If I was to come off the pill, do I just stop taking it?

My nurse said yes to this - but if it is for TTC immediately start taking folic acid (I think)

Yep! That's what I came off for a bit. You just stop. You might have what I call a *mega* period within a couple of days of coming off. I don't think it's any worse, it's just I got used to lighter ones on cerezette

Ooh exciting! Yes just come off it and as said if TTC best to start raking folic acid ASAP. And if you are good luck too ☺

I wondered this, I forgot mine when I went to Paris and thought about just stopping but then paniced and started again when I got back!!

Yus yus! As above! X

I asked my GP, and the family planning people about this and they said yes just stop taking, although they did advise to stop taking it at the end of a cycle rather than starting a pack and not finishing it.

The last pill I was on before I gave up completely was cerazette, and I just stopped - right in the middle of a packet I think.

Aye, just stop. some people like to finish a pack, others just stop taking it!

We're probably going to start TTC in April (after anniversary). ?

I thought about coming off the pill now-ish to give my cycle time to settle down a bit - does that make any sense? I haven't had one natural period in 15 years and no period whatsoever for 5 and I didn't like the thought of actively trying and not having any clue what my cycle was.

I am so clueless about these things though - does that even make sense?

In the same boat Kharv... the thought of being out of control terrifies me!

Yeah course! It makes sense to me - it will give you more of a sense of the 'natural' course of your monthly cycle so you will be more sensitive to and aware of any changes in the future.

Sounds logical to me to give yourself a few months to let your body get into its natural sync. It's what I will ideally do when we are ready to TTC.

Yeah total sense. We did this for a bit mainly because pill was making me grumpy though.

The one thing I would suggest is to try and work out your pattern and when you roughly ovulate it will help immensely. I never really appreciated there are only a couple of days when you can conceive. I took pill for 15 years thinking anytime I have sex I would get pregnant and that's not really the case!

Don't be scared to use OPKs for 2 or 3 months just to check your cycle is on track you don't have to go the whole hog with them but they are very useful if only to confirm you are ovulating successfully.

Bea - OPK? Told you I was a dunce!

Thanks all - right then, looks like I'm coming off the pill!*

*As soon as I grow some balls

Sorry Kharvo, it's a stick you pee on to tell you if your ovulating. And therefore best time to bonk. We had been trying for over a year but fell pregnant within 3 months of using them.

I did this thinking my cycles would need to settle..6weeks later I was upduffed?

Thanks Bea - good plan!

Flow: *** off. ?

wahahaha just saying..you know..doesn't always take time to 'settle down'?

Nothing much to add except to say I'm jealous you got on so well with Cerazette. It gave me 3 week long periods every 6 weeks.

Exciting about TTC! ?

I stopped my depo injection, 8 weeks now and still nothing - I said to you before I think - I am bricking it! first period is a scary thought indeed, I've not had one in 10 years. I panicked and ran out to the shop and brought loads of tampons but they are still unused

Things have changed, the extreme moods swings I had when I first came off have gone, the massive boobs appear to be staying - gone B to D since coming off, the spots are settling down ( I never had spots till I came off depo), my sex drive has gone into hyper drive

I came off the pill 3 weeks ago and have started taking a daily supplement recommended by my doctor called 'Trying for a baby', by Seven Seas, which is folic acid and other useful vitamins. We're not actually TTC yet, just preparing!

please don't say this.

I booked an appointment to have my implant out today...it's coming out pretty much nine months before the wedding, so I can let my cycles settle down*

* actually so I stop crying, shouting and going mental and everyone and everything but that's not the point.

You would have to give birth through your penis and give birth through your japs eye ( honestly I have no idea but that is my opinion )

And an excellent one at that, Funky.

I came off the pill in January (after 13 years) ready to start TTC after the wedding in August. Each time I went to the doctor over the previous couple of years, I always asked them for their opinion and they all said that you didn't strictly need to come off until you were ready to start trying, but for me it was useful to know about my cycles. My first one was 30 days and had THE most painful period ever, then they quickly settled down. I know of people who've taken months to settle.

Post depo I had the pill for a bit to bring n my periods. Or you can try Angus castus. DS conceived first month of trying, right now we are.... Seeing what happens (ie not OPk until after Christmas)

I am going through this right now. Last week I kept slamming doors like a moody teenager for no good reason and having crazy mood swings. I'm also really spotty and my sex drive is through the roof. I never thought I would hear the day when Mr S complained that we were having too much sex! The last time I didn't have the pill in my system was when I was 15 so perhaps that's why I feel like such a teenager now. Maybe that's why I keep giggling when I try to decide what condoms to buy in Boots....

I was on cerazette and came off to give my body a break (not TTC) it took me 12months+ for them to settle I get a period every month just sometimes its 28 day then the next month its 22days so if you want to TTC maybe try the ovulation sticks unless you are lucky they go back to normal pretty quick.

I asked the Doc though and they said they give a timescale of 3months to get back to normal. I came off after a packet was finished and I got a period i think two weeks later then another one two weeks later then went to one a month sort of thing. I would defo stop now if your thinking of trying in April this gives you 3-4months of your body getting back to normal

Don't know if this applies to all types of pill but when I mentioned to my doctor that I would come off my pill (Marvelon) next year he warned me that when I come off I might get a 'boost' in my fertility - so this might be what happened to Flow! Hope it happens for me too : )

I went to my doc when we decided I should stop taking it but he just said it was fine to stop.

I was on dianette for over 10 years & had stomach pains for about 2months after - from the wonderful tool that is google this seems quite common. I constantly thought my period was going to start but no avail. Ive been off it since May & am on my 4th period so for me things are not settling down at all yet - last cycle was 33 days this was 49.

My acne is back with a vengence from when I was a teenager, my skin & hair are uncontrollably greasy & its makes me feel dirty...Ive put on weight & generally feel like sh!t!

But I should be in my new job March time & after 6months I think i can get pregnant & get all the maternity package benefits from them so realistically this time next yr would be perfect for us. OH will be 30 in Nov and would loved to have been a father by then but if I was pregnant he would settle for that ?

Stopping is fine - make sure you take folic acid as soon as you can ready x

Thanks everyone - that's all really helpful.

I reckon I might start folic acid from January.

Sasasi - that sounds horrendous! I really hope I don't have those kinds of side effects! I'm kinda hoping it'll be like a few others I know - better sex drive, better skin, more energy!

Fingers crossed people!