Desire to have children, fear of side effects or changes in the partnership – there are many reasons why women stop taking the contraceptive pill and maybe want to take it again later. However, such on-off contraception should be avoided, advises the professional association of gynecologists.
Anyone who takes birth control pills should not keep stopping them. According to the professional association of gynecologists, such on-off contraception harbors health risks: The risk of thrombosis increases with each new intake – it is highest in the first year of use. In addition, health problems that were improved by hormonal contraception may recur or worsen after stopping. These include, for example, migraines, endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome or a premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
The professional association also advises against a careless change of preparation. When making a choice, individual risks such as age, nicotine consumption or diseases such as hypertension, obesity or diabetes should always be taken into account. According to the professional association, if you want to stop taking the pill in the long term, this is possible once the blister has ended. If a pregnancy is planned, women should also seek advice on taking folic acid and checking their vaccination status.