Can Birth Control Help With Hormonal Imbalance

Can Birth Control Make Pcos Worse

In some cases, birth control may make PCOS symptoms worse. But this situation is more likely to occur if birth control is taken without first consulting with a doctor or the prescription is not followed exactly.

A 2019 study suggested that birth control may make PCOS worse and contribute to the development of chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart diseases.

This situation makes it necessary for people with PCOS to speak with a doctor, who can and may review their health history, check for the presence of conditions that may put them at higher risk, and recommend the best treatment for them.

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Get The Most Out Of That Little Pill

Birth control pills have been around for decades, and they do a lot more than just prevent pregnancy. Millions of women use birth control pills to help manage painful period symptoms and other conditions. And with several formulas available, finding the right contraceptive for you is easier than ever.

Whether youre on the pill and wondering if a different one would be more effective, or this would be your first time, make an appointment with an OB-GYN or certified nurse-midwife to get help selecting the right pill for you.

OB-GYNs and midwives are experts in womens health making them experts in birth control, too. You can also make an appointment with a primary care doctor.

Ready to get on the pill? Were ready to help.

Is It Ok Not To Take Hrt

All types of HRT except vaginal oestrogen are linked to the risk of stopping HRT. After stopping HRT, the increased risk of breast cancer decreases, but some women still face a greater risk than those who never used it for more than 10 years. It is up to you to decide whether to stop suddenly or gradually.

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How To Balance Your Hormones After Birth Control

I want to begin this article by first examining our relationship with Birth Control, especially those containing hormones. While I feel that it is important to have the freedom to choose whether or not we want to be pregnant during certain times in our lives, the more I hear from women whose cycles have been disrupted from the use of birth control containing synthetic hormones, the more it makes me wonder if there might be a better way. If we could educate ourselves, delve deeper into understanding what they do in our bodies, as well as learn alternative methods of preventing pregnancy that may be more beneficial to long-term health, we might be able to prepare for conception in a healthier way.

Potential Causes Of Birth Control

Remember, tiredness can be a side effect albeit a rare one of using birth control, but researchers havent been able to pinpoint the exact cause of fatigue related to contraceptives, says Dr. Roskin. Given the side effects listed on combination oral contraceptives, though, the estrogen and progestin hormones in birth control may cause this in some people, she says. Research shows progesterone and estrogen may be hypnogenic hormones, meaning they can help bring on sleep. As a result, using hormonal birth control, such as the pill, in the morning could potentially make you feel sleepy during the day, according to a study published in the Journal of Sleep Research.While its unlikely, some studies have shown that taking birth control can lead to daytime tiredness, adds Dr. Roskin.

Menstruators who use a hormone-free copper IUD may also be more likely to deal with fatigue, says Dr. Yen. Unlike hormonal IUDs, this copper contraceptive often makes periods longer and causes heavier bleeding, especially in the first three to six months after insertion, according to Planned Parenthood. Due to that extra blood loss, you may be at greater risk of anemia and, consequently, fatigue, says Dr. Yen.

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It Can Save You Money On Foundation

Pimples can often be cleared up by contraceptives. The same thing goes for the few stray hairs on your chin. Those two nuisances are often caused by an excess of androgens, a type of hormone , in the body. “When you’re on birth control pills, your liver makes a protein that prohibits testosterone from floating around in your bloodstream, lowering acne and unwanted hair growth,” says Dr. Dweck.

Natural Alternatives To Birth Control Pills

So whats a girl to do? After all, we grew up accustomed to the pill being The Solution to our sexual freedom and family planning.

To good news is: Hormone-free birth control methods do exist. They use these to determine their fertile windows during their menstrual cycle and then use condoms for contraception during those days.

If you want to learn more about this, it is well worth reading a book like Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Once you are familiar with the menstrual cycle and signs of fertility, you can consider different methods of fertility tracking, which include:

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What Are The Side Effects Of Birth Control Pills

Most people have no side effects when taking birth control pills, but some women do have irregular periods, nausea, headaches, or bloating. Each type of pill can affect each woman differently.

Spotting or Irregular Periods: Very light bleeding may occur during the first several weeks of taking the Pill and may continue for several cycles, but this is not serious. Irregular bleeding is common if you are late taking your pills or you miss a pill. If the bleeding is new and you are sexually active, get checked for Chlamydia infection. If the bleeding becomes heavier , call your health care provider.

Nausea: Sometimes teens can feel nauseated , but the feeling usually goes away if the pill is taken with food or with a bedtime snack. Sometimes a pill with less estrogen is prescribed if the nausea doesnt go away.

Headaches: Sometimes, teens may complain of headaches when they start taking birth control pills. Most often headaches happen because of stress or other reasons such as skipping meals, not enough sleep, sinus infections, or migraines. If your health care provider thinks your headaches are related to the Pill, they may prescribe a different pill with a lower amount of estrogen or may take you off of it completely and watch to see if headaches get better.

Breakouts: Usually the pill helps cure acne, but a few teens feel they get acne from certain kinds of birth control pill.

Best Birth Control Pills For Pcos

Combination birth control pills stop the ovaries from releasing an egg, which prevents pregnancy. They also thicken the mucus of the cervix. If the ovaries were to release an egg, this thickened mucus could prevent pregnancy.

The same hormones that prevent ovulation can also keep male hormone levels low and raise female hormone levels. Combination pills for PCOS include:

Some pills, such as Loestrin, have lower estrogen levels. These low estrogen levels can reduce the severity of some side effects but may also be less effective against symptoms of PCOS.

Someone with PCOS should talk with a doctor about the right amount of estrogen based on their symptoms and other risk factors.

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You Dreaded Your Period Pre

If your periods before starting the pill were heavy, crampy or otherwise a total pain to deal with, youll want to support your oestrogen levels and oestrogen metabolism in transitioning off of it.

Oestrogen we no longer need is metabolised through the liver and excreted through the gut, which is why it’s super important that each of these detox pathways are functioning well for balanced hormones.

Make sure to:

• Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables, . These vegetables are especially rich in a compound called Diindolylmethane , which supports the liver in metabolising and detoxifying oestrogen.
• Eat fibre-rich foods and probiotic foods to support good gut health and regular bowel movements.
• Drink enough water, an essential aspect of all detoxification pathways in the body.

Additional Thoughts On Birth Control

The Love and Hate Relationship with Birth ControlWe must give a lot of respect to birth control and the variety of options for birth control we have today. We now have more control than ever to choose when and if we want to have children. But regardless, I feel many women and men have lost their true relationship with their body, which also means they may have lost respect for birth control. Many continue to use it without thinking of the consequences of long-term use. It is important to remember that we are still creatures of the Earth, our bodies are made up of the same materials as the Earth and we are filling them with foreign man-made substances that may greatly impact our health.

Be Patient, Be Gentle With Yourself

The body goes through a lot of confusion and stress when coming off of birth control. Be patient with your body and give it time to adjust to the intense hormonal shifts that have to take place. Expect that you may feel sad, angry, depressed and simply âoffâ. This is normal when any hormonal adjusting is taking place. Be gentle with yourself and how you are feeling. Know that you can work toward restoring your natural hormonal state and can move on to working toward trying to conceive through proper nutritional, herbal and natural therapy support.

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What If My Period Is Very Light While Im Taking Birth Control Pills

Your period may be so light when you are taking birth control pills that you may have only a brown smudge on a tampon, pad, panty shield or underwear. The hormone doses in birth control pills are very low. This means that the lining of your uterus doesnt become very thick so very little blood needs to come out each month.

Risks Associated With Hrt

As well as its side effects, HRT has more severe risks associated with it. HRT has been linked to a number of serious conditions including:

• Cardiovascular disease

To avoid the sinister side effects of prescribed treatments, there are a number of non-hormonal ways to address hormone imbalance. Such treatments include simple lifestyle changes, herbal medicines, and bioidentical hormone replacements. Click here for more information on prescribed hormonal treatments and alternative treatments for hormonal imbalance.

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What Are Birth Control Pills And What Are They Made Of

Birth control pills are a type of hormone replacement therapy that contain man-made, synthetic hormones. They are intended to stop ovulation, disrupting the natural hormonal cycle. Birth control pills work by tricking the body into thinking its pregnant to prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg.

There are two types of birth control pills: Combination pills that contain synthetic forms of estrogen and progestin , and progestin-only pills.

The Devastating Damages Of The Pill

Birth control pills literally rob the body of nutrients required for vitality:

• BCPs deplete folate and this can cause serious health problems because lack of folate disrupts DNA metabolism
• BCPs deplete vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12, which may lead to irritability, depression, insomnia and fatigue.
• BCPs deplete zinc and this in turn lowers the immune system and encourages insulin resistance
• BCPs deplete magnesium, leading to a chain reaction of mineral imbalances in the body
• BCPs permanently disrupts the balance of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. This means reduced nutrient assimilation, lowered immunity, and the overgrowth of pathogens like Candida. Since gut flora is passed on from mother to baby, the mothers imbalanced gut health is passed on to her children, and likely even her grandchildren .

Those serious deficiencies and imbalances that result from taking birth control pills translate into these more visible symptoms:

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What Doctor Do You See For Hormone Imbalance

In case of any sort of Hormonal Imbalance, one should seek medical aid from an Endocrinologist.

Endocrinology is the field that studies hormone-related diseases. A normal human has approximately fifty different hormones that can exist in very small amounts and still significantly impact bodily functions.

An Endocrinologist diagnoses hormones that maintain sensory perception, respiration, growth, regulate metabolism, reproduction, and movement. Studies have shown that Hormone Imbalances are one of the most common reasons to detect when it comes to major underlying diseases. An endocrinologist diagnoses and treats hormone problems and complications associated with them.

Ditch All Sources Of Excess Estrogen

To achieve hormone balance, we must identify and eliminate sources of excess estrogen. The Pill contributes to a condition called Estrogen Dominance, where too much circulating estrogen throws all hormones out of whack and creates a hot mess of symptoms. Even women who have not taken the pill can suffer from estrogen dominance, due to the high levels of estrogen in our diet and body care products.

Xenoestrogens are chemicals that look like estrogen. They attached to estrogen receptors, overburdening the body with estrogenic effects. Yes, its scary but true: the products we use on our body can significantly disrupt our hormones. Common sources of xenoestrogens include:

• Plastics that leach chemicals into food
• Conventional body care products

Steps to reduce exposure to xenoestrogens include switching to non-toxic cosmetics, hair care and skincare .

Phytoestrogens, found in plant sources, also attach to estrogen receptors. Again, they do not act exactly like our own estrogen. Research is highly variable on the health detriments and benefits of phytoestrogen intake. I do not recommend consuming foods high in phytoestrogens, particularly when struggling with acne. Men, boys, and young girls should use more care to avoid phytoestrogens. Common sources of phytoestrogens include:

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Ensure That You Are Taking In Enough Energy

Under-eating is closely linked to hormonal imbalances, which can make the side effects of the pill worse. Not eating enough can be both intentional, such as during restrictive eating as a means to lose weight, or unintentional , such as being a result of being so physically active that your energy intake doesnt keep up. It is super important to make sure you are eating a well balanced diet that is adequate in fiber rich carbohydrates and includes a variety of food groups. Following strict/rigid diet trends during this time is not recommended.

The Bottom Line Is This:

When you stop taking the pill, your brain and ovaries havent communicated with each other in months, if not yearsexpect it to be a little awkward at first!

There may be a few bumps along the way, but remember, the transition is temporary and somewhat inevitable .

As a rule of thumb, we recommend giving your body around three months off the pill before testing your hormones. From here we can guide you with personalised advice tailored to exactly what your hormones are doing.

There are ways to support every hormone imbalance through diet, lifestyle and nutritional changes – you just have to know what youre dealing with.

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Are There Any Risks With Birth Control Pills

Most young women who take birth control pills have few or no problems. However, birth control pills with estrogen may cause a slight increase in the risk of developing blood clots in the legs, eyes, and lungs. If you develop any of the following problems, go to the closest emergency room:

Remember: ACHES

• Chest pain , cough, shortness of breath
• Headache , dizziness, weakness, or numbness
• Eye problems , speech problems

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You Had Easy Breezy Periods And Little To No Hormonal Concerns Pre

The envy of many, you may experience some breakouts or mild anxiety as your body weans off its daily dose of synthetic oestrogen, but youll likely be fine to stop taking the pill and see how you go.

Supporting your body to start ovulating and producing its own natural progesterone again will help to soothe any low moods or anxiety, and promote regular, symptom-free cycles.

To help your body ovulate ASAP, make sure to:

• Get plenty of sleep and manage your stress levels. Easier said than done, we know. Try cutting back on additional stressors such as over exercising, caffeine and alcohol.
• Make sure to eat plenty of nutrient-dense wholefoods, and include a good balance of healthy fats, quality proteins and the right kind of carbs in your diet.
• Keep your nutrient stores tip-top, particularly zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6. These key nutrients nourish the ovaries and support ovulation – find these all in our beloved Take Me With The Pill

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Can Birth Control Can Protect Against Other Conditions Too

Birth control pills can also help with a wide range of other conditions, from anemia to hair loss.

Heavy periods may make you prone to anemia due to the amount of blood lost. When youre anemic, you dont have enough red blood cells to carry healthy amounts of oxygen throughout your body.

Anemia can make you feel tired, weak and even out of breath. By lightening your period or making you skip it altogether, the pill can reduce the amount of blood loss and alleviate anemia symptoms.

If you have certain types of hair loss or excessive hair growth , birth control pills can be a surprising treatment. They regulate the amount of androgens, male hormones, in your body. Keeping androgen levels within normal range may also help hair growth return to normal levels.

Birth control pills can also help with many other painful conditions, like migraines, mood swings and polycystic ovary syndrome . If youre not sure whether birth control will help you, read more about when to talk to your doctor about painful period symptoms.