Random Hormone question

[ColleenSwerb]

So as I mentioned before, I went off birth control at the beginning of September (not TTC yet though).

Since then, I feel like my hair is SUPER oily/greasy, and I've noticed my face is different too. I'm breaking out a little bit, which is sucky.

I assume this is because I have been on birth control for like 10 years, and it's just a side effect (sort of) of going off it? By the end of the day I don't want to touch my hair, and I don't play with it or mess with it all that much during the day. It's usually pulled back in a clip or something while I'm at work all day.

[scrapperjade]

It very well could be Col. Your body is adjusting to not having as many hormones pumped into it... it should balance out after a while.

I notice that whenever my body is going through major hormonal changes (like when I went off the pill, or now that I'm pregnant), that my face is a LOT more oily & I have more breakouts. At the beginning of my pregnancy I looked like a teenager again (except as a teen I had pretty clear skin). It was constantly breaking out. My hormones are leveling out now, and my face is, thankfully, clearing up.

I would maybe try switching cleansers & shampoo for a bit... that might help some.

[LenaGardner]

I'd say it's for sure the hormone changes. I had ben on oral contraceptives, pregnant or nursing for 10 years when I stopped BCP in 2005 to get pregnant with Naomi. The changes in my hair and skin (and cycle) were pretty significant!

The HRT patch I'm on now is supposed to be changed every 3 days. I forget. I've been known to keep it on as long as a week because I get busy/am not paying attention/etc. But inevitably by around day 5 or 6 I'll have a breakout if I have forgotten to change it. My skin is very affected by my hormones or the lack thereof, and it sounds like yours is too!

[ColleenSwerb]

Thanks guys. It's nice to hear some confirmation :)

The hair part drives me nuts. If my hair is dirty like that, I just feel disgusting. I'll have to switch up my face routine too I guess. I usually only wash it in the shower, but I might need to start doing it every morning too (I shower at night before bed).

[Nettio]

Hey Col, you were on Yasmin too, right? I just went off mine last month after being on it for eight years and I've noticed the same thing. Both my hair and skin definitely feel a bit more oily than they were before. It's hasn't been that bad for me but I definitely notice a difference, especially since my skin and hair tended to be more on the dry side before.

Have you noticed a difference in your emotions at all? I felt pretty much right away like a huge cloud had been lifted and I felt much happier and more like myself than I had in a long time. Kind of sad since I don't think I'd realized the pills had been affecting me that much. It definitely doesn't make me want to go back on them anytime soon.

[kresta]

Have you noticed a difference in your emotions at all? I felt pretty much right away like a huge cloud had been lifted and I felt much happier and more like myself than I had in a long time. Kind of sad since I don't think I'd realized the pills had been affecting me that much. It definitely doesn't make me want to go back on them anytime soon.

I wasn't on the same one you were one, but I definitely felt this way after getting off BCPs. They had definitely been affecting my emotions.

But yes, my complexion has gone down the toilet. I've always had great skin. Now, a week (or a little more) before starting my period, I break out badly. I've gone to a dermatologist who confirmed it's definitely just hormones. So I have a pill I can take for that bad week, plus some face cream to use as needed.

Sucks, but I'd rather deal w/ the complexion stuff than be back on the life-draining, libido-stealing pills again. :)

[heathergw]

oh I felt like I was going through puberty again with how bad my face and hair looked after going off the pill

Sucks, but I'd rather deal w/ the complexion stuff than be back on the life-draining, libido-stealing pills again. :)

this is how I feel too... although, you might have a little surprise if you aren't careful... ask me how I know, lol. Although, I guess I know several people too w/ surprises that were on the pill or other hormone birth control.

[kresta]

this is how I feel too... although, you might have a little surprise if you aren't careful... ask me how I know, lol. Although, I guess I know several people too w/ surprises that were on the pill or other hormone birth control.

Oooh, I hope we don't have any little surprises! Hubby had the snip-snip close to a year ago, and no surprises yet. So, I think we're in the clear. :)

[sprauncey1]

Yep I'm sure that is what it is Col! Hopefully it is just an adjustment period.

I've been off BCPs for three years years now and about a year ago I started having the WORST skin in my life. Painful cysticic acne constantly and it gets worse around AF but never goes away completely the rest of the time. I'm wondering if it is just a late side effect of getting off the pills or if it is my age (34) or what! Even as a teenager I never had it anywhere this bad. I try to not let it affect me, but it is hard. I've just taken good skin for granted. I've even now broken down and bought the Proactive stuff. We'll see if it is worth it!

But Col, don't overwash your hair either otherwise you'll make your hair get more oily to compensate. Once a day should be OK.

[Ginger_79]

Very well possible, Colleen. Especially when your pills had a high amount of estrogen. It's the one that affects the skin.

And I so understand the ladies that have been negatively emotional affected by the pill. It was super hard here. In the end I noticed that not only my feeling nausea every morning went away with the little pills, but also nightmares, panic attacs, big time fright feelings...
To those who would still like to prevent the little surprises, but had the same problems I can really recommend the hormon implants. I have this little stick in my arm for over 2 years now and it's perfect. I feel 100% safe. Well ok, nothing works 100%, but as close as it gets. No remembering to take the thing, no worries about stress, stomach problems of all kind (haven't I said that nicely? ;)). It is a pure gestagen product and because it is not taken up as an oral product the dose is waaaay lower.

I had zero problems with it and as I said, I was badly affected before. However, it will not have the same positive impact on your skin like estrogen containing pills.

[ColleenSwerb]

Yea I was on Yasmin, Lynnette. That's crazy that you're having the same sort of symptoms/side effects.

I don't feel like I had any adverse emotional effects from it though. I am definitely more moody around AF (first period after no pill was AWFUL, I was a mess for almost 2 weeks), but I don't feel like it's had a positive effect on me the rest of the month now that I'm off it. I'm glad you're feeling awesome now though Lynnette :)

I was hoping that my lower libido was a BCP side effects, but I'm not seeing the benefits on that side of things either. Although the stress I'm under right now isn't helping in that department either, so who knows.

[NeverendingJen]

Col, just remember that it can take up to 18 months for your system to regulate completely from being on hormonal birth control. The longer you were on it, usually the longer it takes for your body to regulate. You might have normal cycles quickly, but it can still take months for the rest of your system to reset itself after the extra hormones are removed.

[heathergw]

Oooh, I hope we don't have any little surprises! Hubby had the snip-snip close to a year ago, and no surprises yet. So, I think we're in the clear. :)


LOL, I wasn't saying "you" specifically, just "you" in general for those going off hormonal birth control or never going back on or "you" as in Col since she started the thread. Doh, I need to be more clear when quoting, lol.

[adrianka]

I agree with the rest, Col, that this might be the cause for your current trouble. 10 years is a long time and your body just needs to adjust.

I was on contraception for 7 years and while I didn't have any effect that you described, I simply lost my period after I stopped taking the pill (the reason for stopping taking it being that I got a spontaneous phlebitis).

Since they originally prescribed it to me to make my cycle regular, I found it kind of unfair of them not to have warned me that it would only stay regular while being on the pill. The prime reason to wish for a regular cycle is, after all, a chance to get pregnant. And you can't get that on the pill, right?

It took about 1 year to get some sort of cycle and another 5 years to have it at least close to regular. Since then I read a lot about the pill and I'd say that it's such crap that people shouldn't take it if there's not some sort of serious problem that's not possible to solve without. Just saying.

I'm angry at doctors for prescribing heavy stuff like this (artificial hormones are not candy) without telling us what it might do to our bodies.

In the meantime I talked my current doctor into making a analysis of my hormones and I'm perfectly healthy, there's no hormonal imbalance, so the irregularity was caused by something completely different. So I spent 7 years of my life eating hormones for nothing (I was never particularly interested in the contraceptive effects of the pill, not even during those times when I was in a relationship).

[DeepGirl]

I had to take pills due to health problems (very strong period, loss of iron, blood troubles) since I was senior at High School. After year or two I tried to quit, but my bleeding was so strong that it had to be stopped by some awful oily injections (it hurt!!!). I was so scared that I started to take pills again and didn't quit until October this year as I want to become pregnant next year. My period stopped normally (already without the pills), that's a good start, on 4th October.

I also feel that my hair is more oily than before (and i have always had oily hair) that I have to wash them every second day... In the morning of the "second" day I have to use some de-greese powder - I have quite long hair and washing them ain't always easy :)

I was expecting to loose a bit of weight, too - nope.

[adrianka]

I had to take pills due to health problems (very strong period, loss of iron, blood troubles) since I was senior at High School. After year or two I tried to quit, but my bleeding was so strong that it had to be stopped by some awful oily injections (it hurt!!!). I was so scared that I started to take pills again and didn't quit until October this year as I want to become pregnant next year. My period stopped normally (already without the pills), that's a good start, on 4th October.

I also feel that my hair is more oily than before (and i have always had oily hair) that I have to wash them every second day... In the morning of the "second" day I have to use some de-greese powder - I have quite long hair and washing them ain't always easy :)

I was expecting to loose a bit of weight, too - nope.

You might lose weight, but not after a month, I don't think so. :-)

I've thought some more now, and yep, my hair and complexion definitely became more greasy after I stopped taking the pill. I had almost forgotten, but it's like that. I always had greasy hair, but I prefer washing it each morning to taking the pill. Washing hair doesn't harm your health.

Col and Zora, good luck with fighting the grease and with your efforts to start a family. :-)

[ColleenSwerb]

Col, just remember that it can take up to 18 months for your system to regulate completely from being on hormonal birth control. The longer you were on it, usually the longer it takes for your body to regulate. You might have normal cycles quickly, but it can still take months for the rest of your system to reset itself after the extra hormones are removed.

Good reminder Jen, thanks :)

Heather, we're using other methods to prevent an OOPS. Not 100% effective, I know, but better than nothing. It wouldn't be bad if it was an OOPS situation, but we're going to Ireland next fall with my family and I would really like to not have to be the DD (or have a newborn, which would realistically mean that we wouldn't go, lol).

[Ginger_79]

Oh how cool Colleen! Where in Ireland are you going? My bf is from Nothern Ireland (so technically GB). Heheh, I'm flying there next weekend and it definitely is a good thing I'm having the hormon implant. ;)

[ColleenSwerb]

We have no idea yet, lol. I need to get my travel guide and start working on planning it. I don't care where we go or what we do, as long as I get to see some castles! LOL!
My grandfather was born in County Kerry (I think) so we're definitely going to that area. Other than that, it's totally up in the air right now.

[Ginger_79]

Oh fun. I have a friend that comes from Kerry. I've never been there, but judging by her pictures it's ridiculously beautiful there. As everywhere in Ireland.

Should you plan to spend some time in the North as well, do tell. I know some nice places including a very good, cheap hotel in Belfast dead city center. :)

[ColleenSwerb]

Oh awesome, I will have to keep that in mind, thanks!