So, you’ve decided to stop taking the Pill? You’ve just made a huge step towards getting in your Flo and embracing all the benefits of hormonal health!
I’ve supported thousands of women in coming off the Pill successfully and I’m going to share with you the steps they take to make this a smooth transition.
Coming off cold-turkey, as it were, can be tough. Your body suddenly has to manage and balance it’s own hormones plus any symptoms of hormonal imbalance the Pill was suppressing can, and usually will, come flooding back.
However, I’ve developed a tried-and-tested strategy.
Jen is one of those women I’ve helped. Here’s her story:
“After coming off the Pill, I was not getting my period and experiencing cystic acne. I was put on the Pill by my gynecologist years before, when I was told I had PCOS and was not ovulating. I knew that prescription didn't feel right, but I was young and had no other options at the time.
It was within the first 2 months of following the Flo Living protocol that I actually got a period. So, that certainly was a positive change! Other smaller changes started happening sooner. It was great having the support while coming off. I had tried other times to do so before this experience and when it got difficult, I resorted back to the Pill. So, having that support and encouragement to continue was helpful immediately.
Learning things like the benefits of honoring my body through it's changes were important keys to my personal balance. I am coming up on my 3rd anniversary next month and I’m happy to report that I am getting my period regularly!”
Why is the Pill harmful to your health? Let me give you a rundown here.
The best way to tackle this transition
First thing of course, is talk to your doctor! Let him or her know that you want to come off the pill. Then before you actually stop taking the pill, start following the Flo Living protocol. Cycle-synching your diet and exercise while you’re actually still taking the Pill can make this transition so much gentler on your endocrine system and save you a lot of the post-Pill side effects women report like acne, insomnia, mood swings and irregular cycles.
Your body can begin the process of detoxification and recalibration, readying for a Pill-free lifestyle. The Pill depletes your body of vital vitamins and minerals, eating in a hormonally-supportive way will help correct this.
While on the Pill, you don’t have a follicular phase and you don’t ovulate. Get in your Flo anyway by assuming your “period” (or withdrawal bleed when on those sugar pills) is your menstrual phase, the next week is your follicular, then ovulatory, then luteal and so on.
I hope you’ll see how much better you feel and be excited rather than nervous to take the next step when you will reap the opportunities your natural hormones can give!
Once you’ve been in your Flo for a few months it’s time to trash those Pill packets:
Step one: Track your period
If your periods return quickly and they become regular, great! If not, then it’s likely that there is an underlying health problem that I recommend you address naturally with food changes. Many women do find it takes months for their period to show up and then it is sporadic. Getting in your Flo before you stop the Pill and using my eating plan during the transition will help you avoid this.
Step two: Re-establish gut flora!
The Pill has ravaged your internal microbial eco-system. The longer you’ve been taking it the worse the impact on your body. When you’re on the Pill eating good, clean, healthy foods is the best way to start the healing process. Continue nourishing your body in this way as you come off and you’ll heal quickly. Supplements alone won’t help enough as they’re not as easy to absorb when you’re suffering with the intestinal inflammation the Pill creates. But there are two that really can help improve gut flora and reduce inflammation.
The first is a good probiotic - I like Jarrow.
The second is a combo of NAC and L-Glutamine. This will help to heal your intestines and so improve absorption of all the great nutrients you’ll be getting from eating in your Flo.
Step three: Make more of your own hormones!
1. Start taking a really good B vitamin complex right now. It’s the one vitamin that will make a difference in a large dose even when you’re still on the Pill. When you come off it will smooth out the inevitable mood changes that follow. You can also mix a lot more buckwheat, quinoa and oats into your daily meals.
2. Eat lots of good quality fats and amino acids - this is what hormones are made from and what your body needs to start making more of its own and fast. If you can and do eat animal protein have fish and organic poultry as well as pasture-fed eggs (including their yolks). Olive oil and avocados too! You must eat fats in order to stabilize hormones.
Here’s a tip: there are more amino acids in bee pollen than steak!
3. A lot of women deal with estrogen dominance after the Pill. Leafy greens are the absolute best way to combat this problem. Tuck into kale, chard, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and more (and at every meal if you can!).
Don’t forget!
Unless you’re trying to get pregnant, for contraception you’ll need to combine an intimate knowledge of your cycle with using one or two barrier methods (and maybe add in a natural spermicide) every time you have sex. I love L-condoms!!
Good things come in threes:
Now, I want to hear from you!
First: Have you recently come off the Pill? Did you follow your Flo first?
Second: It’s easier to #quitthepill with support - let’s share our experiences.
Third: You know every one you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social by clicking the buttons below 
Need more Hormone Help?
If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.
I’ve designed a 4 day hormone detox and evaluation to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.
Click here to get your FREE detox and evaluation!
Can you recommend a brand for NAC and L-Glutamine supplements?
Thanks!
Any differences with coming off the nuvaring? I have been off of this for about a year now and wish I had read this back then. My doctor had recommended a b vitamin complex after my skin was riddled with rashes dandruff and acne. I suffered from almost debilitating fatigue due to sleepless nights and my thyroid has been struggling (which may have been a parallel issue rather than caused NY coming off of bc). My nutritionist had recommended some gut healing dietary changes and a probiotic so I think I was finding my own way to the flo living ways before discovering this site. I am in a much better place now but do feel like I continue to have an estrogen imbalance. Still feeling fatigued most days. I have not heard of NAC and am not as familiar with what Glutamine does, so maybe this is something to try as I know healing the gut is a longer process.
*my coming off of bc
*l-glutamine
Dang auto correct!
Which natural spermicide brands do you recommend?
I am coming up to 1 year off the pill and still no period
I recently got off the pill after 9yrs straight and before reading this article, I thought there was something wrong with me that was unrelated to quitting the pill, but I have always slept well and this last two weeks I have had the worst insomnia. What other suggestions do you have to overcome this?
Hi Christina
I just saw your post, and i am experienced the same symptoms like you, i have chronic insomnia for 4 months now going off the pill. You posted this in 2015, can i ask how did you go now, did you manage to find out a solution for this? I am struggling to resolve this insomnia issues (on sleeping pills, tried to go back the pill but i still cant sleep without sleeping pill), please let me know what steps you take to overcome this.
thank you
I wanted to share my story too. I was on and off the pill for years, since the age of 18, because of terrible acne problems. First time I went off it (after a year of taking BC) it took me a year to get my period back. Same story with the second time going off the pill (after a couple of years on it) - my period would just not show up for nearly 12 months, and when it did it was very erratic. Third time I went off BC was after I saw Alisa's TEDtalk and her book. I decided to try eating and living according to her tips in the last month of being on the pill. I started kind of last minute, because it took me a while to slowly adjust my eating routines and also find the right type of supplements (I am based in Europe, so a lot of brands Alisa recommends are not available or difficult to find). However, I am delighted to say that I got my period a month and 12 days after stopping the birth control! I am yet to see how regular it will become, but just the sole fact that my period came back that quick is awesome :). That, plus the fact that I feel much better on a daily basis and seem to have more energy to make things happen! Thank you :).
So exciting! That is awesome!
I wish i had more information on support for coming off of hormonal birth control pills years ago. i just tried to come off cold turkey and it was a long journey. i learned lots along the way and now am enjoying a natural rhythm. Check out the article I wrote about my journey:https://lunarmandalacalendar.com/2016/10/30/into-the-depths/
I'm trying to cycle sync my veg using your four week challenge and was wondering about exercise and fruit, protein, carbs, fats. How do they fit in with syncing?
Hi. I decided to stop taking yaz, so I finished my pill three days ago. Today I got my period again with extreme cramps (just had my period 10 days ago). This time my period is much heavier. I must admit I am a bit freaked out as it mostly seems to take months for the period to return. Is what happening a good/bad sign? Any advice for me please? Thanks in advance x
Hi Carmen,
It will take a few months for the effects of birth control to calm down, and then you will have a better understanding of where you are with your hormones. Keep an eye on the symptoms and then take the necessary actions to heal them!
Alisa
Hi Alisa,
Do you have a specific recommendation for a combined NAC and L-Glutamine supplement? Also, do you suggest going on a daily vitamin in advance of this transition? Thank you!
It took me so many years to regulate my hormones after coming off of birth control pills! Thankfully I have an amazing naturopathic doctor i am working alongside who has been invaluable in my healing journey. We've been able to work on mineral deficiencies and gradually build up hormone levels while also processing the emotional and spiritual aspects of the imbalance.
I recently wrote a post sharing some of my journey on coming off of birth control pills and how it led me to live more connected to menstruation:https://lunarmandalacalendar.com/2016/10/30/into-the-depths/
Hi, first of all I would like to say thank you for this website. Second, I wish I saw it before I came off the pill.
I was prescriped the pill for heavy menstrual cramps, used it for 5 years straight, and decided to stop taking it last month because I didn't want to take pills everyday and some things didn't feel normal, can't explain it really.
I finished the last pill, had my withdrawal bleeding, and just stopped after that. And I had AF on CD31st (my cycles were 30-31 before I started to take the pill). And with painful horrible cramping (like i had before the pills). So back as it used to be on this side. I feel less emotional now, less mood swing too. But, oh, but I feel so tired, so sleepy. I eat healthy, I move a lot, but I gained 5kg in one month. I never gained weight in my whole life, like I am not someone who gaines weight easily and so quickly. I am 29 and I feel terrified. The only thing I changed in my daily routine was stopping the pill and no am not preggo. I've read about estogen dominance. And I am scared that if I don't do something, I will end up really fat. If it is hormonal weight gain, it is very difficult to lose weight with just sports/moving because the problem behind it is always there working up his way.
I feel stranded as if I have to re-continue the pill but I know this would be only hiding away from an obvious problem. I really need some insights, this is a specific issue, my friends have no idea, my gyno appointment is in two weeks, and I just don't know what to do and think at this point.
Hi Migvas,
I totally understand that it can be scary not understanding what is going on, but please hang in there! There is so much you can do to support your body to re balance. I would recommend picking up a copy of WomanCode, or booking a free initial consult with one of my counselors! My counselors would be able to give you insight into what is happening, and a plan to help you recover a more balanced cycle!
Alisa
Hi Migvas,
I realize this was posted a while ago, but I'm going through the same thing right now after going off the pill! I never gained weight my whole life or had a single pimple. I went on the pill for just a year then went off. All of a sudden am 20lbs heavier and have to starve myself just to not gain weight and have constant acne. Were you able to get back to your normal self? Looking back, what really worked for you? Does eating the "foods for your cycle" make a difference and is it enough?
Hi. Thanks for all this information, it's very useful. Yet, I have some doubts about NAC and glutamine: are they supposed to be taken at the same time? When should they be taken, on an empty stomach or with foods? Thanks 😉
Hi there, just stumbled across this page through a Google search. About 4 years ago I stopped taking the pill after being on it for about 20 years. In the following months I suffered the most terrible insomnia I had ever had and it lasted 6 months. I was not able to work and I lost my job. I became suicidal and felt so helpless. At the time I didn't relate the problem to coming off the pill,it did cross my mind but I wasn't sure, as I had suffered bad sleep for years and was on diazempam to help me sleep, but this was insomnia like I had never had before. No doctor seemed to know the reason for my chronic insomnia. Knowing that I had come off the pill a few months previous, it did cross my mind that it could be that, but I wasn't sure, so I went back on it. In a few months of being back on it, and my doctor prescribing me with Amitryptyline to help with my sleep, I started sleeping again. So I wasn't sure whether it was the Amitryptyline that was helping me sleep, or going back on the pill. I am now 46 and I know I have to come off it soon, but I'm terrified that the chronic insomnia will come back, and I know I won't want to live if that happens.
Hi Sharon
I have experienced the same problem like you, I am on my 5th month with severe insomnia. Can i ask how are you now with insomnia? Much appreciated if you could share you experience how you overcome this as i am going crazy lving with this right now.
thank you
What scares me about coming off the pill are the blinding migraines I get with it. I have PCOS. For the past year I've been taking magnesium, zinc, omega3, B complex with D3, Rhodiola, ashwagandha; milk thistle, turmeric supplements, Brazil nuts for selenium. And overall I have drastically changed the way I eat, significantly reducing sugar intake, avoiding milk and gluten. What else can I do? Every time that I don't take it for 1 week, those migraines come with it.
I am worried about getting migraines too coming off the pill. I get migraines on the sugar pill week every time. I am also worried about putting on weight after coming off the pill. I am 43 and have been in it since I was a teenager. I have PCOS.
When's the best time to do the detox when coming off the pill? Before or right after you stop taking it?
Hi Brooke! Great question. Do the cleanse after you come off the pill. Good luck and keep me posted.
Alisa
Hi,
I am on pill for more than 4 yrs now,but now I am looking to stop it for getting pregnant this year,but I am scared to get facial hair and weight gain ,
Can you please suggest to avoid this ?