I'm thinking of trying again but not 100% sure. My husband went away on vacation and I don't feel like I want to continue my pills. The last few times I got pregnant I stopped taking the pills when I finished a pack. Is it bad if I stop in the middle of the pack? Will it completely screw up my cycle (the pill I'm on now I don't get a period)?

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that is how I was with my second son. I think it took about 6 weeks and I was pregnant. We just decided to stop the birth control and let it happen.

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March weight loss challenge

It will 'screw up' you're schedule because the pill suppresses ovulation and such, so you'll get a 'hormone withdrawl' bleeding pretty soon after you quit taking them, but that should mark the beginning of your body starting fertile cycles again. Even with pills that allow for a week 'off' you aren't really shedding any lining because none has built up. It's just withdrawl bleeding and then you start giving your body those hormones again and it stops. So, in some ways, you can choose when your period will come(beginning of the month vs end). Your body should start the ovulation cycle again as soon as your body finishes withdrawl from the hormones. So, if you stop now you COULD ovulate in two weeks. Often times it seems you need to wait for a 'regular' period to come before you get pregnant like Heather's 6 weeks

Good luck in trying to conceive!

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I don't think it will completely screw up your cycle, but it can take a few months to get back on track. I stopped my pills mid-pack in June (not for ttc reasons, just some other health stuff). I got a 'period' (withdrawl bleeding) about 3 days after I stopped the pills. Then, about 29 days later (in July), I had a real period. I had very clear signs of ovulation on the next cycle (in August). I am not ttc, but I am really in touch with my cycles. My cycles were very predictable before I went on the pill. I am sure that my body's ability to get back on track so easily were b/c I was so predictable before starting bcp.
I hope it's an easy transition

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Deana and David married Oct 27, 2001

Our Wonderful Girls
Nicole Lanier born April 24, 2004
Ella Marie born November 21, 2006

I decided just to wait until the pack finishes. My cycles were never predictible so I'd rather not screw with it too much. I'm going to wait a few months before really trying. I have a feeling that could be why I had a miscarriage I never got a period after I stopped my BC last time around.

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Ew, I never realized it was just withdrawal bleeding? What does that mean for your body? Is it harmful? Part of the reason I hate taking the pill is that I've read if you are on it for a certain amount of time (5 years maybe?) you are more likely to get cervical cancer. I hate taking any kind of medication. As soon as I got my period after my last pregnancy I quit the pill and just started timing my cycles because I just wasn't comfortable taking it. I feel a lot better doing that. I'm lucky though because my cycles are really regular. Not everyone can pull it off.

Good luck TTC Ema! That is exciting!

Yeah because of the hormones, the lining never thickens. While on BC you don't actually HAVE to have a period at all. BC makers do it that way because it's easier for people(men I think) to accept because nothing 'changes'. Thats why with the Mirena and Depo it's ok to not have a period for years.

Is withdrawl bleeding harmful? Not that I know of, but I imagine it's like every other withdrawl, not healthy either. It's the body protesting, like a caffeine headache when you miss your coffee.

The increased risk for cervical cancer is why I'm hesitant to go on hormonal BC. I've already had precancerous cells on my cervix and have been on hormones for about 10 years since I started in high school. DH is understanding about me wanting to hedge my bets. I have children to take care of and his biggest fear is having to do it without me. In the meantime we have to try and find good birth control. I'm thinking I need to start charting my cycle or something. Seems like many people have great success with it. We can't afford for either of us to be permanently 'fixed' and I'm not sure I'm ready to go that route yet, too many mixed feelings.

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