How to Avoid Post Birth Control Syndrome Naturally

For many of us, The Pill (or “BCP” as we call it at DLW) is no stranger. Birth Control is prescribed for a wide array of purposes, including contraception, managing dysmenorrhea (heavy or painful periods), regulating irregular periods, alleviating the symptoms of endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and clearing acne.  Please note that for all-intensive purposes in this blog that “the Pill” is inclusive of all forms of birth control, with the except of the copper IUD and other natural, non-hormonal forms of contraception.

The Pill works to prevent pregnancy by releasing artificial forms of the sex hormones Estrogen and Progesterone (known as progestin), that mimic the hormones your body produces endogenously, or naturally. The infiltration of these exogenous hormones (meaning externally-made or not natural ) inhibit ovulation, thereby preventing the release of an egg that could potentially be fertilized by sperm. These hormones also thicken the lining of the cervix to block sperm’s entrance and essentially make the environment unsuitable for fertilization and pregnancy. “Combination pills” contain both artificial Estrogen and Progestin, while “minipills” only contain artificial Progestin.  

The Pill may do a great job of preventing pregnancy (in fact, it’s 97-98% effective in use and 99.9% effective in theory) but in doing so it has some significant side effects on the body that your OBGYN may not have informed you of upon prescription. Taking BCP for reasons other than contraception does not actually address, nor resolve the root causes of the aforementioned issues. The Pill does a great job of “band-aid’ing” symptoms, which slows or stops the issues for an allotted period of time, but this approach frequently leaves disorders such as endometriosis and PCOS undiagnosed. When adequate time is not taken to research and dig deeper and proper labs are not run, the root cause of such irritants like irregular periods, intense cramping and hormonal acne is left undetermined. 

As with any drug, it is important to understand the side effects or long-term effects that may accompany use. This is especially important for women who want to come off of the BCP in order to become pregnant, to alleviate unexpected side effects, or to avoid long-term repercussions as the fertility process can be intimidating and arduous for some.

If you have experienced side effects such as hair loss, acne, amenorrhea, headaches and/or migraines, anxiety, depression, mood swings, digestive distress, bloating, leaky gut, inflammation, imbalanced blood sugar, and weight gain or loss while taking or trying to come off of the BCP, you are NOT alone. We call this cocktail of symptoms Post Birth Control Pill Syndrome, or PBCPS for short, and you do not need the entire list to quality. After months or years (and even decades, for some) of feeding your body artificial hormones, it only makes sense that it would struggle to transition out of that smoothly and back to homeostasis. After all, hormones regulate everything from sleep to sex to mood to digestion. 

Whether you are coming off of The Pill because you’re looking to become pregnant, or have had negative side effects while taking it, or are wary of the long-term effects of hormone therapy or for other personal reasons, Team DLW is here to help make the process more seamless by explaining the effects the BCP has been shown to have and ways to combat these potential side effects naturally through nutrition, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine. 

Nutrient Depletion Due to the Pill and other Hormonal Birth Control:

One of the most important things you can do as you are coming off of The Pill is to restore the nutrients that were depleted while you were taking the prescription. The BCP has been shown to cause malabsorption and lessen the binding capacity of specific nutrients to their receptor sites on target tissues. It has also been shown to cause an increased excretion rate of both water-soluble and fat-soluble nutrients such as folate (B9), B12, B2, B6, Zinc, Selenium, Magnesium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E. Ensuring you have enough of these nutrients through proper diet and supplementation is essential whether you are pursuing a pregnancy or simply aiming to optimize your well-being. 

Lab work can be helpful in determining your micronutrient levels. It is wise to get labs run before coming off of The Pill so you can establish a baseline and properly plan for the changes ahead. From there, you can begin to incorporate specific nutrient-rich foods into your diet. This can look different for everyone, but some foods to focus on as a general rule include: 

• Green, leafy vegetables – kale, spinach, collard greens, cabbage, romaine, beet greens, watercress  (containing vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, various Bs, iron)

• Nuts + seeds – almonds (magnesium, zinc, vitamin E), Brazil Nuts (selenium), cashews (magnesium and zinc), flaxseeds (magnesium), hazelnuts (vitamins B3, B1, zinc, vitamin E), pine nuts (vitamins B3, B2, B1, magnesium, zinc, vitamin E), and pumpkin seeds (vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2, B3, magnesium, zinc), sunflower seeds (vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, vitamins B1, B5, B6, folic acid) 

• Whole grains – oats (selenium, magnesium, vitamin B1), amaranth (magnesium, vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, folic acid, zinc, vitamin E) quinoa (magnesium, vitamin B2, vitamin E, magnesium, zinc), barley (selenium, magnesium, vitamin B3), whole-wheat breads + pastas (look for 100% whole grain on the label rather than “multigrain” or “7-grain”, contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, vitamin E, folic acid, zinc),  

• Beans + legumes – soybeans (vitamins B1, B2, B6, vitamin E, folic acid), adzuki beans (vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, zinc, folic acid), chickpeas (folic acid, magnesium, zinc),  

• Wild-caught fish – cod (selenium, vitamin B12, B6, niacin), halibut (selenium, vitamin B12), mahimahi (selenium, vitamin B12, niacin), salmon (potassium, selenium, vitamin B12), tuna (selenium, vitamin B12, niacin) 

• Fruits – avocado (vitamin E, B vitamins), berries (vitamins A and E), cantaloupe (folic acid, vitamins B3, B5, B1), cherries (vitamins A and E), dates (vitamins B3, B6, B2, B1, magnesium, folic acid, selenium) 

Gut Imbalances Caused by the Pill and Other Hormonal Birth Control:

If you’ve experienced digestive issues such as bloating and increased appetite, symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, or acne while on the BCP or while trying to come off of it, there’s a reasonable answer as to why. The synthetic hormones released by the BCP can significantly affect the gastrointestinal system by altering the gut flora, thereby increasing intestinal permeability.  

By altering the bacterial balance of the microbiome, the Pill can create an environment that allows for the overgrowth of potentially pathogenic bacteria, yeast and other microbes. This causes intestinal imbalances, resulting in indigestion, bloating, constipation, gas and diarrhea. As our body’s largest organ of excretion and secretion, our skin displays the majority of inflammation and imbalance that we experience internally- which is why many GI issues are accompanied by acne, eczema and rashes. It is also well-known that our microbiome impacts brain functioning, which is why the GI is sometimes referred to as the “second brain” due to the Gut-Brain-Axis feedback loop. When the microbiome is disrupted, anxiety, mood imbalances and even depression can develop, and in other cases, exacerbate. An increase in the permeability of the intestinal wall directly correlates to an increase in systemic inflammation. A compromised intestinal (“gut”) lining is referred to as “leaky gut,” which is a temporary and completely reversible condition which allows for undigested food particles and other toxicants to “leak” through the intestinal tight junctions and out into the peripheral blood stream which then mounts an immune response.  

In order to manage the effects that BCP has on gut bacteria or intestinal permeability, it is essential to eat and live in a way that allows the gut to heal. One way to better understand the effects of the BCP is to run a comprehensive stool analysis, which examines the bacterial balance, inflammatory levels, enzymatic production, and the presence of yeast, potential pathogens or parasites present within the gut.  Another great option is to run a food sensitivity kit, which determines which foods you specifically react to, in what way you react and to what degree of severity your body mounts a response. From these results your provider can determine if you are experiencing leaky gut, candida overgrowth, any overt sensitivities to specific foods and even aversions particular food groups. As you can imagine, food sensitivities are responsible for digestive distresses such as gas, bloating, distention, constipation, diarrhea, as well as certain skin issues like acne and eczema. By following a proper elimination diet, while simultaneously introducing other nutrient-rich foods, pre-/probiotics and other GI-specific herbs and supplements, you can start to heal your gut while also balancing your hormones. 

This of course will look different case by case, but a good starting point is to prioritize your water intake (we recommend consuming at least half your body weight in ounces of water, each day) and to avoid the top inflammatory foods: