Deciding to stop taking birth control? Here’s what you need to know and prepare for.

Whether you’ve been on birth control for a short while or almost your whole life, it’s a big decision when and if you decide to stop taking it. Taking that pill at the same time every day has become like second nature. No matter which contraceptive method you’ve chosen, it’s important to understand how your body may react. Because everyone’s different, Karen Carlson, MD, OB-GYN, goes over the side effects people may experience when they stop hormone-based birth control.

Birth control has its ups and downs, and any form of contraception comes with pleasant and unpleasant side effects. Many people enjoy clearer skin, regular periods and less or no cramping. When people start birth control, they may experience nausea, tender breasts, and weight changes. It only makes sense that there would be side effects when you stop taking contraceptives.

“It depends on the birth control,” says Dr. Carlson. “Most birth control will be out of your body when you stop it, including pills, patches, intrauterine devices, or IUDs, and vaginal rings. The effects are gone as soon as they’re stopped or removed. Normally, we don’t see a big change in weight or blood pressure unless someone already had these issues in the past.”

One of the most common birth control methods is the Depo shot, or Depo-Provera® shot, an injectable given every three months. This contraceptive has the most staying power, says Dr. Carlson.

“The one birth control method that sticks around and you need to be careful with, as far as family planning goes, would be the Depo shot,” says Dr. Carlson. “Even after getting one shot, it can stay in your body for up to a year. When you stop that one, be prepared because you may not start ovulating or cycling for a while.”

Individuals who stop taking their birth control, regardless of method, can expect these common changes:

• Ability to get pregnant
• Irregular periods
• Cramping
• Acne or breakouts
• Unwanted hair growth

“There can be irregular periods after stopping birth control,” says Dr. Carlson. “The first three months or so may have irregularities. For the most part, people either get pregnant or start cycling pretty normally.”

For those who experience migraines the week of taking placebos on birth control pills, they can worsen when the birth control is stopped altogether.

“Menstrual migraines happen from the withdrawal of hormones,” says Dr. Carlson. “If you aren’t someone who’s had a problem with menstrual migraines while on birth control, you probably won’t have any when you stop.”

It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before you decide to stop or start taking birth control. You can get more insight tailored to your medical needs and health history and learn when to start getting pregnant if you’re planning to. However, Dr. Carlson says there are no “rules” when stopping contraception.

“There’s no wrong way to stop taking birth control, “says Dr. Carlson. “If you want to stop birth control in the middle of a pack, you can. You may have a period, and then your body will restart on its own with cycling.”