To prepare for pregnancy, you’ll need to stop taking birth control pills. This way, your body will start ovulating regularly again so sperm can fertilize an egg. Many types of the pill contain the hormones estrogen and progestin to stop ovaries from releasing eggs. When you stop taking it, you’ll adjust to the absence of these additional hormones. Here are a few changes your body may experience once you stop taking the contraception. 

What to Expect When You Stop Taking Birth Control

1. Menstruation Irregularities 

Once you stop taking the pill, you’ll start getting irregular monthly menstrual cycles. This is because the uterine lining is thickening to prepare for pregnancy. As hormone levels return to normal, you could start your period later or earlier than you used to during a cycle.

If you stop the pill mid-pack, it could take longer to get regular periods back on track. The synthetic hormones in birth control pills will leave your body within two days. You might experience cramping and spotting immediately after that. It will take a few months for your normal menstrual cycle to resume.

2. Mood Changes

When not on birth control, many women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in a week or two leading up to their period. Anxiety and irritability are two symptoms of PMS.

The mood changes are due to the spike in estrogen and progestin and the changes in serotonin levels that happen during the menstrual cycle. You could experience these mood shifts again when you stop taking the pill.   

3. Breakouts

In addition to contraception, estrogen-progestin pills are taken by many women to stop acne flare-ups. Hormones in the pills limit the circulation of androgens in your body. When the flow of the androgen hormone is restricted, sebum production decreases, too. Sebum is the oily substance that can attract dirt and bacteria that clog pores and cause breakouts.

Once you get off the pill, regular sebum production will resume, which means you could get pimples and acne more often.

For advice to prepare for pregnancy, contact Suffern, NY-based Home Birth with Love. Registered nurse and certified nurse-midwife Leah Marinelli is committed to helping clients in Rockland, Westchester, and Orange counties have safe home deliveries. Her team also provides prenatal care for a healthy pregnancy. Learn more about holistic birthing online or call (845) 641-5058 for details.