Everything You Need to Know About the Birth Control Pill
Many of the women I work with have decided to transition off the pill for health or fertility reasons. Most women have a natural inclination that it is time to stop taking the pill, especially if they are struggling with mood, energy and weight.
Whether you have decided to go on the pill for contraception or to manage a hormone imbalance, it is important to know what exactly it is doing in your body. In this article I will share everything you need to know about taking the birth control so you can make an educated decision on whether or not it is right for you.
How the Pill Works
Most birth control pills are a mix of estrogen and progestin and prevent ovulation from occurring. These hormones suppress the pituitary gland from producing two key hormones involved in ovulation - the follicle stimulating hormone and the luteinizing hormone. Your body will not release an egg every month therefore you cannot get pregnant. The pill also causes a thickening of the cervical mucus and the thinning of the uterine lining to prevent an egg from embedding into the walls. It is important to note that the period you get on the pill is not a true period.
What the Pill is Most Commonly Used For
The pill is often recommended to those suffering with severe PMS (tender breasts, cramps and mood swings before the menstrual cycle), acne, PCOS, heavy or irregular periods and of course contraception. However, if we are not investigating the root cause of these issues before embarking on taking the pill, the symptoms are often still there, (sometimes worse) when the user decides to come off it.
The Pill and Your Hormones
After years of being on the pill what can often happen is a build up of hormones, in particular estrogen. This leads to a condition called estrogen dominance which can manifest as weight gain around the midsection, PMS symptoms, bloating, decreased sex drive, hair loss and fatigue.
The pill often suppresses testosterone which can leading to low libido, fatigue and muscle loss (not ideal especially if weight is a concern). It also has a direct impact or serotonin (the happy hormone) leading to issues with mood, energy and motivation.
You also want to be mindful of potential thyroid issues while being on the pill as it depletes the body of essential nutrients that are important for thyroid health.
The Pill and Gut Health
The pill has a direct affect on gut health by altering the microbiome (the bacteria in the gut) and limiting gut motility which can lead to issues like candida overgrowth, SIBO and leaky gut.
To be totally clear, I am not 100% against the pill but I think it is really important to educate yourself on the topic and make the right decision for yourself.
If you are looking to transition off the pill, whether is be for fertility reasons or maybe you have decided that it is no longer for you, there are plenty of things you can do to support your body and make the transition coming off easier. Replenishing nutrients like b vitamins, magnesium and vitamin c along with supporting gut health and liver detoxification to rid of excess hormones are all key factors in balancing your hormones after coming off the pill.
Supporting women coming off the birth control pill is something I cover with many of my one on one clients. If you are looking to balance your hormones and heal your gut, but are wanting to do it in a more balanced, gentle way, make sure to check out my one on one program The Balanced Body Method.
Any questions, just drop them in the comment box below!
xx
Mia