Hormones and Getting Off Birth Control
I want to start this off by saying I fully recognize birth control is necessary for treating certain medical conditions and help so many people. This is just coming from my personal experience and what other’s have shared with me on Instagram when I opened up about the struggle of getting my body off of hormonal birth control. After talking to countless people, I came to the realization that this was so common amongst other women but for some reason not openly talked about - so I decided to talk about it. Here is some background on my journey:
I started taking birth control pills when I was 18 years old; not because I had acne or bad periods but because my gynecologist told me there was no medical need to have a period if you were on birth control. Which which I obviously replied “wow okay, sign me up!”. I remember my mom being very uncomfortable about this concept of not having periods at all. She said “this is a natural thing your body is supposed to do” to which I immediately replied “do you really think you know better than my Harvard educated doctor? I think not.” I was incredibly sassy for an 18 year old… So from age 18-30 I did not have a period. I was rather psychotic about making sure I took my pills on time to ensure I didn’t have a period. I remember feeling like periods were the ultimate life inconvenience and I just didn’t have time for them. I was just too busy living my best life.
Well back then, had I had the same level of awareness as I do now, I would have NEVER signed up for this. I never fully understood the health concerns that came along pill. Of course you are given a massive packet of all the potential health risks with every pack but did anyone actually expect an 18 year old to read through that? Also, all of my friends were on it too - some even started at 14! It was just the norm that “everyone was on the pill”. It was like shopping at Abercrombie and Fitch - everyone was doing it, so naturally it seemed safe. It wasn’t until I decided to get off the pill when I realized just how detrimental this little pill was.
Fast forward to 2021, I was 30, getting married, and ready to start thinking about having a family. I didn’t plan on getting off the pill until after my wedding but my then fiancé, now husband, encouraged me to call it quits sooner. He said “what if it takes your body some time to regulate” This hadn’t even crossed my mind because I was (in my eyes) “so healthy” and sure I would be fine. We compromised on me getting off the pill 2 months before our wedding.
I got off the pill November 1, 2021. I had, what I believe was a prewedding stress induced period the second week of December but I now know that was actually a withdrawal bleed. It isn’t actually a period withdrawal bleed not an actual period in which you are shedding your uterine lining after ovulation has occurred. I thought “see Forrest, I am completely back to normal already!” Well, after that I then never saw my “period” again. This is when I started to panic and do a bit of research and what I found out was that literally so many women near my age were going through the same exact issues and some way worse! Here is some of the info that I have gathered during my research:
Oral Contraceptives completely deplete your body of these essential nutrients and in many cases even when you get off the hormonal birth control these nutrients continue to be depleted which can lead to serious health concerns:
Magnesium - low levels can cause major impact on mood, headaches, fragile bones, fatigue
Selenium - low levels can cause infertility, hair loss, fatigueLow levels cause depression, anxiety, confusion, muscle weakness
B-Vitamins (B2, B6, B12) - low levels can cause fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, numbness in hands or feet, digestive problems, rashes, mood changes, impaired immune function, nerve pain
Zinc - low levels can cause hair loss, lack of alertness, reduced taste and smell, impaired immune function
Vitamin C - low levels can cause rough bumpy skin, easy bruising, slow healing wounds, painful swollen joints, irritable mood, dental problems, fatigue
Folate - low levels can cause extreme tiredness and lack of energy, mouth ulcers, muscle weakness, psychological problems like depression and confusion, disturbed vision
Vitamin E - low levels can cause impaired reflexes, muscle damage, muscle weakness, anemia
Vitamin D- low levels can cause fatigue, bone pain, muscle weakness, mood changes and depression
This is why it is essential to get on a good natural multivitamin to ensure you are getting these nutrients hormonal birth control is depleting. For me personally - once I found this out, I immediately started taking an all natural multivitamin (I use the brand Zinzino). I had been taking birth control pills consistently for 12 years and depleting my body of these essential nutrients and never once knew that I should be supplementing a multivitamin in the process. A lot of symptoms I had in the last 12 years were really starting to make sense now especially the impact on my mood, brain fog, and severe fatigue.
Hormonal Birth Control doesn’t “regulate your hormones” - instead it uses a large dose of synthetic (Fake) hormones (estrogen and a synthetic form of progesterone called progestins which actually acts more similar to the male testosterone than progesterone ) which suppresses LF and FSH which is the communication line from the ovaries and brain. It completely stop ovulation. This can cause long term effect like PCOS, weight gain, thyroid issues, and migraines. In some women ovulation never returns even when they come off hormonal birth control.
High levels of these synthetic hormones come with some serious health implications. Progestin can be carcinogenic and has been linked to breast cancer. High levels of estrogen affect the brain’s ability to deal with stress and amplifies the stress response in areas of the brain closely identified with depression and other stress related mental illnesses. High levels of estrogen have been linked to an increase in suicides. Also, it is toxic to the liver and can cause benign liver tumors.
Birth Control Pills significantly decreases your own body’s progesterone levels which are vital for fertility and a healthy pregnancy. Progesterone relives anxiety, improves mood, lowers tress, improves skin health, and protects the brain. It is your own body’s “anti-depressant” It binds to endotoxins, prevents recurrent miscarriages, and opposes high levels of estrogen. However, the synthetic version, called progestin, that are in birth control pills actually have a very different effect than natural progesterone and actually are more related to the male hormone testosterone and no not do any of the things listed above. (This made sense why my skin was always so dry for so long!)
Long term usage of hormonal birth control pills have been linked to various autoimmune issues including cancers, depression, suicide, infertility, and gut issues
*I just want to note how many of the things I posted above that impact your mental health…the nutrient deficiency + the synthetic hormones all cause mood changes, fatigue and depression symptoms…in fact hormonal contraceptives are linked to a 70% higher risk of depression.
Long term usage of hormonal birth control pills can confuse the body’s natural cycle. Thus, when you get off the pill, because your body is so used to the living conditions of being on the pill, your body can mimic those same conditions which is why it is extremely beneficial to add in a good natural multivitamin and other nutrient dense food to aid your body back to regulating your hormones properly. Here are some ways foods high in progesterone and other key nutrients your body needs at this time:
Progesterone - eating foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids and the nutrients below help your body produce produce its own progesterone. I personally take Zinzino’s Balance Oil for an Omega-3 supplement. It is important to note that not all Omega-3 supplements are made equally and the best on the market that I have found is Zinzino. I also eat wild caught salmon 2-3x a week. Sardines are also a good option if salmon is not for you. Other foods that aid your body in producing progesterone include: beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, black beans, flaxseeds
The following can be found in a quality multivitamin but it is always a good idea to also incorporate through food as well:
Magnesium - pumpkin seeds, dried figs, avocados, dark chocolate, almonds, cashews, legumes, whole grains
Selenium -Brazilian nuts! just 2 a day has 100% your daily selenium intake, tuna, halibut
B-Vitamins (B2, B6, B12) - Salmon, leafy greens, eggs, milk, beef, legumes
Zinc - oysters, avocados, blackberries, pomegranates, spinach, lentils, broccoli, okra
Vitamin C - citrus (oranges, lemon, kiwi), bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, camu camu powder
Folate - Dark leafy greens, beans, sunflower seeds, peanuts,
Vitamin E - Avocados, hazelnuts, peanuts, almonds
Vitamin D- Salmon, swordfish, tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms, spinach
You, like me, might be wondering “so, how long until my body is back to its normal cycle”. This honestly differs for everyone. I got such a wide range of messages on Instagram when I asked this question. For some women it was 3 months and for other 6 or 9. It seemed the longer you were on hormonal birth control, the longer to may take for your body to regulate. 9 months seemed to be the sweet spot no matter the duration of oral contraceptive usage. So by 9 months you should be able to expect your cycle to completely return to normal. If it doesn’t, it is definitely time to consult your OBGYN. Hopefully, with adding the essential nutrients above you may be able to expedite that process.
Overall, I don’t know about you, but for me it gave me a lot of comfort knowing I was not alone in my struggles of trying to regulate my hormones getting off the pill. When I took this to Instagram to talk, I was genuinely shocked at how many women were going through the same issues! Why was this not something that was openly talked about? The worst for me was the mood swings getting off birth control and this overwhelming feeling of depression I had never experienced before. It was so bad that some days I couldn’t get out of bed and it took me weeks to realize it was actually my hormones and not just the “moving to another country” blues (if you are new here I had just moved from Tampa, FL to Northern Sweden). Although I wouldn’t say I am 100% back to normal, once I started supplementing a multivitamin, plus more magnesium and vitamin D and adding an Omega-3 to my daily routine, a lot changed for me. I had less fatigue and depression symptoms, I was sleeping better, the biggest difference for me was my skin! For the past two years, I thought I was aging at a rapid rate and getting medical grade skin treatments because I had lost the elasticity in my skin. I just figured “wow - I am getting old”. Now my skin looks so supple and elastic again, I could honestly cry happy tears! I am sharing this because I firmly believe knowledge is power and had I known the impact hormonal birth control was having on me and my health before, I probably would have made different choices for me. Also, if this can help anyone else going through the struggle of getting off hormonal birth control then it is well worth the share!
If you are someone who is looking for alternative options for birth control that is not hormonal, I have heard great things about “Natural Cycles” which is a bluetooth thermometer that tracks your basal body temperature. It connects to an app where you can pick your purpose for using the app like preventing pregnancy or for pregnancy and it is 93% effective. Another option you may like is a copper IUD. I have had several followers suggest this but have also had some followers say it actually made them sick so clearly doesn’t work for everyone so definitely consult your doctor! And of course, condoms for pregnancy prevention.
I also wanted to share the resources that were shared with me that helped many other women getting off hormonal birth control:
Books:
Happy Hormone: a Plant-based Program to Balance Hormones, Increase Energy, and Reduce PMS Symptoms - a lot of recs for this one!!
Hormone Intelligence
Is the Pill Wrecking your Gut?
The Surprising Link between Birth Control and Skin Cancer
Women’s Depression and Mental Illness Symptoms Disappear After Getting Off the Pill
One more thing to note. Now seeing all of this information, it is easy to feel completely overwhelmed and even ashamed that we used the pill for so long but it is important to remember you dont know what you don’t know and hindsight is always 20/20! This information was not readily as available back then as it is now. Instead of focusing on what we did in the past, lets focus on what we can do now. Having the awareness now will in turn help us make better choices for ourselves and our bodies. We just have to focus on one day at a time starting with today. And if you made it all the way to the end of this article - thank you for taking the time :)
Stay well my friends.
xx Melody
