What you will find on this page:
- What do I need to bear in mind when stopping the pill?
- Can I stop taking the pill at any time?
- Side effects after stopping the pill
- Top 3 benefits that speak in favour of stopping the pill
- How long does it take for my cycle to return to normal?
- Off the pill: what happens next with contraception and trying to conceive?
- FAQ
What do I need to bear in mind when stopping the pill?
Coming off the pill is more of a process than a single step. After all, your body first has to get used to no longer being supplied with additional hormones. Especially during the transition period, you may well notice changes in yourself. That is completely normal! The changeover does not happen overnight.
In brief: the most important information
For a quick overview, here are the most important questions and answers. Even so, we recommend reading the details below.
Your questions |
Our answers |
|---|---|
| When is the ideal time to stop taking the pill? |
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| Which possible side effects can occur temporarily? |
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| Does it make sense to talk to my gynaecologist? |
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| What alternatives to hormonal contraception are there? |
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| What should I bear in mind when trying to conceive? |
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Step-by-step guide: how to stop taking the pill properly
Dos and don’ts when stopping the pill
Before you stop taking the contraceptive pill, you should definitely speak to your gynaecologist. She or he can tell you exactly how you should proceed and which side effects you can expect!
Dos and don’ts when stopping the pill
Can I stop taking the pill at any time?
The right time to stop taking the hormone preparation depends on which type of pill you use.
- Combined pill: When stopping the combined pill, also known as the micropill (a progestogen and oestrogen pill), it is advisable to finish the current blister pack of the micropill. As usual, the withdrawal bleed then follows, which always occurs during the pill-free break. So this is still a bleed triggered ‘artificially’ by the progestogen and oestrogen pill, and it should not be confused with your natural menstruation. We also call this bleed a hormone withdrawal bleed. You can now simply stop taking the pill and wait until your cycle returns to normal.
- Mini-pill: You can stop taking the mini-pill, which contains only progestogen, at any time, even in the middle of a blister pack.3
Side effects after stopping the pill
Taking synthetic hormones for years does not leave your body unaffected: because of the possible side effects of the pill, more and more women are rethinking things and switching to alternative, hormone-free methods of contraception. It is good to know that stopping hormone preparations can cause some short-term physical changes.
Many women think about the possible changes after stopping the pill. It is important to bear in mind that any symptoms that occur are not solely due to stopping itself, but also to the fact that the body has adapted to the artificially supplied hormones over a long period. After stopping, the body needs time to adjust to its natural cycle again.
But do not worry: the possible side effects mentioned are usually only temporary. What is more, they do not necessarily occur: some women notice a few changes, others none at all. You can find out more about the most common side effects of stopping the pill below!
Hair loss and irritated skin
Your complexion and your hair can suffer briefly from the hormonal changeover. It is above all the synthetic oestrogen contained in most pills that gives you clearer skin and hair that gets greasy less quickly. Without a hormone preparation, however, your body is subject to entirely natural hormone fluctuations. And every now and then that shows in your complexion too, even after the immediate phase of coming off the pill.8
Possible hair loss, however, is solely down to the sudden absence of the pill hormones that were supplied so regularly. As soon as your natural hormone levels have settled after you stop taking the pill, the hair loss and any acne usually come to an end as well. The phenomenon is roughly comparable to the hair loss women experience after giving birth.
Cycle irregularities
After stopping the pill, the female cycle can be subject to fluctuations of varying degrees, for example:
- The absence of ovulation or of your period: this is known as post-pill amenorrhoea, or post-pill syndrome. With post-pill syndrome, monthly bleeding is absent for up to six months. In most cases, ovulation and menstruation get going again on their own; post-pill amenorrhoea rarely lasts longer than nine months. Most women have their natural cycle back within six months.
- Longer and irregular menstrual cycles: longer menstrual cycles can also be a possible side effect of stopping the pill. As the comparison shows, cycle lengths after stopping the pill were considerably longer than those in the control group. Sometimes, though, the women affected already had an irregular cycle before they started taking the pill.5
Changed cycle length in days after stopping the pill
Cycle apps such as cyclotest mySense track not only the cycle length but also, for example,
- whether ovulation has taken place, or
- whether the second half of the cycle is shortened (which can be particularly important when you are trying to conceive).
- How heavy your period is and how long it lasts can be documented too, as well as
- further aspects such as mood or libido.
Breakthrough bleeding
Breakthrough bleeding and spotting are a sign that your hormone levels have not yet properly settled again.
Water retention
The hormones in the combined pill or the mini-pill can influence the water balance of your body. If they suddenly disappear, your body has to regulate this balance on its own again. This can lead to temporary, hormone-related water retention. With enough exercise and food that is as healthy and low in salt as possible, you can ease swollen fingers and ankles.
Sexuality: changes in libido
Some women have a reduced libido while using the contraceptive pill, sometimes without even noticing it. This is because these preparations cause a very low testosterone level. But it rises again once you stop taking the pill. And with it, your desire can come back!
Changes to the breasts
Some women find that their breasts become slightly smaller after stopping the pill. If that is the case, it is mainly because their breasts only gained volume when they started taking the pill, partly through nothing more than simple water retention. So this is less a real symptom than a return to the normal state.
Headaches
Headaches can also occur as a short-term side effect after stopping the pill. This is usually connected with the drop in hormone levels.
Period pain and heavier bleeding
One possible side effect of stopping the pill is that period pain becomes more intense again during your monthly bleed. The bleeding is usually heavier without the pill as well. This is because the withdrawal bleed on the pill is merely simulated. The small amount of menstrual blood does not correspond to a natural menstruation.
Do these side effects occur in all women?
No, quite the opposite. Many women report no noteworthy side effects at all after stopping the pill.
Top 3 benefits that speak in favour of stopping the pill
Even for women who are not actively trying to conceive, stopping the pill can be worthwhile:
- A falling risk of thrombosis
- Weight regulation
- Increased sexual desire
What is more, although the pill is regarded as a fairly reliable contraceptive, it has its weak points too. For example, you have to remember to take it every day without fail, and with the mini-pill often at exactly the same time, otherwise it does not work. Gastrointestinal problems can also reduce its reliability.
As with the side effects of stopping the pill, however, the same applies here: not all women feel a noticeable improvement once the additionally supplied hormones are no longer there.
Reasons for stopping the pill
How long does it take for my cycle to return to normal?
How soon the natural cycle starts again after stopping the pill varies from woman to woman. Every woman responds differently to stopping the pill and to the loss of the artificial hormones that goes with it. There are, however, further factors that influence how the body responds to stopping the pill:
- Age when you first started taking it
- Cycle characteristics and state of health before taking the pill
- How long you took the pill
- Health-related behaviour while taking the pill
- Genetic predisposition
Off the pill: what happens next with contraception and trying to conceive?
You have stopped taking the pill: what happens now? We will start with the right method of contraception after stopping the pill. Are you hoping for a baby? Then jump straight to stopping the pill and planning a pregnancy.
How can I use contraception after stopping the pill?
The choice of contraceptives is wide and which method is best for you depends on many different factors. Ideally, get comprehensive advice from your gynaecologist. Below we give you a clear summary of the various contraceptive options.
Non-hormonal |
Hormonal |
|---|---|
| Copper chain | Contraceptive patch |
| Copper coil | Contraceptive ring |
| Diaphragm | Hormone implant |
| Female condom | Contraceptive injection |
| Temperature method | Hormonal coil |
| Spermicides |
Hormone-free contraception as a possible alternative
Are you not (yet) actively trying to conceive and would like to switch to hormone-free contraception, mainly for health reasons? Then several options are open to you: from condoms to the copper coil and the copper chain, right through to natural family planning (NFP) using the temperature method.
cyclotest myWay contraceptive computer
For women who are tired of the pill, cyclotest myWay offers a simple and reliable way to use the temperature method. Measuring your basal body temperature every morning with the integrated sensor allows the fertile and infertile days in your cycle to be determined individually. As well as the temperature, cervical mucus can be included in the calculation. This is then referred to as the symptothermal method.
Off the pill: when can I get pregnant?
How soon a pregnancy can happen after stopping the contraceptive pill varies a great deal. It all depends on how quickly your hormone balance regulates itself again and your cycle returns to normal.
FAQ
When is the first ovulation after the pill?
It is also important to know that the pill can still influence your cycle and your fertility for a long time after you stop taking it. One study found that 68 % of women immediately had a menstrual cycle with ovulation and a high temperature phase of at least 10 days. In some cases, however, ovulation occurred considerably later: only 51 % of these first menstrual cycles after stopping the pill were shorter than 35 days.
How can I support my body when I want to stop taking the pill?
If you have taken the pill over a long period, it makes your body overly acidic. This side effect is known, but it rarely gets much attention. You can put this knowledge to good use when coming off the pill and support your body! It is important that you approach the whole thing with plenty of patience and do not put yourself under pressure if not all cycle functions have returned to normal right after the first month. Instead, you can actively help your body to feel as well as possible during this time:
- Make sure you eat a healthy, alkaline diet!
- Get plenty of exercise in the fresh air!
- Drink enough water or unsweetened drinks. There are also cycle teas that can help your cycle return to normal.
What do I need to bear in mind if I want to stop taking the pill during the menopause?
In that case you should definitely speak to your doctor beforehand. They can give you valuable tips on stopping the pill and tell you whether you need an alternative method of contraception and from when. You will also find out more about the symptoms of the menopause that you can expect.
Does my age make a difference when switching to hormone-free contraception?
Yes, your age can certainly play a role, above all where fertility is concerned. If you are not yet in the menopause and do not want to get pregnant, you definitely need to look into other methods of contraception.
When should I stop taking the pill if I want to get pregnant?
As soon as you are sure that you want to get pregnant, you can discuss stopping the pill with your gynaecologist. Please note, however, that your body may need a few months before the natural hormone balance has settled again.
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Sources:
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