Birth Control: What you should know
From fifteen to twenty-five I was on hormonal birth control, coming off birth control after ten years was an extremely daunting challenge for my body.
If you’ve followed along on my YouTube (thank you) you’re aware of my choice to come off hormonal birth control all together, on top of that you’ve probably been along for the journey towards a more holistic, wellness focused natural lifestyle. So naturally, being on synthetic hormones in the way of an IUD seemed to contradict the lifestyle I was trying to create for myself. Coming off birth control was super scary and something I tried many times; I actually had my IUD removed and put back in 3 times because I struggled with the side effects and just wanted them to go away. After all, synthetic hormones have been something I’ve relied on since my matriarchal year at age fourteen. I’m writing this blog post not to influence you on your contraceptive choices but to share my experience, some alternate options and the side effects I experienced.
So, why would I come off birth control? It’s easy, effective, reasonably priced and I can skip a period whenever I feel like it!
“If something seems too good to be true, it probably comes at a price”
THE PILL
You’ve heard of the contraceptive pill, or you may be taking it. I was taking many forms of The Pill from 15 to 19 years old. I chose the IUD at 19 for what I was told was “a more localized lower hormone contraceptive choice”, but we’ll talk about that in a minute.
My mum put me on The Pill “Yasmine” also known as Drospirenone at fifteen because my periods were coming fortnightly, and the doctor with his best intentions saw a fix for that (like most things) hormonal birth control.
In short, The Pill is not natural, it interferes with our bodies circadian rhythm, our bodies natural cycle which knows when and why it needs to produce hormones, hormones influence more than our cycle, they influence mood, heart rate, weight, sleep, digestion, fertility and millions literally millions more, they’re the messengers that travel throughout our system in a delicate balancing act coordinating functions throughout our entire body.
“Your body knows what it needs and what it wants, don’t question that voice in your head that tells you something isn’t right.”
SIDE EFFECTS
The “side effects” listed as common include;
Nausea
Vomiting
Irritability / Mood swings
Increased risk of depression and anxiety
Weight gain
Headaches
Changes in Libido
The more severe side effects include;
Blood clots
Increased blood pressure
Heart attack
Liver Dysfunction
Stroke
Depression and suicidal tendencies
The pill is also listed as a risk to your baby if you get pregnant and shouldn’t be used with kidney, heart and liver diseases.
The side effects I experienced included swollen sore and tender breasts, poor circulation, fluid retention, nausea, migraines, and then the withdrawal side effects when you come off it. Which when you really think about it, is a lot to risk to artificially regulate your menstrual cycle!
Our Bodies were born to flow naturally and overcome challenges not to artificially alter our reality and
ignore the root cause of our ill health.
THE IUD
We’ll cover other options to regulate your period side effect free in a minute but let’s discuss the IUD first. If you don’t know what an IUD is, it is an Intrauterine device (a small bar with a string) fitted into the womb to prevent pregnancy. You can get a Copper IUD or the Mirena IUD which contains artificial Progesterone. I had the Mirena IUD for five years and I felt my side effects come on slowly the longer I had it in.
I experienced.
Amenorrhea (loss of period) after I got it removed, I went from endocrinologist to gynecologist back and forth with fertility issues and labels being told my body was operating like it was in early onset menopause and wasn’t creating levels of the hormones it needed at all, this went on and on.
Depression (I definitely had outside issues influencing this, but it wasn’t until I got the IUD removed, I started actually feeling like myself) It was like someone had lifted a cloud from over my head.
Chronic Back pain / flank pain
Chronic UTI’s (this stopped when I got It removed and when I worked on my gut health, so I believe there was a link but can’t confirm)
Kidney swelling and pain
Headaches and migraines
Anxiety
Hair loss
Important to note, I removed and put my IUD back in 3 times because each time I intuitively removed it my skin would randomly flare up, my mood was all over the place and it made it so hard to function. Eventually, I stuck with it and after three months I finally felt “like myself again” I would say it’s the single greatest thing I’ve done for my health.
“Animals intuitively self-medicate; humans are the only creature
on this planet that second guess themselves.”
COMING OFF BIRTH CONTROL
Stick with it, for some people it takes 1 month, some three, some 6 and even 12 months for your body to find some sort of rhythm.
Detox with herbal supports & nutrition, Renourish with vitamins and minerals & Support the gut with nourishment like pre/pro/post biotics, amino acids & glutamine
Buy a mood support supplement, depending on your preference I like St Johns Wart, Adaptagenic herbs, medical mushrooms such as Lions Mane or Reishi!
Speak to a Naturopath about hormone balancing herbs, I don’t want to recommend any specifically because everyone’s hormones and hormone imbalance is different.
Consult a Chinese herbalist and start herbs this was of most success for myself.
ALTERNATE CONTRACEPTIVE OPTIONS
At the end of the day, it’s your body and your choice, I would just think to yourself is this helping or hindering my health?
I feel really lucky that I’ve had Tom be so supportive and loving throughout this process and really just wanted me to feel better, he was actually much angrier than I was, I guess he saw the physical and mental pain I was in every day, whereas I just got use to feeling “meh”.
The thing is hormonal birth control is usually 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, so what can we try instead?
Spermicides – used before intercourse to kill the sperm (I personally don’t like the idea of something killing anything inside me)
Copper IUD – Without hormones but it is important to consider that it’s a permanent foreign body inside your uterus.
Barrier methods – Condoms, Cervical Sponges, Diaphragm, Cervical Cap, effective and easy!
What I use
Temperature tracking – I track my temperature using a Lady Comp machine so I can tell when I’m ovulating, this is a more accurate option than cycle tracking, I use this with my cycle tracking app 28 wellness, download it here
Cycle Tracking – Tracking the days when you’re most and least fertile, I do this as well as tracking temperature as its important to know your cycle anyway!
‘Pull out’ – If you’re serious about pregnancy, not recommended but an option as an additional precaution. Stopping intercourse before ejaculation.
Important to note: none of these options protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.
I really just want you to know that I understand the constant dilemma we as women are in and I fully empathise with you. I’m sharing this experience in the hope you find comfort if you are having side effects, if you are struggling with finding a suitable contraceptive method or if you just want more information. This space is a judgement free community, it’s your body, your choice.
As women we carry so much on our shoulders and spend so much time ‘juggling’, I know how hard it is to also carry this responsibility too and in the end we’re the ones most affected, which is always daunting.
Do what feels right in your heart, for you.
I hope you feel empowered, armed with knowledge and prepared to put you and your health first.
I’m sending you all the love in the world!
Useful Resources
Dr Jolene Brighten @drjolenebrighten
Dr Amanda Waalyk @angea_acupuncture_yoga
Dr Sarah Hill @sarahhillphd
With love,
