

Coming Off the Pill: How to Quit the Contraceptive, Safely

From low moods to withdrawal bleeds, you need to be informed

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Thinking about coming off the pill? Straight up, this is one topic that does not get enough airtime. Apart from simply not picking up a repeat prescription, most people who do take the hormonal contraceptive feel clueless about what happens to their bodies, next.

You might, for example, have heard rumours that choosing to come off the pill will cause you to put weight on, your period acne will return and your flow to be irregular.

But fear not, ditching this form of birth control doesn't have to backfire, if you're up to speed on what really happens. To get the scoop, WH has tapped up gynaecologist Dr Anita Mitra, aka the Gynae Geek and GP Dr Jane Leonard, for their expert opinion.

How to come off the pill, safely



Can you just stop taking the pill?

'When stopping or changing any medication it is always best to consult your doctor, to make sure it is done in a safe way and doesn’t put you at risk of pregnancy,' says Dr Leonard.

Can coming off the pill cause weight gain?

'No, stopping the pill is not directly associated with weight gain. In fact the opposite has been reported by some–that starting the pill can cause you to gain weight. But this is not completely true, either. Some of the hormones in the pill can make you more hungry, but will not cause you store fat and gain weight without you eating more,' Dr Leonard says.

Can coming off the pill cause nausea?




'There is no evidence to suggest that there's any difference between combined and mini pill,' says Dr Mitra. 'There's a myth that the mini pill should cause more bleeding but with oral birth control, the side effects are the same.'

What are the side effects of coming off the pill?


Here's what's likely to happen:

1 week after coming off the pill



'It's not really the act of taking the pills again that stops the bleeding,' assures Dr Mitra. 'Normally bleeding isn't any longer [than the usual week], but it's often quite difficult to predict when your next period will come.



1 month after coming off the pill






'This really confuses a lot of women as they won't have had this type of discharge at all while being on the pill! Oh – and if your PMS-y cramps disappeared while taking the pill, stock up on pain relief.


3 months after coming off the pill


However, a cull of female contraception for this reason alone was met with hostility by UK medical experts. When coming off the pill have in mind that you might experience changes in mood. For all women this different. Some women register feeling much better not on the pill as their libido increases – they feel sexier not sadder.

For others, moods drop and they only level out around the three-month mark. Keeping a daily diary of what you're doing, the stress you're under and ultimately how you're feeling can help you see patterns in your moods. More often than not, you might not be feeling like you because of other reasons than coming off the pill.

Wellness Journal

During this time do seek help from your GP if you're worried about your mental health.






  • Focus on your sleep hygiene
  • Eat well
  • Move every day

    How long will it take for my fertility to go back to normal, after coming off the pill?





    The effects of going on and off birth control, frequently





        The most frequently asked question about coming off the pill are the side effects of staying on it for years and years. Despite a lot of people thinking that taking the pill long-term reduces your fertility, this isn't the case.

        Unfortunately, some people have trouble conceiving, pill or no pill, and there isn't a library of research to confirm that the pill reduces fertility in the long term. A review of studies examining fertility after cessation of the pill, published on the NCBI website, found that women who take the pill shouldn't see a decrease in their fertility.




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