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Last Updated:
Sep 10th, 2007 - 18:59:21
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Question
Hi,
I will be 46 this November and have never been pregnant nor do I plan to be. I have been on Loestrin 1/20 for a number of years and before that on other brands of pills. I've decided to give my body a break and stop taking the pill.
Will there be any side effects that I need to watch for from quitting the pill? I'm quite healthy (knock on wood) and eat my fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly.
Thanks for any info that you can give me.
Shanti
Answer
It can take up to six menstrual cycles for your reproductive system to recover from the effects of the birth control pill (BCP). During this time, you may experience a delay in returning to cycling. Since the pill has effects on the lining of the uterus, as well as the ovaries,it is not uncommon for women coming off BCPs to experience abnormal, or prolonged bleeding. Because your normal ovulatory function has been altered by the artificial hormones in the BCP, you may have irregular, or even painful ovulation in these first cycles. A few women do not ovulate for some time after discontinuing the pill.
In normal circumstances, a woman's cycle length shortens as she ages. Your menstrual cycle will likely be shorter than it was before you began taking the BCP. Since you are over age 40, you are in what is called the perimenopause period of your life. During these years prior to menopause, women often experience hot flashes; these are sometimes more severe in women who stop using artificial hormones. Additionally, there is evidence that prolonged use of the BCP is a risk factor for developing breast cancer. I urge you to do monthly Self Breast Exams, and get regular mammograms.
You do not say whether you are planning to use an NFP method once you have stopped using the BCP. I strongly recommend that you learn and use one of the NFP methods available. Although fertility decreases as a woman ages, there is still a possibility you could conceive. NFP is as effective as the BCP and more effective than other means of avoiding pregnancy, and it provides the added benefit of providing a detailed record of your cycles. Since you have the special circumstance of BCP use, the Crieghton Method would be a good choice, since it provides medical support, and treatment, for gynecologic problems, in addition to instruction in observing and charting your cycling.
Gail McNaughton, FCPI, NP
Gail McNaughton, RN, NP is an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner, and a Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner, in Fresno, CA.
© Copyright 2005 by CANFP
The information on this page and web site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment by a physician.
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