On or off the birth control pills

**brightceci** · 07-01-2012 07:48 AM

I am having a very tough time trying to decide if I should get off the pills. I have been on the pills since 16 due to irregular and bleeding issues, now I am 35. During all these years I had gone off the pills for a few months only in my early 20s and small cyst developed so my doc put me back on the pills and I haven't stopped since then until after I have had a surgery for endometriosis about two years ago. The experience of these two years taken off the pills and all medication for that matter has changed my life a bit. My sex drive has been sky rocket to the point that I feel very distracted and don't know how to control myself some times. Besides that, I have been feeling a lot happier, a lot of small situations which would have bother me tremendously and make me angry before doesn't bother me as much. I don't stay angry in unpleasant situation for too long like before I feel mad for a whole day or even the next day. And that kind of enable me to socialize better and hence good for building my business. Off the pills my periods are heavy but I don't feel as bad coping with period. On the pills I have period for 7 days and the cramp was still bad because of the endo. Off the pills I only have 1 day of cramp right before my period and heavy flow last for 2 days and light flow 1 day, and that's it.

Now because of my high libido I am scared of getting pregnant all the time, so I decided to put myself on the pills again. It's been a month since I am on the pills, and I realized the different! I am not as happy, I am crankier, I don't feel as enthusiastic dealing with other people or going out to business events or socialize, I have very low libido, I don't feel as attractive, but because of that I am able to concentrate on grunt works that needs to be done for my business, but at the same time i have a lot less tolerance to my employees, clients and other people I deal with. My low libido kind of work well with my husband too and have my sex live under control.

It is this over all happiness that makes me want to go off the pills. But the afraid of pregnancy and the love of raw sex, and afraid the endo will come back sooner makes me think about keeping on the pills. But then, I don't want sex when I am on the pills anyway. If I get off the pills, which means I will HAVE TO find a way to keep my sex urges in control and not fall for friends with benefits, at the same time not to get mad with my husband or even consider leaving him because of his low libido. Well, there are a variety of other things that makes me want to leave him, but there are also a variety of good things that will keep me marry to him forever.. he is a good man and this is a good marriage and I love him.

So... what do you ladies think? If you are in my shoes, what would you do?

**Little** · 07-01-2012 09:26 AM

I would look at different pills. Maybe you could get a lower dose, one that would still protect you against pregnancy but doesn't have as strong other side effects? There are tons of different brands, and there's also the option of "mini pills" that have no estrogen in them. Talk to your doctor, tell them you enjoy the pregnancy prevention but the emotional side effects are keeping you from enjoying your life.

At the end of the day, if every pill prevents you from being really happy, I would suggest going off the pills and using some other kind of pregnancy prevention. If you don't want children for many years, you could use a non-hormonal copper IUD. If you're done having children, you could get your tubes tied or your husband could get a vasectomy. It seems he should be willing to step up a little to ensure you don't get pregnant as well!