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I am so happy to wave goodbye to nausea, farewell to vomiting, adios to weight gain, and bu-bye to difficulty wearing contacts. Yes, all of the above are the most common side effects associated with OCPs (oral contraceptive pills) and I have had them at some point. If you can remember from a previous post--I hate taking pills but I've been glued to my OCPs for the past two and a half years. It has done the job so far--no unplanned pregnancies yet. But it's time to say goodbye.
You may be curious to know why I'm doing this. The first thing that may come to your mind is that I'm trying to get pregnant. Actually, I'm not. At least not yet. I've been wanting to get off "the pills" but have been frightened by the idea. My husband and I planned that I would stop in December 2010 and to help me become more comfortable with the idea I've been doing my research. And, thanks to the Fertility Friend I'm a little more comfortable with the idea.
For the new year, the "rhythm method" will be my only method to prevent pregnancy (that is if I'm successful). Right now I can't chart my cycle because I'm on OCPs. My cycle was very regular before so I shouldn't have a problem. Of course it's still in the back of my mind that this method is not as successful but I'm being hopeful. Although my plan is not to get pregnant right away, if I do it wouldn't be the end of the world. It would just be a few months earlier than planned.
I just picked up my last month of OCPs so I'm still taking them for a few more days but I'm so ready to give them the boot. This is just my excited farewell speech (in advance). I must admit that it will be difficult to say goodbye to the increase in boob-age but I don't care. I'm sure I'll get them back again some day (i.e. when pregnant) so I'm not worrying.
Mrs. K
i'm saying farewell with you! all those side effects do not sound fun at all. the worst one is the nausea ... i hate nausea, vomiting more than anything!
ReplyDeleteif you get pregnant right away i will have even more reasons to stalk your blog daily! you know i am going to have to take tips from someone, hehe. :)
LOL Faith. You are too cute. My hope is not to get pregnant right away but we'll see. The fact that I'll be moving to a different state in a few months is one of the reason. You know I'll keep you posted :)
ReplyDeleteI glad for you!! OCP are the devil! I hope the transition is smooth for you and I hope you don't have a difficult time getting pregnant later on. :)
ReplyDeleteI have never had any side effects from my birth control luckily...
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your charting and rhythm method
Hello to feeling better. I'm glad you are making a switch that will ease your way into pregnancy eventually.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the transition Mrs. K I am also off of OCPs due to the side effects. Every attempt at taking them was short lived.
My coworker practiced the rhythm method for years and on one fateful Valentine's day she was considered fertile and thought this method probably doesn't work and she got pregnant. She told us her baby was her Valentine's day gift.
I hope your transition is a smooth one.
OOh, I have never known anyone who uses the rythmn method... I look forward to hearing about how you get on... and your impending move to a different state!
ReplyDeleteBelieve me. I am not trying to come in here and rain on your parade. I just want to tell you a couple of things that have happened to my friends.
ReplyDeleteOne of them got off the pill and got pregnant 1 month later. She was shocked because she really thought it would take some time.
Another friend of mine used the rhythm method too...now she has six kids. I don't know who to blame for that one.
But hopefully everything will fall in line for. Just be extra careful if you don't want it to happen.
Best of luck!! Obviously I am no expert at birth control ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for following my blog! And good luck with this method. I'm tired of B.C. myself but haven't come up with anything else. I'd be way too paranoid to do this...'cause a baby would not be a good thing for us.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are ready and thats great! Im so sorry you've had all those awful side effects!! I'm super inconsistent w/ my pills, which is not good, because I'm not trying to get pregnant. I just think its about finding something that works for you and something that doesn't make you sick!! Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI never used the pills therefore i don't the effect the can bring.
ReplyDeleteIt will be so cool to get pregnant around the same time.
Wow, I never heard of pills leading to all those side effects. I did put on weight, but I'm couldn't fathom parting with the pill until we're ready for family thing. I'm intrigued about this rhythm method though - I've never heard of it!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with everything. I can't believe you were dealing with all of those side effects for so long. What brand are/were the OCP's?
ReplyDeleteI was on the pill for 8 long years and I'm glad i'm off of them. I don't plan to go back on them. Fertility friend is awesome. I learned so much from it. Don't get too caught up in the message boards though. They can drive you insane sometimes. Good luck trying when you do start. It took us 14 months to conceive our first after I got off the pill. Hopefully it doesn't take you guys that long. It's a good thing your getting off before you are ready, you'll get to know your body and know when the time is right.
ReplyDeleteNatural family planning is not 100% effective but nothing is either. If you do the charting, check cervical fluid and all that jazz you will really get to know your body & can judge when your fertile window is, whether you are trying or not. We use it. If you have any questions email me, but your a doc I'm sure you know how it works. LOL
ReplyDeleteGood luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteI never liked BC pills either but after my last child, my doctor suggested nuva ring (because I'm AWFUL with taking pills daily). It's super easy, no problem to insert and nothing permanent - can be removed whenever you want. Love it but it's expensive! (just something else you can consider in case you decide the rhythm method is not what you want).
You definitely need to do what is best for you and your hubby...al will work itself out!
ReplyDeleteThanks ladies for all your comments. I appreciate them all. :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough now is not the "perfect time" to get pregnant for us. I know that there is no such time. Actually if we get pregnant now it wouldn't be the end of the world. I was so paranoid before but now I'm cool with getting off OCPs although we are not "trying."
Whit: The brand is Yaz but the brand doesn't matter. These side effects are common to OCPs in general and I was just the unlucky person to get some of the one's I described.
Rhythm worked for me! I'm waaayyy past this stage, but when I went off pills I did feel better. Things got irregular for me though, so it was all difficult to track. That made the rhythm difficult, but also pregnancy planning. It all worked in the end though and I have two beautiful children and a husband who is "fixed"!! I really didn't want to go back on pills when we were done with kids, and my husband got tired of worrying, so there we are!
ReplyDeleteYAY that you'll be feeling better!! Good luck with the RM.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! OCP is scary. Glad you're going with something less invasive. :D
ReplyDeleteI stopped mine last month! I never had any side effects or anything, but my sis-in-law is strongly against them.
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo, you might wanna read this natural family planning stuff over at Engaged Marriage: http://bit.ly/daPos1
That's great for you. now I have my own personal reasons for being glad you are off OCPs, but its great that you've made a decision that is best for you. All of us commentors can give you what WE would do, but instead I think we need to encourage. My husband and I have been "nautural family planning" or cycle tracking for a year and a half now and so far we only have one daughter, which is the joy to our lives. But after her I decided I wanted to grow as a mother and gain experience, so we decided not to have anymore. The method has worked wonders for me and him, and we are just three peas in a peaceful pod :-) Great for you!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't like the biological implications of OCPs, so you have my support for getting off of them. For the first 8 years of my marriage I successfully used the rhythm method (and condoms when in doubt) as contraception. It can be done and is the 100% healthier and natural option
ReplyDeleteI hope you and the hubby are successful with the rhythm method :-) I've read that folks who follow it strictly have a pretty good success rate. On a different note it seems like you plan on trying for a baby around the same time the hubby and I are planning on trying. Wouldn't it be fun if we were pregnant around the same time?!?!? We could have tons of playdates for our little ones. My only fear with TTC is having to come off OCPs cause they are the only medication that have helped with my super awful period cramps. Anyway good luck with your journey through natural family planning!
ReplyDeleteKim: LOL at getting your husband "fixed." Hilarious. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteMrsTDJ and Jamie: Thanks
HNB: Thanks for the info. I will check them out soon. Good luck on your family planning too
Tina: Glad to know that you've had much success.
Teresha: You're actually one of the people who kind of encouraged me to do the whole rhythm method deal so I appreciate you.
Amy: Thanks lady. It would really be fun for us to be pregnant in NC together. I'm so excited to think about it. Yes, I foresee tons of playdates together in our future. Hey we also don't have family in NC so it will good to connect up with you guys. I hope the cramps will disappear by the time you're ready to come off :)