10 Nasty Things We Didn’t Know About Hormonal Birth Control (HBC)
Here’s what we weren’t told while sitting across the desk with our trusted medical professional before being offered HBC:
1. It cannot balance hormones
It actually shuts down the communication between the brain and the ovaries and stops ovulation. This stops the production of oestrogen and progesterone and leaves you in a state of temporary chemical menopause. Read that again. HBC puts your body into temporary chemical menopause. This causes you to lose the natural flow of your cycle and you lose touch with who you are. The synthetic hormones in HBC are not the same molecular structures as our natural hormones and therefore do not provide the same benefits, which means you lose the vast benefits of ovulation.
2. It alters your stress response
It does this by mimicking chronic stress, increasing your levels of cortisol, and altering the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis. This increases your overall stress, leading to all that comes with a chronically stressed body.
3. It alters your microbiome
It basically acts in the gut the same way that antibiotics act – which is to destroy the delicate balance between good and bad gut microbes. Signs of gut dysbiosis (imbalanced gut) can be side effects from HBC which includes constipation, bloating, IBS, nausea, acne, eczema, and headaches. This can have long-term repercussions for your overall health.
4. Synthetic hormones have been found in drinking water
While the concentrations of synthetic hormones found in drinking water are typically very low, it is concerning how this could potentially affect our health and the environment. Some research suggests that long-term exposure to low levels of synthetic hormones in drinking water may have endocrine-disrupting effects on aquatic organisms and could potentially impact human health.
5. It depletes your body of nutrients
Certain vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc, can be depleted by HBC use. These nutrient deficiencies can have various negative health effects, including fatigue, mood disturbances, and impaired immune function. It also puts you at a greater risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as MS, Lupus, and interstitial cystitis.
6. It is associated with depression, anxiety, and mood swings
It does this by messing with the balance of your feel-good neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, GABA). There is evidence to suggest that the pill can cause depression in some women. I have seen this a lot in women who have been prescribed antidepressants after being on the pill.
7. You do not have a true menstrual bleed
When you take your sugar pills each month, you are not actually having a true period. Instead, you're having a withdrawal bleed. These are not the same thing. The truth is that a TRUE menstrual period can only happen after ovulation. And because HBC stops ovulation, you do not have a true bleed.
8. It can interfere with your sexual desire
Some people report a decrease in libido while taking HBC. This can cause intimacy issues and cause distress for people in relationships, potentially impacting your overall quality of life.
9. It masks underlying health issues
Hormonal birth control can mask underlying hormonal imbalances or gynaecological conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis. Delayed diagnosis of these conditions can lead to prolonged suffering and may impact fertility in the long term.
10. It is NOT the only way to prevent pregnancy
Despite what your GP or gynaecologist (or anyone for that matter) tells you! There are many non-hormonal options for preventing a pregnancy. I will list a few of them below:
1. FAMs (Fertility Awareness Methods) – This is my favourite natural way to prevent pregnancy! FAM is a natural family planning technique that involves tracking your menstrual cycle to identify your fertile window and using that information for contraception (or conception). By tracking your cervical mucus and basal body temperature (BBT), FAM helps you understand your fertile window where you would avoid sex/use a barrier method during this time. But it's not just about avoiding pregnancy - FAM can also give you insights into your overall health and help you develop a more profound connection with your body.
2. Condoms – When used properly, they are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy which is very similar to HBC’s 99% effective when used PERFECTLY. (And we can all admit that we don’t take the pill at EXACTLY the same time every day!)
3. Diaphragm/Cervical Cap – It is a small, flexible cup that’s inserted into the vagina acting as a barrier method.
4. Copper IUD – This is similar to the Mirena but with no hormones. It works by causing an inflammatory response in the uterus which prevents sperm reaching an egg and interferes with implantation. This also allows you to still ovulate, so it’s a wonderful option.
In conclusion:
While HBC offers significant success in preventing pregnancy, it's crucial to acknowledge and understand the potential negative side effects it may bring. By recognizing and managing potential side effects, you can navigate your contraceptive journey more confidently, ensuring that you can fully embrace the positive aspects of taking charge of your fertility and overall well-being. I believe in informed consent, and not one person I have spoken to has said their medical professional ever spoke about the above nasties before prescribing HBC. It’s important to also take your health into your own hands and empower yourself with knowledge when navigating birth control. I hope this helps you in being 100% confident with your chosen method of managing your fertility.
Yours in hormonal harmony,
Britt
xx