Rebuilding the Body After Birth Control
Many women are put on the birth control pill too soon to regulate their cycle in their teenage years, way before their body has really had a chance to get into a natural rhythm. Also, the bleeding that occurs at the end of a pill cycle is not an actual period, it is a breakthrough or a withdrawal bleed from the synthetic hormones in the pill; the BCP stops ovulation, therefore, there is no need for the uterine lining to grow to support a fertilized egg. Additionally, the BCP is widely prescribed to manage symptoms without looking at the root causes. So, although the BCP appears to improve symptoms, it takes control of the body and its hormones, establishing an unnatural rhythm while causing a handful of other issues.
Deciding to go on or come off the pill is a personal choice that every woman must make for herself. It is best to educate yourself before taking and coming off the BCP.
It’s helpful to work with a holistic practitioner to ensure you do so safely in ways that are supportive to your body and to the hormonal changes that follow while your body establishes a new, and more sustainable, natural rhythm.
Whether you are planning on getting pregnant, concerned about the possible health risks, or want to try an alternative form of contraception, this guide will give you the tools to ditch the BCP holistically.
Birth control medications are unique in that you can stop taking them entirely without having to wean off of them. While there will be no harm to your body if you decide to stop taking the pill or quit any other method mid-cycle, it’s ideal to stop after your breakthrough bleed or “pill-bleed” in order to prevent possible inconsistencies with your cycle. It is also helpful to track & monitor your cycle post-pill to determine whether or not you’re ovulating (which gives an overview of the health of your cycle) through signs and symptoms such as vaginal discharge (fertile mucus is similar to raw egg white), body temperature, or potential ovulation pain.
Also note that if you’re going off your birth control method in order to become pregnant (how exciting!), you can stop at any time but it’s recommended that you wait at least six months before trying to conceive. You want to ensure your body is in an optimal state to nourish a baby. Hormonal birth control methods can deplete the body of essential vitamins and minerals, and women who conceive immediately after coming off birth control are more likely to have premature deliveries.
Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill
The BCP depletes the body of B vitamins (B6, B1, B2, B3, B12), Vitamin C, E, K, folate (folic acid) as well as essential minerals, magnesium, iron, and zinc (which is important for the thyroid).
The BCP increases estrogen in the body and can lead to estrogen dominance - estrogen dominance occurs when the ratio of estrogen to progesterone becomes out of balance. Progesterone should naturally be higher in the second half of your cycle, during the luteal phase, provided that you ovulated. Since the BCP prevents ovulation (anovulatory cycles), your body’s ability to naturally produce progesterone is stunted. Estrogen dominance can lead to weight gain, hormonal complications, blood sugar imbalance, mood swings, depression, cancer (especially of the breast), and a host of other conditions/symptoms
The BCP depletes the thyroid and the thyroid produces hormones that affect the whole body. The use of the BCP can be associated with hypothyroidism (an under-active or slow thyroid) as it impairs the conversion of T4 to T3
Use of the BCP is taxing on the adrenals as it depletes nutrients needed for the adrenal glands such as magnesium and B vitamins. Additionally, the adrenals are closely related to the thyroid and when one system is stressed or not functioning properly, the other can also suffer.
Simple Steps to Restore
For individualized support, it’s best to work directly with a holistic practitioner to create a unique protocol specific to your body & needs.
Get blood work to test for vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Taking a multivitamin provides the baseline of nutrients to help repair mineral and vitamin loss post BCP use. If you’re planning to have a baby, look for a prenatal multivitamin.
Support the thyroid
Selenium - 100-200mcg/daily to restore selenium deficiency in the thyroid and support the production of thyroid hormone. Brazil nuts are an excellent food source of selenium (3-4 brazil nuts daily) - It’s also delicious as a mylk!
Magnesium- Try: 300-400mg/daily to help make thyroid hormone
Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production. Try: Sea vegetables for a natural source of iodine (wakame, nori, dulse, kelp)
Ashwagandha- Can help stimulate the production of T4, the inactive form of thyroid hormone which we convert to T3.
Support the adrenals
A supplement with adrenal glandular (like heals like) - especially if you feel depleted or burnt-out
Ashwagandha- Adaptogens help your body adapt to stress and can regulate cortisol by bringing it back into balance.(Tincture is best or smaller amounts in powder form)
B-complex with additional B5 (pantothenic acid)- B5 is commonly referred to as the anti-stress B vitamin. Supplementing with additional B5 to 500mg in the morning and afternoon.
Vitamin C- supports and stimulates the adrenal function and helps decrease inflammation (depleted during times of stress because we store a lot of Vitamin C in the adrenal glands). 1000mg taken 3-4/daily (best taken throughout the day as vitamin C is water soluble and we can only absorb a certain amount at one time)
Magnesium- Try: 300-400mg/daily to promote calmness and support healthy hormone production and balance.
Medicinal mushrooms like Reishi can help reduce stress and promote relaxation. Try: adding reishi in powder form and a bit of almond milk + honey in the evening to support restful sleep.
Fiber- incorporate more fibrous foods such as ground flax, chia, psyllium husk, leafy greens, and cruciferous vegetables to help balance meals and control blood sugar.
Healthy fats- nuts, avocado, quality oils (olive, avocado, coconut), olives, coconut milk, and grass-fed butter.
Bringing the Body Back into Balance
Balance blood sugar with fats, protein, fiber, greens, and complex carbohydrates
Support liver health through foods that support the detoxification pathways such as sulfur-rich cruciferous vegetables and beets, milk thistle, dandelion and burdock root, and a variety of fibrous fruits and vegetables to support healthy elimination of excess estrogen
Pack high protein, high fiber snacks for on the go availability such as energy balls (combining almond flour, coconut oil/butter, nut butter, cacao powder, sweeten with a date or two), low sugar smoothies, hard-boiled eggs, raw vegetables with mashed avocado, or nuts.
Reduce or eliminate caffeine and alcohol
Sleep hygiene (create a routine!)- restorative sleep is required to heal the adrenals as lack of sleep requires excess cortisol to keep us going, which increases inflammation and further burdens the adrenals.
Exercise- choosing a restorative, gentle exercise daily to reduce stress, encourage excess hormone detoxification while repairing the adrenals and the thyroid. Walking, hiking, yoga & stretching are supportive daily rituals.
Support your gut flora to remediate Candida which is common with long term BCP use. Try: Saccharomyces boulardii probiotics, Olive & coconut oil (healthy fat/antimicrobial/anti-fungal), probiotic fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, miso) & Pau’Darco Tea (antifungal)
Probiotic supplement (start with 10 billion CFU) and add prebiotic vegetables to your diet such as burdock & dandelion root, Jerusalem artichokes, green bananas, and mushrooms. Pre + Probiotics help encourage healthy intestinal bacteria growth and estrogen detoxification.