How Birth Control Impacts Your Body After Stopping

People use birth control for a variety of reasons, including preventing pregnancy, regulating hormones, or treating certain conditions. While birth control can be beneficial, some may choose to stop due to side effects, lifestyle changes, or a desire to get pregnant. When stopping birth control, it's normal to experience changes in the body as hormone levels adjust. This period of transition is known as Post-Birth Control Syndrome (PBCS), and it can include symptoms such as changes in the menstrual cycle, mood swings, and alterations in sex drive. These symptoms typically resolve within a few months as the body rebalances its natural hormone levels.

Changes to your menstrual cycle

Stopping hormonal birth control can cause changes to your menstrual cycle. The changes can vary from person to person, but some common changes include:

• Irregular periods: It might take several months for your periods to become regular again after stopping birth control. If you had irregular periods before starting birth control, it's likely that your cycles will become irregular again.
• Heavier periods: Some people experience heavier periods and more cramping after stopping birth control. This is especially true if you had heavy bleeding during your periods before starting birth control.
• Missed periods: In some cases, people may experience a lack of menstruation after stopping birth control, known as post-pill amenorrhea. This can last for a few months or even up to six months in some cases.
• Painful periods: Cramping and pain during ovulation may become more intense after stopping birth control.
• PMS symptoms: Hormonal birth control can help to level out the hormones that cause PMS symptoms such as mood swings, irritability, and anxiety. Without the hormones from birth control, these symptoms may return.

It's important to note that everyone's experience with stopping birth control is unique, and the changes to your menstrual cycle may differ from others. Additionally, the type of birth control you were using, the dosage, and other individual factors can influence the side effects you experience.

Changes to your skin

Birth control pills often contain synthetic hormones, primarily oestrogen and progestin, which reduce testosterone metabolism and, in turn, sebum production. This reduction in the skin's natural oils helps prevent acne. However, when you stop taking birth control pills, your body experiences a hormonal shift as it adjusts to producing natural hormones again. This abrupt change can cause an increase in sebum production, resulting in oily skin and acne breakouts. This phenomenon is known as "androgen rebound" or "testosterone rebound effect".

Understanding what is happening to your body during this transition is essential. Recognise that the skin changes are temporary and allow yourself some grace during this period. Here are some specific actions you can take to address the skin changes:

• Use oil-controlling and anti-inflammatory botanicals and products to manage increased sebum production. Jojoba oil, green tea, and lactic acid are recommended for their ability to balance sebum, reduce redness and inflammation, and gently exfoliate the skin without drying it out.
• Localise your treatment to the areas affected by hormonal breakouts, typically around the mouth and chin. Try multi-masking, using a clarifying mask on the lower half of your face and a hydrating option on the rest.
• Examine your diet and consider limiting dairy products and foods with a high glycaemic index, as these can aggravate acne.
• Try natural treatments such as zinc supplements, DIM (diindolylmethane), and berberine to address the hormonal imbalances and reduce acne.
• Maintain a consistent skincare routine, cleansing your face regularly to remove excess oil and dead skin cells, but be mindful not to over-wash, as this can lead to skin irritation and increased oil production.
• Incorporate products with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid into your skincare routine. Benzoyl peroxide fights acne-causing bacteria and reduces keratin production, while salicylic acid helps dissolve excess sebum and dead skin cells, unclogging pores.
• Be patient! Healing your skin and addressing acne takes time, and it is important to be consistent with your skincare practices and lifestyle changes.

Changes to your weight

The type of birth control you were using may have an impact on weight changes. Women who used a progestin-only type of birth control (such as injections, hormonal IUDs, or certain pills) may have gained a few pounds, so their weight may decrease when they stop using them.

However, it's important to note that significant weight loss is unlikely to occur just by stopping birth control. If weight loss is your goal, you will probably see more noticeable results from a healthy diet and regular exercise than from discontinuing your birth control.

In general, it's normal to experience some side effects as your body adjusts to changes in hormone levels after stopping birth control. These side effects typically fade within a few months as your body returns to its natural hormone levels.

Changes to your sex drive

The birth control pill can have a notable impact on your sex drive, and this may continue even after you stop taking it. Many women experience a decrease in their libido while on the pill, and for some, this persists after they stop taking it. This is because the pill suppresses ovulation and replaces your body's natural hormone production with synthetic hormones, including estrogen and progestin. This can lead to lower testosterone levels, which is the hormone that makes you want to have sex.

However, it's important to note that not everyone who takes the pill loses interest in sex. Some women may feel even sexier than normal, perhaps due to the freedom of not worrying about getting pregnant or experiencing lighter periods.

If you've stopped taking the pill and are concerned about a persistently low sex drive, it's recommended to consult a doctor. There are also lifestyle changes you can make to try and boost your libido. For example, you can incorporate testosterone-boosting foods into your diet, such as avocados, spinach, celery, strawberries, honey, and dark chocolate. Additionally, supplements like maca powder, zinc, magnesium, evening primrose, and rhodiola can support your adrenals, increase testosterone levels, and improve your energy and mood.

It's also important to consider other factors that may be impacting your sex drive, such as stress, anger, anxiety, and body image issues. Addressing these underlying factors through therapy or counselling may help improve your libido.

If you're experiencing a low sex drive after stopping the pill, it's important to know that you're not alone, and there are steps you can take to improve your situation.

Changes to your mood

Stopping hormonal birth control can cause changes in your mood, such as increased anxiety. This is due to the changes in your hormone levels as your body readjusts to its natural hormone levels and cycles.

There are two potential reasons why you may experience anxiety after stopping hormonal birth control:

• Hormone restabilization: Your body's natural hormones need time to return to their natural levels after the synthetic hormones in the contraception leave your system. This transition period can take a few months, but your body's natural cycle and hormone levels should return to normal relatively soon. If this is the reason, the anxiety you're experiencing should be temporary.
• Underlying condition: The other possibility is that the birth control was masking an underlying chronic anxiety disorder or a hormonal sensitivity such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). In this case, stopping the hormonal contraception may cause the return of any existing conditions that were previously being managed by the birth control.

If your anxiety is caused by your body's natural hormones restabilizing, you should start to feel better within three to six months of stopping birth control. However, if your anxiety is due to an underlying condition, it may persist beyond this timeframe.

Managing anxiety after stopping birth control

• Mindfulness meditation: Meditation has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and improving emotional regulation.
• Exercise: Regular physical activity, especially high-intensity exercise like running or other cardio, can help alleviate anxiety symptoms.
• Vitamins and supplements: Prolonged use of oral contraceptives can lead to vitamin B and folic acid deficiencies, which can impact mood. Taking a B-complex vitamin and folic acid supplement may help stabilize your mood.
• Lifestyle changes: Engaging in enjoyable activities, such as spending time with loved ones or participating in hobbies, can help reduce adverse mood changes. Managing stress through relaxation exercises and stress management techniques can also be beneficial.
• Treating underlying health conditions: Addressing any underlying medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or autoimmune diseases, that may be contributing to mood challenges can help alleviate symptoms.
• Healthy lifestyle choices: Prioritizing proper nutrition, exercise, and adequate sleep can help improve your mood. Physical activity has been found to help balance hormones in women.
• Consider alternative birth control options: Consult a healthcare provider to discuss alternative birth control options that may have fewer side effects on your mood.

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