I often hear that millions of women take hormonal birth control without incident. That may indeed be the case but it certainly isn’t my experience in my practice. In fact, the most common question I get from women when they first find me is…
“How do I get off the birth control pill?”
I’m continually amazed by the sheer volume of women I encounter who are ready to part ways with their pill (or any hormonal birth control for that matter), either because their sex drive has plummeted or completely disappeared, they are finding that sex has become painful, they are experiencing other side effects like gut problems, chronic yeast or urinary tract infections, hair loss, irregular periods and maybe even amenorrhea (no periods).
All of these symptoms are very clear signals from your body that something is wrong. They might be statistically normal but I promise this is not the way your body was designed to function.
You may not be one of these women who experiences symptoms and instead you’re ready to come off because you want to get pregnant. That’s great too! I do recommend waiting at least six months after coming off the pill before trying to conceive because you want to make sure your body is in prime shape to nourish a baby. Additionally, there is evidence that women who conceive immediately after coming off the pill are more likely to have premature deliveries.
Here’s the first thing you need to know about coming off the pill…
You can stop the pill at any time. Luckily, the pill is one of the few drugs that you can stop without having to wean off of it. Some women stop midway through their current pack while others prefer to finish it out. It’s completely up to you. When I was coming off the pill 10 years ago I finished the pack, but I’m a Virgo perfectionist who didn’t want to screw anything up! 🙂
Here are my recommendations before coming off the pill…
These suggestions will help to mitigate any of the negative side effects you might experience.
1. Start taking a great B Complex.
One of the key sets of nutrients depleted by oral contraceptives is the B Complex of vitamins, especially B2, B6, B9 and B12. I’ve written many times about how important these vitamins are for our overall AND reproductive health. You can read about that here, here and here. I recommend Thorne Research Basic B Complex, or at least a B Complex that has the Methylated B vitamins in it. This is a good place to start, although if you have an MTHFR gene mutation you might need to further explore what type of B vitamins are right for you.
2. Include these trace minerals in your diet and supplementation.
Zinc, magnesium and selenium can become very depleted while on the pill. Most women are already mineral deficient when they start the pill because of the standard western diet so it’s crucial to start building back up your stores of these minerals. When a woman stops BC and is deficient in these minerals she might develop a series of issues.
For instance, post-pill amenorrhea is fairly common. Or you may have a very irregular cycle, where the cycle length is alternating, you bleed for a very short of period of time, there’s a shortened luteal phase, there’s no ovulation, or ovulation is happening twice in one cycle. It can show up in many different ways.
For a zinc deficiency, try pumpkin seeds, red meat and shellfish. You can also supplement with zinc and I recommend Thorne Research Zinc Picolinate or Pure Encapsulations Zinc Picolinate. For magnesium, include lots of dark leafy greens, avocados, nuts and seeds.
I’ve also found supplementing with 300mg a day of magnesium glycinate can be very helpful too. I also LOVE Natural Calm magnesium in the evening – it helps you wind down and sleep well. Take either the glycinate or the Natural Calm for your magnesium needs. For selenium, try Brazil nuts (they have a very high amount of selenium), organ meats like liver and kidney along with oysters.
3. Start including probiotic-rich fermented foods in your diet.
Another problem I see with women who’ve been on birth control for awhile are gut problems and/or chronic vaginal infections. There is evidence that oral contraceptives alter gut function by messing with your gut flora. I dealt with it myself many years ago and I continually see it in my clients.
The problem is that altered gut flora will in turn affect hormone regulation so it’s extremely important to get your guts back on track. While the solution is nuanced, I recommend including probiotic-rich foods as a starting point – sauerkraut, kim-chi, other fermented vegetables and water kefir. If you’re not down with fermented veggies (it’s an acquired taste for some!) then try taking probiotics. I use and highly recommend Megaspore Probiotics. Use code “NJC”.
Healing your gut will depend on how long you’ve been on the pill and whether you had gut & digestive problems before going on it. I highly recommend my Fix Your Period program because I have a whole section dedicated to gut health along with a gut cleansing and healing protocol. (Please choose track 1 or 2 based on the symptoms you are experiencing).
4. Focus on lots of healthy fats and protein.
You need fat and protein to build hormones. Period. Without the right amounts you will continue to stay stuck in hormonal imbalance land. Make it your goal in life to get good quality fat and protein into each meal or as many meals as you can. I recommend a palm-sized portion of protein, a couple ounces of healthy fats (think avocado, fatty fish, nuts and seeds, coconut oil/coconut butter) and lots of raw and cooked veggies. Are you hungry yet? 🙂
Here are my recommendations for when you do come off the pill…
Obviously, numbers 1-4 above continue to apply but there are some more steps you can take.
1. Start tracking your cycle.
I recommend getting an app on your phone asap so you can begin to understand your own unique menstrual cycle. This process will be a lot less scary when you’re armed with the right knowledge. Remember, the pill has hijacked your hormonal function for as long as you’ve been on it so it’s important to develop a relationship with your hormones once they start to kick back in. This may take some time so a little love and patience with your body will go a long way 🙂
Read about My Top 3 Fertility Trackers here.
You’ll want to start by recording your first day of bleeding (your withdrawal bleed) which is also the first day of your cycle. You’ll also want to record any symptoms you experience throughout the month – emotional symptoms and physical ones too. If you’re feeling really motivated, I suggest taking your basal body temperature along with charting your cycle. This will help you pinpoint exactly when you actually ovulate again for the first time.
2. Liver detoxification.
The body eliminates toxins through your liver – it’s like your own personal garbage processing and disposal plant 🙂
Your liver also plays a massive role in helping your body rid itself of excess or harmful hormone metabolites so it’s crucial that you make sure it’s functioning at it’s best. Many women complain of horrible acne once they come off the pill and it’s likely due to poor phase 1 and/or phase 2 liver detoxification.
There are tons of ways you can detox but you want to make sure you’re doing it the right way. I suggest a food-based cleanse to start – it’s easy and gentle on the body. You can check out my Fix Your Period Cleanse 5-Day Reset as a place to start. It includes a shopping list, recipes, 5-day cleanse guide and a menu planner. I also include the different supplements to take to support yourself while cleansing.
One of those supplements is N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). It helps your body boost production of glutathione, a very powerful antioxidant and detoxifier. You might also want to try Di-Indole Methane (DIM) to help your liver break down harmful estrogens and produce more of the good estrogens.
3. Address your stress. For reals.
This is by far the most daunting of them all isn’t it? Many of us make commitments to address our stressful lifestyles but it’s a hard commitment to keep. It’s certainly something I continue to grapple with, especially as a business owner. While there isn’t any clinical evidence that oral contraceptives impact our adrenal health, there is lots of evidence showing that worn out adrenals are connected to hormonal imbalances.
You simply can’t fulfill your goals and live your purpose if you’re dealing with adrenal fatigue and feeling chronically exhausted. So, you have to make a decision – are you okay with the status quo or do you want to feel good enough to actually live and enjoy your life.
4. Most importantly, if you need proper guidance around coming off hormonal birth control, I’ve created the ultimate step by step protocol to help you transition off hormonal birth control (the pill (patch, IUD, implant etc) and take back control of your hormones, your body and your life. Check out my Ditch Your Birth Control Protocol here!
As you can see, there are a number of factors to consider when coming off the birth control pill. You’ve got to nail down the basics like diet, supplementation, detoxification and stress management in order to ease the transition. Hopefully this list is a good starting point for you.
48 thoughts on “Get off the birth control pill the right way”
Hi Nicole,
I have been on and off birth control pill since I was 16; I was naive and didn’t realize that each time I came off birth control, I had extreme hair loss. I realized it was because it was such a high dose birth control (Loestrin) and is the highest androgenic birth control pill. I always thought it was my PCOS but then I realized when I was never on the pill with pcos I had never had hair loss. Now I’m on yaz (my doctors kept telling me it was detrimental and dangerous to be off of it and I got pressured once again). and I’m deathly afraid of coming off. My hair is at manageable point where no one can tell I have balding, just that it’s thin. But I know when I get off yaz to get pregnant in like three years, my body just goes into shock. Please please tell me there’s a way to prevent this shed. I take the pill every other day (only take it to control my pcos). Is there a way to talk to you if I purchase this program? I want to get my body ready to come off the pill without the dread shed. Is this possible? I’ve already lost 90 percent of my hair, I don’t know what I’d do if I lost more. Please help.
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This was a very helpfull post. Though what i never de answerred in these kind of posts are my biggest worries. I was in so much pain when i had my period before starting the pill ( that was the reason i started) Plus i was developping a cyste on one of my ovaries before. I’m scared the pain and the cyste will return. What do you think i should do?
I’ve been reading a lot of success stories about women weaning off the pill gradually instead of stopping “cold turkey”. I know you say it’s not necessary, but it would be interesting for you to talk about that. I want to attempt trying this out as I don’t want to “shock” my body (I’m on a very high dose pill) and I also want to avoid a full-fledged acne resurgence as much as possible.
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Hi… I want to stop taking my pills. I want to become pregnant in a year but also my pills make my hair thin and breast very large! But they help my mood and anxiety. What supplements should I take? B-complex, DIM and or?
Hi Christine, I can’t make specific recommendations for you on a blog post comment because I don’t know your history or current health status. You should definitely get my Birth Control Protocol to learn more about how to support yourself as you transition off the pill. Here is the link: http://nicolejardim.pages.ontraport.net/Birth-Control-Protocol
Was put on low hormonal birth control Due to prolong bleeding been on for about 8 months now, dont like the feeling on it always feeling depressed anxiety and my breast hurt so bad and i feel heavy. I never liked birth control but my GYN doctor wanted me to try it to stop the bleeding. Bleeding has stopped I just dont want to be on birth control any more. what are my chances of bleeding for 4 months striaght again.
Thanks for the information regarding how to get off the birth control pill the correct way. My wife has been taking the pill for quite some time now because we want to wait till we are out of college to have children. We were unsure about the process of getting off the pill and this has been really helpful! Thanks again!
I have been off the Nuva Ring for 5 weeks. I am shedding a ton of hair. What can I do to stop the hair loss?? I take Biotin, vitamin C, evening primrose, fish oil and D3 daily.
Hi Nicole!
I know this is late but I’m am lost, conflicted and desperate for help. I stopped birth control is April of 2016 and had a natural period immediately following from May-Oct. I missed an entire period in August and didn’t think too much of it until Oct 1st when i started experiencing constant backaches, cramps, bloating, fatigue, and hair loss. It would last for 5 days, then go away a week and come back. I decided to go in for an ultrasound on Nov 11th and my gyno showed the classic “string of pearl cysts” on both of my ovaries. Now, I am gluten-free, soy free, and dairy free.I eat all oragnic along with raw butter, pasture raised eggs and fish. I take all natural supplements but don’t exercise. My question is, do you think my cysts and symptoms could be due to coming off the pill for so many years? Or that it could just be the lack of exercise is messing with my hormones? My gyno was very surprised to see someone with my build and health with poly cysts. I am slender 5’7 and 110 lbs and desperate for any wisdom or direction I can get.
Thanks and warmth to you!
Lindsey
I’ve been on the pill, for about 14 or 15 years now. I started on it back in highschool due to severe cramps & heavy bleeding. I have not once stopped taking it since then. I’ve had several health issues since about 2008. I fear one of my issues may be a hormone imbalance of sorts, but with my luck as it goes, all tests will come back “normal”. I’ve recently been wanting to stop the pill, I’m not sexually active right now, so that’s not an issue. But I feel my body needs to be itself again, though I fear those severe cramps will come back & I’ll not be able to function again :/ I’m on the last week of my pill & I just want to stop it. Ugh, so confused.
Hi Cristal. I know how confusing and daunting the idea of getting off hormonal birth control can be, especially when you have been on it for as long as you have. But I highly recommend you follow your instincts and do it. I can talk all day about the reasons why you should ditch the pill but since it’s difficult for me to answer all of the questions that come through on my blog, I have created a group on Facebook called Know Your Flow where questions can be asked and experiences shared. There are thousands of amazing women (myself included) in this group offering advice and support to help others find the answers they are looking for. Getting off the pill is a topic that is always being discussed in this group so you will have a lot of support if you decide to do this. I think you’ll find this community to be a great resource so if you’d like to join, just copy and paste this URL in your browser, request to join the group and we’ll get you added: http://bit.ly/1OCXvcq Hope to see you there!
Hey I’ve just stopped the pill today I’ve been a year and a few months on it because acne I am very young I started on may 2015 when I was nearly 15 in a month now I’m nearly sixteen.
I started experience sickness and I wasn’t sure if it was about the yaz pill but it’s too scary.
It says acne might come back I have to wait and see and try and control it another way without medicine.
This helped me so much! I’ve been off the pill for about a couple of days and today is when I’m starting to feel irritable and crampy? My nipples Also seem to be very sensitive- and I am not sexually active. I am also very nauseous is this normal? Thanks for your help again!
Hi, I’m off the pill a year now but I’m experiencing joint pain and anxiety still. Wondering can you recommend anything? I’m on a multivitamin, vitamin d, magnesium, osteocare supplement. The joint pain is really getting to me. I got hit with these symptoms exactly 2 months to the day I quit the pill. I’ve been tempted to go back on the pill but I don’t really want to. I had my hormones checked and my progesterone was at 4.2 but the doctor didn’t think this was an issue. I’m not trying to conceive- I just wanted to be pill free. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Deirdre, Did you ever get your joint pain figured out? I am experiencing the same thing. Sometimes when I get up I feel like I might fall over from stiff joints and pain. I would love to hear how your journey has gone since 2016. Dawn
I have been using the Dr Max Powers 15 Day Cleanse product for about six months (I do it every other month), and I love that it doesn’t cause cramping, and I have lost weight and feel so much better after it. This really helps to keep my system regulated. My husband uses them occasionally for cleansing.
Thank you for your post! I have been on Diane 35 for nearly fifteen years. I am excited and nervous to be going off of it entirely. I am in a secure and stable relationship and we are planning to have a family in the next couple of years, but aren’t ready yet. I want to get my endocrine system in shape before trying, and I have given my body a year to rebalance naturally and heal my intestinal flora. I have always battled with skin conditions, and the Diane 35 was the only thing that worked for my skin. I know it is a controversial BCP, and I know it has some brutal side affects, which is why I am glad to be saying goodbye finally.
I tried to go off of it three years ago and had a horrible reaction. My acne was wild, and not the kind I had when I first started using Diane 35, this was horrific, cystic, chronic, deep and painful acne that left scars physically and emotionally all over my face and neck. I want to change the outcome this time if I can, so I don’t have to face that trauma again. I am exponentially healthier now than I was then, and have a much more balanced life. I have high hopes for this transition, but I would like to have a plan in place to clean those toxins out of my body before they have to appear on my face and neck the way they did last time. If I am serious, committed, and willing to try anything, what would be your best recommendation in terms of a liver cleanse? or any other protocol to address the battle with acne after diane 35 comes out of my system.
I have ordered my very own Lady comp for natural birth control and I am excited to start using it. Goodbye, hormone tyrant drug.. you’ve been in charge for far too long!! good riddance.
Hi! I was wondering how your transition was going?
I also stopped my pill several years ago and had horrible acne that left scars as well:(. I have just came off birth control again, but this time I started taking supplements in advance and eat a very healthy clean diet in hopes of preventing the toxins coming out on my skin. I hope your seeing results!
Hi Nicole –
I know this post is a bit old now but I am just coming off of the pill. I have gotten two natural cycles since stopping and I just wanted to let you know how helpful this was!
I started taking Zinc (on top of a multi-already) and I am starting a pro-biotic today. Stopping birth control is just another topic NOT talked about in women’s health and I had no idea it would be such a difficult transition after being on the pill for 9 years. You forget your body has cycles and operates beautifully on its own.
Thanks for the tips and honesty!
Great information. We had an interesting lecture at school today on the subject. I subconsciously knew the the ring was not the best for my overall health, but I didn’t realize how much it could be affecting my well being (fatigue, abdominal weight, bloating etc). I have been on it for my skin and to prevent unwanted pregnancy. But I now feel empowered to ditch the pill for the second time around for good. However, I am afraid of breaking out badly again- it was horrible. I have my period this week and will not be starting up my ring again this weekend. I am studying nutrition in school and already eat relatively clean, take probiotics, multi, aces+zinc (both cytomatrix), I do a weekly castor oil pack etc…but I’m concerned this won’t be enough to balance my hormones… how do you feel about vitex, dong quai, and maca root? I just don’t want to be taking a million things…I think its important to focus on diet more heavily than supplements? Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thank you for this wonderful information. I am currently on the pill due to multiple losses and one eptopic. Although I’m holding off on coming off the pill atm (awaiting testing etc.) I’m in full force planning for the future so my husband and I can try for a baby again. We are trying to avoid as many issues as possible. I have a notebook for notes so I know what I need to do for my body. This article has helped a lot. Thank you so much
Thank you so much for this information. I am about to go off birth control, have just stocked up on the vitamins you suggested and am eating more probiotic foods. I was wondering if when you are on the BCP will your body show any of the fertility signs you observe in FAM (body temp, changing cervical fluid, cervix changes etc) I have started taking my temperature every morning even though I am still on the pill and my temperature shows no changes.
Your temp won’t show anything until off the pills.
Hi! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION. Hopefully I’m not scaring you with my caps – I’m using them because I’m so grateful!!! Not yelling hahah. I’ve listened to quite a few of your videos and interviews and I am hooked. I definitely feel like I can’t find help that’s directed toward my age group – even from wellness centers! So it’s a huge relief to find you and see that you understand. I have a complex history, but I’ve been off the birth control pill for month and a half now. Before going on, I had a hormone test and my progesterone was scary low. Anyways, since going off, the changes are not drastic. I’m a bit more irritable. I get a few pimples every other week. And the problems I’ve already had are here too, particularly fatigue and anxiety (which was amplified on the pill, oh my goodness). I’m slowly transitioning to do what is best for my body and think I will buy some of the supplements you recommended! Particularly Vitamin C and the DIM detox.
I had a specific question though: it’s summer and I’m in college, and I’m about to embark on a couple amazing journeys… a concert and a trip to Europe! Where I will be able to legally drink….. I usually abstain from drinking because I know it’s harmful but it really sucks to miss out. I drank probably 5 times while being on the pill and it didn’t seem to have any large effects on me (other than being drunk, which was on purpose haha). Do you think it would be safe for me to drink one time, or maybe three times but once a week? I don’t want it to trigger major skin issues or just make my situation any worse, especially long-term. I could start taking DIM but the first time I really want to do it is in five days. Sorry this is long!! I just wanted to fill you in a little and express my gratitude. 🙂 You will probably hear more from me, including seeing my name signed up for your video lectures. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!
I have been on my birth control for a yr and 7 months now. I started taking the pills because I had a missed carriage from placenta previa. I recently found out I have placenta previa. So I have decided to stop my birth control after 6 intense months of weight managemen I have lost 45lbs since I went on birth control. Do you think its a good idea to leave birth control n try for a baby having pcos? What should I take to prevent another miscarriage? Please help thanxx
Hi, after 12 years on the pill I finally went off nd I did it in the middle f the cycle, I had half of het pills left in the blister. 5 days after my last pill I’m having my first period, I hope that means that my periods I’m going to normalize quiet quickly…
Thanks for your post, it really is helpfull
After trying Loestrin for 2 months, I just decided with my fiance to go off of it because it was making my moods so erratic, whereas before even my PMS moods have always been pretty even-keel. Also I realized I have certain ethical qualms with how it works, and I have had a very keen awareness the past couple of months that there is something “wrong” with my health–I have only ever taken 2 rounds of antibiotics in my life, and other than that, no prescription medication. My stomach feels weird, I am tired constantly, and I have absolutely no drive at all. I am hoping that since I only took it for 2 months, maybe my boy can still treat it like I was sick for a couple of months and kind of heal itself along with my detoxing with whole foods and no sugar, etc.
I’m planning to be aware of my cycle so I can possibly start natural family planning along with other non systemic methods. We are getting married next month and we don’t want to start having children right away, so we are still figuring out what will be best for us.
I would like to mention also that most people who take the kind of BP I was taking take a few months to even out, but I was having pretty intense anxiety over the whole thing. The clincher was doing the research on how “periods” work when you are on the pill, along with the damage it can do to your gut health.
I am looking forward to seeing my body repair itself over the next few months; I am hoping I haven’t done too much damage to my normally healthy body 🙁
Sarah-
I am on the generic version of loestrin, I started it because I was having an issue with anxiety that they thought was hormone related… As of yesterday I am no longer on any medication but zofran to eat, and Xanax as needed… How are you feeling now?
Heather
Hello Nicole!
I have changed a lot of things about the way I eat and live in the past year or 2. I went off my birth control pill last March. I was doing great, feeling awesome and then all of a sudden anout 3 to 5 months after not taking the pill….my body freaked out! I had irregular periods again, had pain during sex, and not to mention I was CONSTANTLY cramping….it was like a sharp pain. Went through being pregnant….negative….went through ultrasounds and doctor visits….negative. blood tests abd tests for infections….negative. i had been on it for 7+ years prior….started taking it in 8th or 9th grade because my cramps were so unbearable. finally, my obgyn just said we should try the pill again to see if it goes away. 2nd month into it, the cramping finally all the way subsided and was gone. My sister in law, whose a nurse, thought i might have endometriosis….I am wanting to get off the pill again now because I am getting yeast infections all the time again but im terrified to be in that pain again! I want to have kids someday but not right away. Does the bc do anything to your fertility? I have heard it doesnt. also….i do not know if this means anything but I have been having pain in my upper right quadrant area kinda where your gallbladder would be. I have been to many drs and am awaiting a GI visit to see if they will give me an endoscopy to see if there is anything going on. I get pain there off and on as well as swelling. all tests and scans have come back with nothing. also, i have GI/bowel issues and when I was younger the only thing i remember having was some acid reflex but I dont have it anymore. This all started after I stopped my birth control AND anti depressant. I have since last year stopped drinking alcohol, gone gluten free and try to stay away from sugar. Could this be related to my birth control?
I hope you can help me.
Thanks!
Autumn
I have had post-pill amenorrhea for 15 months and just got a full-on period. I was on the pill for 10 years until 15 months ago, I realized what the pill was doing to my weight (not to mention migraines), and I just stopped taking them. I still don’t know enough to decide what to do next. I hope it’s not too late to follow your suggestions on B complex, etc.
Do you think I waited too long for my body to start getting period naturally? Could this have anything to do with my thyroid or PCOS? I would love to hear a word of hope and whether or not I can ever get my hormones to balance again and get my sex drive up. Would your 8 week program be right for me?
You definitely didn’t wait too long and it’s never too late Anu! You got a period and that’s the first sign that everything is starting to work the way it should in your body. Thyroid and PCOS play a big role in your menstrual cycle function for sure and I teach all about that in my 8 week program. Plus I give you a specific protocol to heal your thyroid and a protocol for PCOS. I’m rooting for you! 🙂
xoxo
Nicole
I’m very seriously considering going off hormonal birth controls. I changed from the low dose pills to nuva ring a little over a month ago because I was forgetting the pills, but I just feel like I am ready to go off of it all.
I’m torn, though because my husband is afraid that we are financially not ready for another child (although I feel that if God gives us a baby then He will help us to provide for it. No offense to anyone, it’s my belief). I want another child, but I’m obese and have had back problems in the past (thankfully seeing a chiropractor now) and also had a C-section with my first daughter so I’m afraid of the risks at this point in time if I do become pregnant.
Any ideas on what to do about avoiding pregnancy between stopping the hormones and when your cycle is regular?
I’m so glad I found this site!
I’ve been on and off birth control for the past 5 years due to irregular periods/PMS problems/acne. This past summer 2014 I decided to literally wean off the birth control to see if that would help my process this tie around. Because each time I went back to Birth control it was because I was breaking out in terrible acne and not even having a period! So now, I am completely off birth control for my second month. I am taking these supplements right now:
-Vitex
-Dong Quai
-Evening primrose Oil
-Estroblock (DIM)
-Multivitamin
-Vitamin C 1,000
-Krill oil
-Probiotic
After weaning off, I was able to get my period. in December and now January but my cycle is 42 days long. I’m also getting cystic acne right now but I know my body will need time to re adjust and bring back my hormones. I just don’t want to go back to having cystic acne again as a regular PMS symptom. I never had bad periods. Just bad PMS! lol before birth control I had a period every 17 days. I’m assuming I need to correct the problem from the root but I don’t know ho to do that. Any wise wisdom? lol
-Megan
Hi Nicole, you say in your post that ovulation can happen more than once in a cycle. Can you please clarify what you meant? It’s always been my understanding that ovulation only ever happens once per cycle. Are you talking about multiple episodes of peak mucous? Here’s the part where you made this claim. Thanks in advance for the explanation!
“Or you may have a very irregular cycle, where the cycle length is alternating, you bleed for a very short of period of time, there’s a shortened luteal phase, there’s no ovulation, or ovulation is happening twice in one cycle. It can show up in many different ways.”
Great post and advice Nicole! I didn’t know that about getting pregnant straight off the pill and premature births – just goes to show how much impact those tiny pills can have on our body. I was never happier than when I came off the pill – years and years of disconnection with my body it’s now great to be in tune with it again!
It’s amazing what effects the pill can have on our bodies! Thanks for sharing your insight! 🙂 xoxo, Nicole
Thanks so much Xandi!! I couldn’t agree more with you. 🙂
Thanks for a fantastic post Nicole. This is so timely for me as I’m on count down to stop the pill at the end of January.
Your welcome Dana! Excited that you are getting off the pill. Sending you lots of good vibes! xo
Hi Nicole,
Thanks for this great post! I was on the pill for about 10 years. I went off of it for the first time about 2 years ago and my periods were 35-38 days long and I started to get really bad acne, at which point I went back on it. In the past year, I’m happy to say I recommitted to going pill-free, but this time I really changed up my diet and lifestyle – I’m supplementing with B-complex and taking the probiotic you recommend, also eating a lot cleaner and focusing on leafy greens and healthy fats. 6-months in, my skin is clear, I feel sooo much better, and while my period still isn’t entirely regular (28 to 34 day cycles)I’m sure I’ll get there.
Thanks for all your work on this subject!
Kara
Kara! Look at you! Sooo awesome that you recommitted and did it the right way the second time. It makes a massive difference doesn’t it? 🙂 And 28-34 day cycles are pretty regular so you should totally celebrate that. Yay!
You’re only period free about one week out of the month and that’s normal Nicole?
Hi Ashley!
it should be the opposite. You should only have a period for 5-7 days a month, anything other than that is not normal and should be addressed as soon as possible. Sorry if you found the post confusing!
xoxo
Nicole