It's been a week since I stopped taking my birth control pills, and so far so good.
For the record: No, I'm not trying to pregnant.
I've always gotten my period regularly, with no major symptoms aside from cramping. So, I've always regarded birth control as a choice, rather than a necessity or treatment for medical issues. I've tried 3 different kinds of birth control, all for greater than 6 months, and all have had the same effect: more symptoms than what occurs naturally.
The most recent time, I started getting regular blemishes on my previously clear skin, my breasts grew two sizes and were tender 15-20 days a month, my libido was nonexistent and my cramps were basically the same. And while my doctor and the Internet warned me of the myriad of withdrawal symptoms I would experience, I came off of it and experienced almost immediate relief.
I guess, when it comes to Birth Control, I'm backwards. But, I have decided that using another form of birth control is preferable to enduring these additional symptoms. I think it's my body's way of telling me, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."