Yup, sounds like a plan. I hope you don't have any crazy adjustments going on like I did when I went off. Yikes.

Hope your body adjusts pretty easily. I remember that mine did when I went off of them after many years (probably 10).

I've never done well (emotionally) either on them, or subsequently coming off them. Kinda like "PMS-Squared". Hope you have an easier ride. If I may suggest, be gentle with yourself if you notice any mood-swings. It'll pass ;-)

I've never been on hormone therapy, except for a brief period of time to stop and excessive menses. It was awful, felt like I was pregnant again. I hope that, upon making the adjustment to a hormone-free life, you find your life nicer without them.

I, too, was on the pill for a good 14 years when I finally went off. It wasn't too big of an adjustment for me and my body. The worst thing was that my skin changed from dry and sensitive to oily for a couple of months, and then gradually went back to mostly normal. I wasn't quite ready to get pregnant yet, so I bought Toni Weschler's Taking Charge of Your Fertility and used the Fertility Awareness Method to figure out what my "normal" cycles are and to avoid getting pregnant. Later (obviously, since I'm now six months preg), I used the same methods to get pregnant when I was ready.

I wish for an easy peasy transition for you!

I was on the pill for a long time, and I've now been off it for a long time. Neither state was very hard for me. So far I've been able to avoid hormones in middle age.

Hope your transition is easy and painless...

Good for you! I was on the pill for ten years, and went off it three years ago. I felt so much better once I was off the pill. We switched to a cervical cap, which was great, in case you're wondering about non-hormonal birth control options.

Horray for you! Ditto what Karma said - Weschler's book is great; totally informative and helpful, whether you're just wanting to know more or looking for info to put to use. :)

I had been on the pill for about that many years too. About a year ago I decided to go off them. I have really felt better without them. My cycle isn't as short as it was when I was on them, but it's not as bad as it was before I went on them either. So hope you feel better without them too.
:)

be prepared for boob pain! My sister and I both found that when we came off the pill that even walking up a flight of stairs hurt our boobs quite a bit. Besides that it was the normal moods etc.

Treat yourself to some nice comfy cloth sanpro (if you haven't got any already) so at least you're not dealing with scratchy horrid bleached paper while you're adjusting.

Hugs

I was having a hard time with the hormones and decided to go off the pill almost two years ago. It wasn't a hard transition, but my body feels much better. We've been using Taking Charge of Your Fertility as a birth control method and it is awesome. I have never known so much about my own body and never realized how little I did know.

Good for you. This has been something I myself have also been looking into, having been on it 7 years now, but I'm taking my time and examining my options. I hope it goes well for you.

I covet your ceramic baby head.
I wish you lots of luck in your upcoming (birth control) hormone free world!

i had to go back on after taking a break - being female in general is such a bitch for me when i'm not on them (and ovulation feels like a barbed ice pick in my pelvis for three days). i had always heard we should go off after a span of years, but my doctor said that there is no research supporting that once-popular theory, and that it's quite OK stay on then right up to menopause. have you heard the same?

If you can stand some more advice: get thee to the B-complex vitamins! They are awesome for combating the girl crazies -- kind of like all-natural prozac. But they do make your pee neon yellow.

Just wanted to add another Good for you, Jodi. Au naturel is where it's at. I hope it's a smooth transition for you.

Off the pill would give me serious PMS ... which is not a joke! Wish you luck!

I was on the pill from the time I was 15 to the time I was 23. I went off it with no ill effects, then back on again maybe a year later. If anything, going off reminded me how nice it was to be on. I'm sure it will be fine. Periods without the pill are overrated. :)

Going sans pill was one of the better things I did for my body. My blood pressure went down, and my clotting risk dropped.

I was on the pill from when I was 13 to when I was 23. When I finally went off it, it felt like I was jumping off a precipice with no one to hold my hand. I didn't know what my personality would be like; would I be more or less of a nutball? As it turned out, I am faaaaaaar happier off the hormones than on. It's easier to regulate my weight and appetite and my moods have improved quite a bit.

I wish you the best during the transition time...

I remember my first period after being on Depo for years. "Damn I feel like shit, is that a cramp, and ohmigod I'm dying, where's all that blood coming from!" I felt like I was going through it all for the first time.

But I've been clean for 4 years now and am happier for it, and when I get tempted to go back on I call up my friend who's getting his PhD in neuroscience, and studys the effects of hormones on the brain. He puts the fear back into me.

I had a tubal ligation 14 years ago.
(THANK GODDESS)
And before that it was always seat of my pant birth control.
Im suprised I dont have a whole GAGGLE of kids...
thank god I dont..lol.
I like the 2 I have.
I think it will be nice to have things run natural for you ....