Stopping Birth Control before Wedding

I would wait until after. The hormonal changes can lead to irregular periods, weight changes, acne, etc. Your best bet is to talk to your doctor about it though, but no one can tell you how you'll react except for you when you actually go off the pills.

View Quoted Comment Agree with PP, your gyno should be consulted and your best help but even they can't predict how you'll react.


When I got off (started at 16, got off at 25 so very similar) I had HORRIBLE acne. I mean just so, so awful. I had a zit on my chin that felt like a damn thumb lmao.My face and back break out terrible and I didn't just "adjust" and "go back to normal" so I'd be really careful about banking on that because it doesn't always happen. I had to get a dermatologist and get on special body wash plus lotion combo just to manage it. I'm really glad I did that years before my wedding (this November) because it was a process of trying things and changing regime until something worked (and had they not we would've had to keep trying stuff, waiting, trying, waiting...)
Honestly, if you're in no rush, I'd just recommend waiting to avoid any possible stress or issues- weddings have enough already.

Hmm I’d be nervous for weight gain, acne, etc if you stop. I wouldn’t change your course now just because it can have so many side effects of your body trying to adjust.

I've been on since I was 18 (30 now) and I went off for a few months a couple years ago. It was horrible and I will never do it again until I want to get pregnant. Acne everywhere and horrific periods and cramps (the reason I went on in the first place). While I hope that doesn't happen to you, I wouldn't risk it!

I was on the pill for around 15 years. Made the decision to get off hormonal birth control and haven’t looked back! No negative side effects. I did lose weight. But no acne flare ups, and my periods are regular.

I would keep on just so you don’t end up with your period on your wedding. (Happened at my first wedding).

I would stay on it for a couple of months after the wedding. Most likely the first few pariods will be irregular, 20 -40 days between periods. Much heavier flow. More noticeable cramping, and piling on of fluids before menses, and more hormonally related mood swings. There are enough things on your mind without having it show up two days before your wedding, last 7-8 days, or have to change tampons or pads every 3 hours. And often your breasts change a size up or down .

I would wait until after the wedding!

I was on it for over 14 years. I stopped back in Jan, since we were planning on trying to start our family after our wedding in May. I fortunately haven't noticed any side effects. Maybe a little weight loss, but that could also be due to the fact we're cooking all our meals at home and I've been trying to limit my sweets 😁.

I didn't start BC to help with acne or bad cramps though, so maybe that's why I'm lucky to not have those be an issue now. I was concerned about my cycle being irregular, since I was on the three month seasonale. My period was about 5 days later than I expected the first time, but has seemed pretty regular since then.

In the end it's really up to you. If you didn't have any issues with bad cramps or acne before, you might not once you stop taking it. But since you're almost 25 you also could afford to wait and stop it after the wedding if you have any concerns at all (FH and I are both in our mid-30s, so we want to start trying right away after we get married). Good luck!

I don't see any benefit of stopping before the wedding. Your body is currently used to being on birth control, and continuing to take it will ensure the status quo, which is predictable, whereas stopping will not be. Also I'd want to be free to enjoy my wedding night - have a bunch of drinks, etc, and not have the worry of getting pregnant right away or after a night of partying. I say stop after the wedding, and whatever time you need to adjust after is time to enjoy married life before trying for a baby. At 25 you have PLENTY of time.

One thing you need answer only to yourself: at 15, did you go on it because you were sexually active? Or did a Dr. or mom suggest that since you had rough or long periods, or endometriosis, hormonal or skin issues, that going on would help with those, and leave you with pregnancy prevention in years to come?
Some of those may have been solely from hormonal fluctuation in teens, would not return. But others may make a return.

I feel like I wrote this lol! My period will end the week before my July wedding and am debating between not taking a new pack in May or June so my body has time to adjust before the wedding OR simply just not going to start another pack after my period in July. It works out that I am most fertile the days after we get married and we want to start trying to conceive ASAP. I feel like a couple weeks off the pill (after being on it for 12 years) won't be long enough to get pregnant quickly. For the record, I have gone a few days without being able to start a new pack in the past (vacations, couldn't get to pharmacy, etc) and had zero side effects.

As another mentioned and is a great point - if you plan on drinking a lot at your wedding, I would suggest waiting. Personally, I don't drink much at all any more and wouldn't ever want to be drunk on my big day anyways.

I would definitely talk with your doctor about it.

I’ve never done hormonal birth control. I had bad headaches in my early 20s and when I inquired about the pill later (even a few years after the headaches were no longer a problem) my doctor still wouldn’t prescribe them because of the increase risk of stroke.

I agree with what Judith said about the reason for you being on BC. If you were using to treat symptoms of acne, etc it may be best to wait, unless you have 6+ mos to adjust without and find a good skin routine. I came off bc a year prior to our wedding because I wanted to start tracking my cycles so we could start trying for a family as soon as we get married. I was worried about acne and weight changes but haven't had too many problems. I take hair/skin/nail supplements which I think help. I'm glad I did this because there seems to be some problems with my fertility that I still have time to figure out before we're married (an extra year even ). The biggest risk would be getting pregnant and not being able to drink at your bachelorette party or wedding, or not having your dress fit over a growing belly

As someone who after years of being on different hormonal birth controls and stopped last year. The adjustment period can be ruff. I suddenly got bacne that left scars that I never got before. Also my cycle was all off and unpredictable some months I skipped others I had two periods ranging from super heavy to light spotting. You do not want that while wedding planning or on your wedding day. It's been months but I am finally leveling out. Oh and PMS was way worse the first few months. I would wait until after the wedding. Also stock up on multipacks of pads and/or tampons before you switch.

When i went off my cycle naturally regulated with what it was on the pill. my skin improved too