Wanting to get off birth control

I've been on all kinds of different birth control pills and different devices, but they all make me feel like shit and make me gain so much weight. I'm done with it. I want to get off my pills, but I've heard that when you get off you get super fertile for a short period? Is this true? What precautions can I take while I get off of birth control to avoid pregnancy? Obviously condoms but what else