Can I go off and on birth control pills on my own?

Dear Dependent on Hormones??, 

The short answer to your question: it’s a good idea to meet with a health care provider before deciding to stop and restart your birth control pills. Though stopping birth control pills on your own is generally safe, it’s possible that you’ll experience irregular periods again and other potential side effects. Starting the pill generally requires a couple of tests and checkups to ensure that it’s safe. These tests can inform which option is best. Continue reading to learn more about how birth control pills work for irregular periods, what might happen when you stop the pill, and what’s needed to start them again. 

How do birth control pills work to treat irregular periods? 

Given that you mention experiencing irregular periods, you were likely prescribed combination birth control pills. These pills are the only approved option for period management as they regulate periods with estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that naturally control your periods. Specifically, estrogen increases in the first half of a menstrual cycle and thickens the uterine lining. Progesterone on the other hand increases in the second half of the cycle and stops the uterine lining from further thickening. If pregnancy doesn’t happen, both hormones decrease in two weeks and lead the uterine lining to shed, which becomes the period. 

In cases of irregular periods, the levels of these hormones in your body don’t follow a regular pattern. Therefore, combination birth control pills can be used to produce more natural levels of these hormones. This can facilitate the regular growing and shedding of uterine lining and thus support regular periods. 

What are the effects of stopping birth control pills? 

You can stop your birth control pills at any time. One caveat in your case is that stopping the pill typically gives way to the return of irregular period problems. It may also come with other side effects, such as: 

• Risk of pregnancy 
• Mood swings 
• Increased sexual desire 
• Headaches and migraines 
• Weight changes 
• Acne concerns 
• Lower vitamin and minerals 

List adapted from Healthline 

Additionally, stopping when you’re on your period or when your period finishes can feel more natural for the body. This is because of the effects these pills have on your period-related hormones. 

What do you need to (re)start combination birth control pills? 

While progesterone-only pills are available over the counter, combination birth control pills aren’t. This is because starting them requires initial and continuing blood pressure checks. These checks are important since the synthetic estrogen (ethinylestradiol) in those pills can increase blood pressure. 

As a result, it’s usually necessary to meet with a health care provider when starting or re-starting the pill. A health care provider might also do other exams to ensure that you’re suitable for taking the pill and to minimize the chances of negative side effects. Some examples of tests they may run include: 

• Measuring weight and body max index (BMI) 
• Breast examination 
• Pelvic or cervical inspection 
• Laboratory tests like glucose and lipids tests 

Having the support of a health care provider may also allow you to get more personalized advice. They can offer more insight into how (re)starting or stopping the pill may affect or be affected by any other health concerns or conditions that you may have. 

In short, stopping and restarting the pill on your own comes with some risks. Speaking with a health care provider about your concerns and conditions may protect you from unnecessary side effects.  

Wishing you a safe transition whether it be on or off the pill,