.
- Schedule an appointment with your dermatologist. If acne is flaring up post-birth control, rather than going through the trial and error of drugstore skincare, talk to a dermatologist. She can recommend products and prescriptions, so you don’t have to waste months trying to figure it out yourself. Dermatologists can also advise on post birth control hair loss.
- Keeping your gut’s microbiome in balance is vital for your overall health, including hormonal health. If you do just one thing to help your gut, try adding in a daily probiotic.
- Prioritize sleep by getting your sleep hygiene down to a science.
- Manage your stress levels and mental health. Hormonal fluctuations can lead to stress, and stress can lead to hormonal fluctuations. This cycle can be interrupted by daily mindfulness and relaxation practices: long walks, meditation, yoga, working out, making art, taking a bath… If your regular relaxation techniques aren’t cutting it post-birth control, consider seeing a therapist or psychiatrist who can help you during this transition period.
- Track your cycle. Now that you’re off hormonal birth control, your “normal” menstrual cycle will eventually return—and you may have no idea when or how long this is. For most females, the average cycle is 28 days, but it could be 21, or 35, or somewhere in between.5 There are lots of period tracking apps, but if you’re worried about your privacy, you can simply use a regular calendar. Just mark a little “star” on the days you bleed, and after a few months, you should start to notice a pattern that tells you how long your menstrual cycle is, and when you can expect your next period.
This will also help you track when you’re ovulating—usually about halfway through your cycle. So you can either try to get pregnant during this time, or be extra careful not to get pregnant during this time!
