How the Birth Control Pill Damaged My Health and How I Healed From It
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While the birth control pill is an effective band aid for masking many pesky hormonal symptoms and preventing pregnancy, there is a danger with the pill that many doctors don’t tell you.
I was on the pill for 12 years starting when I was just 18 years old. I was originally prescribed the pill for acne. And it worked! My skin cleared up almost immediately after starting so I was a BIG fan.
When I turned 30, I started to learn more about the impacts of long-term birth control use on your health and hormones so I decided to stop taking it. That’s when all hell broke loose. It took months of research, various doctors, and trial and error to heal from the mess the pill created in my body but I can finally say that I have recovered from the birth control pills after effects. If you are currently on the pill, have recently come off of it, or want to sometime soon, keep reading. In this post, I will share the tips and resources that helped me heal from Post Birth Control Syndrome and get my health and life back!
I’ll be covering:
- How the pill damaged my health and how I healed from it
- The dangers of the pill that most doctors don’t tell you
- How to safely transition off the pill and support your body in the process
How the pill damaged my health and how I healed from it
When I stopped taking the pill, I didn’t really think I would feel much of a difference or experience any negative side effects. Yeah, not so much. Almost immediately after stopping the pill, I gained 10 pounds in just 2 weeks! About a month later, I noticed more and more hair accumulating in my hairbrush. I noticed the brain fog next. I literally thought my boss was going to fire me, I couldn’t remember things for the life of me. Needless to say, I was freaked out.
I frantically started researching and trying to find answers. After a few failed doctor’s visits, I found a naturopath who tested my hormones (blood test) twice in one month in order to see how my hormones were behaving and find any imbalances. There were plenty! Turns out I had way too much estrogen and practically zero progesterone, which is called Estrogen Dominance. It was clear my body didn’t know how to regulate my own hormones after taking synthetic hormones for 12 years. My naturopath recommended a series of supplements and an eating plan to get me back on track to try to eliminate some of that excess estrogen. It took a few months and some supplements swaps and then things finally started to click. I was eating VERY clean, limited my alcohol intake, focused on stress management, weight training, and took my supplements daily. My cycles are now regular, pain free, and easy to predict. I lost 12 pounds in less than a month and my hair stopped falling out at such a rapid pace. My brain fog also went away and I felt more focused at work and in general than I had in a while. I finally started to feel like myself again!
If you’re eager to start balancing out your hormones and eating a cleaner, healthier diet, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. You will receive 3 clean and simple recipes for hormone health and weight loss! Don’t worry, I won’t spam you!
The dangers of the pill that most doctors don’t tell you
The reality is, your body wasn’t built to consume and process synthetic hormones. So, the birth control pill basically shuts off hormonal communication in your body and takes over. It increases your chances of autoimmune diseases, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, gut health issues and more.
The birth control pill is also a KNOWN carcinogen. It is no secret that it causes and contributes to certain types of cancer. I don’t know about you but seems like if we know something is cancer causing, we shouldn’t be popping it in our mouths daily. But that’s just me.
Along with all of the known side effects of the pill, what most doctors don’t prepare you for is the dumpster fire that your hormones become after you quit taking it. The longer you are on it, the worse your post birth control symptoms can be since it takes your body a minute to turn its own hormone production back on. The good news is, your body CAN heal from post birth control syndrome and you definitely CAN have your health and vitality back. It just takes some effort.
How to safely transition off the pill and support your body in the process
So, you’re ready to ditch the pill or you’ve already done so and things are not quite right? Good news! There are things you can do to re-align your hormones and get back to feeling and looking your best.
First, I recommend reading Dr. Jolene Brighton’s Beyond the Pill. This book literally changed my life and helped me understand how every single hormone works in the body and why the pill can have such damaging effects. She also provides really helpful quizzes so you can fully understand your symptoms and ensure you are treating them the right way for the best results. Of course, you don’t have to purchase this book in order to get started on your hormonal healing journey but the information in this book will definitely not go to waste along the way!
Next, you need to find a functional medicine doctor or Naturopath. They will help test your hormones and recommend supplements that will assist your body in detoxification and hormone regulation. A simple internet search for ND’s in your area should bring up at least a few good options…and a lot of them will do tele-health appointments too!
Finally, start eating a higher quality diet. Focus on adding more vegetables and clean, organic proteins to your day. Don’t shy away from those healthy fats either. Olive oil and avocado oil should be consumed daily. Try to drink more water (half your body weight in ounces) is the goal. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night and squeeze in a weight/strength training workout first thing in the morning. Taking these simple but beneficial steps will aide your body in detoxing and make your healing that much more successful!
Success won’t happen overnight but if you implement a few small changes and support your body with the right supplements, you will be amazed at the results and how much control you actually have over your health. If you need hormone friendly recipes to get your started, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to receive 3 of my favorite simple recipes. Don’t worry, I won’t spam you! Happy healing, friends!
