During my senior year of high school, I decided it would be a good time to go on the pill. While many people go on the pill for breakouts and period symptoms, I went on the pill because I was beginning to be sexually active.

I never loved taking it, mostly because it was an extra thing I had to do in the morning, but also because I didn't really know what I was putting in my body. For the following couple of years, I debated whether I should stay on the pill. I never noticed any side effects at all, unlike many, and so of course my doctor saw no reason to stop.

Last year, I was having surgery and was informed I had to stop my birth control for a few weeks pre and post-op. Unsurprisingly, I was happy because it gave me a break to decide if I really wanted or needed to be on it. It was definitely not miraculous or overnight, but over a period of time I started to realize the differences in my body and my mind. Although I didn't want to jump to conclusions and blame the pill, it made perfect sense. To this day, I continue to be birth control-free and am confident that the pill caused me more harm than good. So without further ado, here are the 6 things I noticed after stopping the pill.

*Quick Disclaimer- I am not qualified to give any medical advice. I only intend to share my own personal experiences. If you are thinking about going off the pill, I suggest seeking advice from a trained professional.*

1. My anxiety decreased

The hormones in the pill combined with my history of general anxiety caused my anxiety to actually worsen. After going off for a couple months, I noticed I was much calmer and my muscles even felt more relaxed.

2. My sex drive increased

I never even thought sex drive could be affected by the pill, but around the 3 month mark I noticed my sex drive had increased a lot compared to when I was still taking it.

3. I stopped getting pimples

I know most would laugh at me for this one because I am lucky enough to have naturally clear skin; however, I used to get 1-2 pimples on my nose around my time of the month. Since I stopped the birth control, I have barely gotten any pimples at all. I maybe have seen 3 total.

4. I felt happier & more confident

I can owe some of this to maturity, but I really do think the birth control pill affected my mood. I've never had any issues with moodiness and I didn't even notice it when I was on the pill, but after a few months I felt a lot more care-free and happy. Again, this also could be related to my environment, but I think it's a strong coincidence that I started feeling this way after stopping the pill.

5. I stopped feeling fatigued

This is a huge one. I used to feel fatigued every day all day. Lately more than ever (over 6 months post-pill), I have noticed my energy has skyrocketed. Going abroad put me in a ton of exhausting situations, but I felt really great even when I should've been worn down.

In all, birth control might work for some people, but it definitely is not for everyone. If you can relate to this at all, or are experiencing side effects from your birth control, feel free to share in the comments below!