5 things to know if you are taking hormonal birth control
Let me say at the beginning, I’m not going to be the person who knocks anyone’s reproductive choices. So, as with anything else, you do you.
This conversation is about you having complete autonomy over how you feel in your body. Many of us go on birth control at a young age and we’re just not given information about how it may impact our bodies and minds down the road. It’s important for women to know the side effects of synthetic hormones in order to make educated decisions about reproductive health choices. And it’s important to talk about it so that we aren’t walking in the dark alone.
Women have the right to know how these hormones may effect how they feel in their body. Here are 5 things you should know if you are taking or thinking about taking hormonal birth control (HBC).
IT DOESN’T REGULATE YOUR PERIOD
Hormonal birth control uses synthetic hormones to suppress progesterone synthesis and ovulation. While you might be able to predict when you will bleed, it is not, in fact, normalizing your period. Any underlying hormonal imbalances that existed before you started taking it, will still be there when you stop and possibly worse than before. Simply taking birth control does not address the root cause of imbalances. Birth control is being treated as a cure all when really it’s a Band-Aid for things like acne, bad periods, and PCOS. This is a disservice to all women.
IT CAUSES MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY
Hormonal birth control can impact systemic inflammation in a variety of ways and deplete the body of certain nutrients which impacts the body’s ability to make regulatory materials and function, including:
Zinc and selenium - needed for a healthy thyroid
B vitamins (b6, b12, riboflavin, folic acid) - needed for cellular function and energy production in the body
Magnesium - needed to make neurotransmitters for healthy mood and brain function
Vitamins E and C - potent antioxidants that rid the body of inflammation and help heal stress
THERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS to taking it
Every woman’s experience is individual, but I think we should be talking more about the nuanced ways hormonal birth control can change the way our bodies work. For example:
Depression/Anxiety: Hormonal birth control impacts the synthesis of dopamine, serotonin and GABA receptors, literally changing the way you think, feel and respond to external stimuli.
Decreased Libido: Your sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) are the hormones that affect arousal and sexual desire. By manipulating them, HBC can have an impact on your libido.
Altered Gut Function/Balance: Hormonal birth control changes gut microbiome and is correlated with an increased risk for Crohn’s disease and yeast infections.
There are side effects when you stop taking it
That’s right. Not only are there side effects when you are on it. There can be side effects coming off. Every one is different, but some of the common ones are: Irregular or missing periods, heavy or painful periods, acne, migraines, and hair loss.
When I went off the pill it was quite a ride those first few months as my body and hormones and gut normalized. I found that the chronic constipation I’d been dealing with since the age of 15 (around when I started the pill) went away. I found that while my period returned immediately, it was with a vengeance. Lots of cramps, an even shorter fuse, more anxiety and super heavy bleeding.
Had I known how to properly support my body as I came off the pill, I could have saved myself a lot of agony. Now I know, and you get the benefits of that!
How to Support the Body post-pill
If you’re thinking of going off hormone birth control or you’ve recently come off, you’re gonna wanna give your body the extra support it needs. Check out some tips here, but remember everyone’s experience is a bit different. The trick is to figure out what YOU need for your experience.
SUPPORT YOUR LIVER
Hormonal birth control puts a big burden on your liver. To give it some extra love, focus on cruciferous veggies like cauliflower, cabbage, kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts and amino acids from high bioavailable, animal based protein sources.
BALANCE BLOOD SUGAR
hormonal birth control alters blood glucose regulation and increases risk of insulin resistance. To help your normalize these systems, eat consistently throughout the day and don’t eat naked carbs. Always pair carbs with fat and protein.
REPAIR YOUR GUT
Nourish your gut with fiber (think: colorful fruits and veggies) and probiotic foods to promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines. Some probiotic foods include: kefir, kimchi, miso, pickles, sourdough bread, tempeh, and yogurt.
GO TO BED
Listen, if there is one thing you can start doing to heal your fertility hormones and feel good in your bod, that is SLEEP. It’s sacred and essential. Sleep triggers the release of luteinizing hormone - the hormone responsible for ovulation.
Sleep heals DNA and cellular damage which reduces systemic inflammation. Sleep quality is correlated with gut bacteria diversity - the better you sleep the more gut bacteria you have. Aim for at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep. Make sure you have a cool, dark, quiet space that is conducive for rest and try to limit the bedtime scrolling.
MANAGE STRESS
When you don’t process your stress it can build up in your body and manifest as all sorts of issues in the form of inflammation, hormone imbalance, mental and physical exhaustion, gut issues, and burnout. Exercise moderately and prioritize me time so that your body can focus on replenishing and restoring.
SUPPLEMENT
Because of the micronutrients depleted by the pill, you most likely need to supplement too. This is obviously in addition to ensuring you’re getting a varied diet with lots of fiber, high bioavailable protein, colorful plants, and healthy fats.
I highly recommend a b complex along with a well made multivitamin to support nutrients you’re losing: magnesium, zinc, selenium, vitamin e, vitamin a. I really love Knowell for women's health and hormones. It's got the right mix of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and probiotics to support estrogen balance, metabolism, insulin resistance, health gut, and stress reduction - especially as hormones flux around your period. Try it out as your one stop shop for supplementation and save 15% by using my discount code: CALLIE15
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If you’re one of many women experiencing side effects and symptoms on birth control or going off, I see you. You are not alone and there is help out there for you. If you’re thinking about changing up your birth control method or going off it, let’s chat. I help women understand how to eat with flexible nutrition for better periods, balanced hormones and fat loss. My books are open for January! Schedule a free discovery call today!
