STOPPING birth control: HOW? What to expect?!

Do you know how to stop your birth control if you want to go off it? Should you take anything to prep your body? And what the HECK is going to happen once you do discontinue it?! Dr. Lincoln gives you the evidence-based answers, with references and citations to back it up.

0:00 Intro
0:25 How to stop your birth control
0:53 Where is the concern coming from? Is there evidence?
2:20 Do you have to wait to the end of a pill pack?
2:42: One exception - trying to conceive
3:23 What to expect when going off BC - and is post-birth control syndrome real??
4:28 Who invented this "syndrome" and why does this matter?
5:41 What your periods might be like
7:04 When will you ovulate again?
7:12 Does BC cause infertility?
8:28 Wrapping it all up

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REFERENCES and RESOURCES:

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DISCLAIMER: None of this content constitutes direct medical advice or constitutes a patient-doctor relationship. Views expressed here do not represent the views of Dr. Lincoln's employer. For personalized medical advice, consult with your doctor.

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Musician: Winter Foe

#birthcontrol #birthcontroldetox #cleanse

[Elizabeth-mtbb]

Got off the pill after 6 years. My sex drive has gone up, I'm not exhausted all the time, and I feel like I have emotions back. I was really a flat liner.

[annahill]

I definitely am not a licensed professional in this area, but I think some of the confusion we have is due to the underlying “whys”. For example, my OBGYN basically claimed that there was no harm in starting the pill and that some pills work better than others for certain women. Why? What specific ingredients are in each pill? What hormones and vitamins are prominent or deficient in my body creating a more positive/negative experience depending on the pill? Next, (I am not talking about you specifically, I loved this video) if we are able to simply stop the pill and there is not a researched, medical term for the symptoms women experience after the pill, then “why” would our cycle be “wonky”? The hormones and cycle response being messed up? It just feels like often times doctors tell us that the pill cannot be proven to cause weight gain, or depression, or so on, because there’s no research linking to it, but then when you try to research it, there is so limited studies and peer reviewed articles conducted on the subject… WHY?!? If millions of women are on the pill, and there’s no medically coined term for the side effects we experience after quitting the pill, yet almost EVERY women experiences SOME type of side effect, shouldn’t there be a lot of research trying to figure out why? Instead of just “hormones need to reset”. WHICH HORMONES? How did these reset? What does this look like?!? Why is there no research being done about this? But our cycle can be “wonky” but there’s no medical evidence backing it up… shouldn’t some be conducted then?? You’re telling me doctors are in the process of creating synthetic eyeballs and trying to cure cancer, but they can’t conduct a study about all the symptoms women experience after quitting the pill?! What are even in these pills anyway besides progesterone and estrogen? And why is there no research about this! Sorry… tangent. Finally, with regards to “seeing and treating the person in front of you” I think the reason people want to use the umbrella term “post birth control syndrome” despite everyone experiencing different symptoms, is because of the reaction doctors have to thyroid issues, PCOS, and so on. For example, there is no direct “test” for PCOS, and you don’t have to experience all of the symptoms, but it is a syndrome. This makes things confusing. Overall, I just wish there was more research being conducted for something that so many women are going through but is not able to be scientifically linked to anything. Let’s link it!

[annegorgeous]

This is the realest video all women need to hear. TTC can be very stressful and makes women so anxious. I feel so liberated with this video.💜💜💜

[thetwogilrs]

Great video, thank you so much. I'm going to stop taking my birth control tomorrow and felt quite nervous. This video helped a lot❤

[hashtaglily]

I stopped birth control 3 months ago after being on them for WAY too long(for me!) This was never explained to me and due to me having a disability the health care wanted me to continuing on birth control despite me having aura migraines, my mother having had cloths in my age, I was getting a large fibroid that had to be surgically removed and I lost one of my fallopian tubes due to it! When I turned 35 in april this year I met up with a new midwife that was to refill my pills but when she asked for my health care history she said no, I cant refill the pills. You are at risk of having severe side effects from them. And Im sooo damn thankful she came into my life at that time as I otherwise would have just kept taking them and risking my life. She put me on a mini pill instead that gave me severe boils (down under). So I just quit with them aswell. Best thing I've ever done! My period came back 28 days after I stopped the pill. Im happier, have more energy and my low sex drive is not low anymore. Its on the other side now, almost too high! The only complaint I might have is that during ovulation I feel pain on my left side when I ovulate on that side due to surgical scarring after the removal of my left fallopian tube and that I have more unwanted hair growth.... Im never getting on birth control ever again and am now making up for lost time! My partner and I've been together for 18 years and it feels like Im a teenager again falling in love with him all over again!

[Misshowzat]

I was having all sorts of nasty side effects & symptoms so came off & in the few days following had heavy migraine (never had migraines), cold & flu style symptoms, bloating, exhaustion & reduced iron (which came out of nowhere). But it gets better. It's just a bit of a shock out of nowhere. So glad I've only been on a few years & I can say goodbye to this again

[NikNikNeuro]

Comprehensive and clear. Thank you for posting. I finished cycle 1 off of BC and the lateness with elevated cramping scared me. Appreciate the information and am hopefully for regularity soon!

[dorottyasarosi]

I just started because of my skin, but I already know that I want to stop after a month if possible. I'm happy that I dont have to do anything specific to stop taking bc.

[BlueMagic]

This video is so helpful. I'm getting a bisalp and a diagnostic laparoscopy by end of summer, and been on an IUD for the past 9 years to somewhat treat painful heavy periods. I'm hoping to get off the IUD, and get a definitive diagnosis to what could have been causing my painful periods my whole life. 😊

[raynemiller]

This month I have gone off the pill after 12 years. For the last year and a half I’ve dealt with recurring yeast infections, BV, gut issues, puffy face, no sex drive ect. I am healthy, 29, non smoker and go hiking 10 miles each weekend. Doctor has me doing anti fungal and antibiotic gel once a week for the next 6 months. I’ve tried probiotics for years. I started taking magnesium just two weeks ago, and wow I can actually go to the bathroom regularly. This is how it’s supposed to be..? 😮These are all signs to me that my vaginal/gut microbiome are absolutely stripped of its proper nutrients/good bacteria. The only other thing I can think of is to see if my body gains the ability to heal itself without the pill. Also, I am so excited to feel the changes in my body throughout the month, I’ve been numb and monotoned for 12 years. 🙂

[deemkn]

coming off birth control for the first time since december 2019… super nervous about acne and my period not being at a dependable time. when can i go back on it if i feel i need to?

[stellashepherd]

If you come off of birth control during peri menopause you might feel like you have a “syndrome”. After a year of escalating symptoms I went back on BC pills. Relief!

[moramejia]

Thank you so much . I just stopped it cause I got deep anxiety and depression, I was getting crazy .

[MHSMagicLuver]

I’m a PA and after being on birth control for like 14 years. Went from pill to depo to Paraguard (perforated uterus) back to pills. I just got married in April and even though we aren’t trying to have kids right now, if it happens it’s not the worst thing at this point (I am getting older as I’m 32). Biggest thing is I want to see if I can get my libido back because there’s no other medical reason (checked all blood work, I worked in primary care). I have heard some people have more energy after coming off (I’m tired all the time) and possibly lose some stubborn weight. I have an appt with a new OBGYN (just moved states) in October so I’ll have her check hormone levels after coming off. I plan on doubling up using FAM and condoms until we are ready to have kids.

[kaylaelias]

Has anyone had bad upset stomach after coming off of it? And change in bowel movements?

[beverleywong]

I’m considering coming off birth control. I’ve been on birth control since I was 16 and I’m now 26. I was taking the pill not consistently cause it was just to manage my terrible acne I was having at the time. And then when I became sexually active I switch to an iud. It was okay but I noticed that on the iud my hair was thinning not too bad It didn’t bother me as much. Once it was time to take out my iud I decided to get on the pill. My previous pill was no longer available so I switch to another and then that pill gave me terrible acne and then I switch again and I noticed my hair was thinner. I talked to a hormone doctor she said I have pcos so she put me on another pill. My doctor left the practice so I had to get this pill filled by walk in clinic the doctor didn’t want to give me the same pill and gave me something else since it was the end of my pack I had no choice but to take it. It’s now been close to a year and now my hair is thinner than ever. I had more hair before starting the pill could the pill be the cause of my hair loss. (Crown/top part of my head) would coming off of it help my hair. Please any advice helps

[tomatosauceandaoli]

Lumping tons of symptoms together and coining a term like that seems to be an extremely effective strategy to make money in the "health" industry

[sabbya.]

I came off the pill about 6 weeks ago. I was on it for 14 years. Started at 35yrs of age after have major endometriosis. I feel ok except for hair loss. No period yet. I am nearly 49. Hoping i will go into menopaus. Only thing i am hoping is if my cycle does come back that the monthly pain levels won't be as bad as i remembered.

[Mrfrankblak]

Off after 5 years. Nearly went bald. My face broke out with everything from rosacea to perioral and periocular dermatitis. Skin turned dry, boobs went down about a half cup size or more. It really put a damper on my mental health. I miss who I was on them but not worth the risk of blood clot and stroke.

[tayh]

I was so unsure and now i feel alot better about it. This is my body and the pill helped me not get pregnant and now im tired of heing on it and want my body to go all natural so its okay if i have symptoms from getting off, its my body and im in charge!