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Will my breasts change after quitting the pill?

By June 12, 2009 - 11:07am
 
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I have been on the pill (ortho tri cyclen) for about four years now and I am about to quit, as I don't like taking hormones.
I am wondering if my breast size will decrease when I stop taking it.
I seem to be about 5-7 pounds lighter when not on the pill, as I heard that it can make one gain weight in the secondary sexual characteristics!
I was about a C when not taking it and am closer to a D now. I am afraid that when I stop, my breasts will be less firm and will get smaller. Is this likely? Or has all this been in my head?

Add a Comment15 Comments

(reply to rlyons)

I'm psychic. ;) No, actually I remember you mentioning your age in another of your comments (can't remember which one, so I guess I'm not all that psychic!)

Well, ... this is a really tough one and one that I personally struggle with because I know that there are obviously side effects to the pill (I'm on Yaz) that could be scary, and the thought of being on it till I'm in my 50's sounds a little scary too. I hate being on any kind of medication. But the alternative is also scary to me. (I was experiencing horrible heavy periods to where I couldn't even leave the house for a few days each month, moodiness, zero sex drive, depression, and the list goes on.) So I've been on Yaz for 2 years now and feel like I'm in my early 20's instead of early 40's and I love the way I feel.

I attended a health conference at the University of Arizona about a year ago and there were OB/gyns and other women's health specialists there from all over, and so many were talking about perimenopause and menopause. I listened to a couple of doctors speaking on the benefits of the birth control pill for perimenopausal women (and no, they weren't representing a pharma company), and they said that it's great for women to be on the pill till they go through menopause. My only question is.... then how do you know you've gone through menopause if you're on the pill and having fake periods? Anyway, I digress. So my gynecologist agrees with these doctors that it's perfectly fine to be on it when you're healthy and not having side effects from it. I'm going with that for now and may re-visit the issue down the road.

All I know is that I feel better than I ever did in my 30's and can keep up with my three crazy kids and my new (younger) husband. That's what matters to me most. :)

June 12, 2009 - 4:38pm

The reason why I'm quitting the pill is because of potential side effects like increased risk of breast cancer, liver problems, weight gain, etc..
I luckily don't have any menopausal symptoms yet and hope I won't see any when I quit the pill. Is that likely?
That seems young to start perimenopause or menopause. My mother didn't start 'till she was close to 55! Do I have to worry about that too....??
Surely I'm too young!? I barely feel that I have grown up yet!

June 12, 2009 - 3:35pm
(reply to rlyons)

Oh no, you're not too young for perimenopause.....sorry for that!! It can start in your mid to late 30's, although I'm sure many women are unaware. I was deep in the throes of perimenopause (and didn't know it at the time) when I was about 37. I'm 43 now and thankful that we can take hormones, or I'd most likely never make it to menopause. ;) I'm sure your mom had symptoms long before she was 55 but maybe didn't realize what they meant.

Perimenopausal symptoms include irregular menstrual cycle, heavy periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, decreasing fertility, changing cholesterol levels, and more. Because of your age and the fact that you're going off the pill --- that's why I asked if you were going to watch out for any other body changes.

June 12, 2009 - 4:10pm

Unfortunately, I've not experienced an increase in breast size from being on the pill. I imagine it depends what kind of pill you're on. Mine is fairly low in estrogen. I didn't gain any weight when I started on it and have been on it for about 2 years.

I think that just the fact that you gained weight when you got on it and expect to lose weight when you go off means you'll probably lose a little in breast size too since you'll be losing weight. (We never lose where we want to, right?!)

Are you going to watch out for any other body changes? I hit perimenopause big time when I was about your age (was really bad when I was 37-39) and the night sweats were awful. That's why I went on the pill in the first place. I'll probably stay on it, or at least some kind of HRT till I go through menopause because it was just hellish without it, for a number of reasons.

June 12, 2009 - 3:15pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

There is certainly information that pertains to breast size increasing while using the Pill although there is no clear distinction if your breast size decreases as a side effect of stopping the use. I used birth control as a teenager and into my 20s and I didn't experience any breast size decrease when I ceased usage.

Here is a link to information and FAQs regarding birth control pill usage from the Mayo Clinic. Although, it doesn't specify breast size decreasing there is a lot of information regarding benefits, risks and choices of using the Pill. You can find that information here http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control-pill/WO00098/NSECTIONGROUP=2.

I hope this helps.

June 12, 2009 - 1:35pm
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