First made available in the 1960’s, “the pill” has played an important (though often controversial) role in the women’s liberation movement over the decades. These days, most women I know have taken birth control pills for one reason or another – as pregnancy prevention, for painful or irregular periods, acne treatment, mood regulation, etc.
Without much thought, women are popping the oral contraception at the suggestion of their doctors. Some women will experience immediate side effects of birth control such as weight gain, headaches, dizziness, breast tenderness, nausea, decreased libido, mood swings, and more. The bigger problem however, is that there are long term side effects of birth control pills that are not usually discussed.
If you find these side effects shocking, don’t panic. Though it’s not ideal, there are ways to protect your body and repair from the damage that may be done by long term use of the pill.
Here are the three long term side effects of birth control pills your doctor probably won’t mention:
#1 – The pill depletes your body of essential nutrients
Birth control pills deplete the body of essential vitamins and minerals. Some of these nutrients, including folic acid, B vitamins, zinc and magnesium, are responsible for managing PMS symptoms, protecting your fertility and preventing birth defects. As a result, your body can be more susceptible to weight gain, water retention, hair loss, lowered immunity, depression, and low libido, to name a few conditions.
How to recover:
Consume mineral-rich foods on a daily basis to rebuild deficiencies including:
- Homemade bone broth
- High quality sea salt
- Minerals
#2 – The pill disrupts healthy gut flora balance
Birth control pills destroy beneficial gut bacteria which are essential for proper digestion, nutrient assimilation, and a healthy immune system. When your gut flora is insufficient, makes you (and your future children) are more susceptible to short-term and chronic illnesses.
How to recover:
To replace beneficial flora your daily diet must include fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha and sauerkraut, which are rich in probiotic bacteria responsible for breaking down your food and protecting your immunity. Aim to eat or drink at least a small amount of cultured food with every meal.
#3 – The pill may mask future fertility problems
Although there is an overwhelming opinion among health care professionals that birth control pills do not directly affect your fertility, taking the pill every month certainly isn’t doing you any favors.
Stopping your body’s ability to get pregnant doesn’t mean that you have pressed pause on your fertility clock. If you’ve been on the pill for several years, your fertility has aged during that time as well.
The synthetic hormones in birth control pills artificially stop the hormones secreted by the hypothalamic pituitary axis in the brain that are responsible for your menstrual cycle. This can lead to a number of conditions such as low body weight, emotional stress and can even cause you to stop having ovulating and menstruating altogether – a condition called hypothalamic amenorrhea.
How to recover:
Though some women get back on track immediately, returning to a normal menstrual cycle can take several months after stopping birth control pills.
If you’re on the pill simply for convenience or to manage hormonal imbalances, consider working with an experienced Naturopath to reduce painful periods, regulate your cycles, and balance your hormones.
If you are planning to start a family soon and are on the pill, it’s a good idea to stop at least a year before trying to conceive to give your body enough time to recover.
Side effects aside, the pill is one of our most reliable and convenient options for birth control. Deciding whether or not to take oral contraceptives or any other form of birth control is a very personal decision. But with the right care, recovering your hormonal and overall health is certainly possible.
If you need help addressing hormone imbalance & discovering the root cause of this issue, you can contact the clinic at info@thermographyireland.ie or call 086 1623683
