kateandlisaI have many conversations with women about hormonal birth control. Many have been using hormonal birth control for many years. Some say their period was very irregular for many years and since she has been on hormonal birth control, her cycle as been regular. After more conversation, they often are not aware that they are not actually producing their own hormones, ovulating or cycling monthly while on the hormonal birth control.
I have these conversations all the time. Women are being put on birth control at very young ages and the side effects and the mechanism of action are rarely, if ever, discussed openly.
I certainly respect every woman’s decision around birth control and deeply support
those decisions. What I do get concerned about is the lack of any education women receive about their bodies, their hormones and the lack of informed consent with hormonal birth control.
I would like to share 5 things that I wish all women were told about hormonal birth control:
- It does not regulate your period. It does shut your own hormones OFF and suppresses ovulation. Synthentic hormones are not the same as your natural hormones.
- Birth control used to treat painful periods, irregular cycles or acne is just a band-aid. The underlying problems driving these symptoms need to be addressed first or they will come back after stopping birth control.
- Hormonal birth control depletes key micronutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C and selenium (many of these are essential for proper hormone production).
- Hormonal birth control can negatively impact or alter the gut microbiome and puts additional stress on the liver.
- Hormonal birth control is not the only option for pregnancy prevention and it is possible to achieve regular, symptom-free periods without birth control.
If you are interested in learning more about how to support your body while on hormonal birth control or to address post-pill symptoms that are popping up after using birth control or would like some help coming off hormonal birth control and learning about other options for preventing pregnancy, get in touch. I have resources and programs that can help. You can schedule a complimentary session to chat and see what will be helpful for you here.
