Looking for what steps to take and what to expect when coming off hormonal birth control? Today I’m outlining it all for you!
I also have a 3-part series on my journey off hormonal BC:
- My decision to come off hormonal BC
- See part 2 on how BC affects mood and anxiety and my personal updates
- See part 3 on hormonal acne and my personal updates post BC
- Watch my FREE class, Your Roadmap Off Hormonal Birth Control – right here!
Listen to the Podcast on Coming off Hormonal Birth Control above, or listen on itunes HERE, or on Spotify HERE!
& if you’ve been loving my podcasts or specifically love this one — I’d so greatly appreciate if you popped on over here for just 1 minute and left a review on my podcast!
Coming Off Birth Control Spark Notes:
First off, I just want to make a little disclaimer that I’m not against hormonal birth control or trying to convince everyone to get off of it, I am just pro being informed on all your options and how it works, and to offer advice for those that feel getting off hormonal birth control is best for them. If you’re looking for a step by step guide for balancing your hormones, whether it’s from post birth control or any other reason your hormones are imbalanced, definitely check out my 8 week program, Hormone Healing Academy!
I also have a FREE class on Your Roadmap Off Hormonal Birth Control, that you can sign up for right here!
How it works:
- the synthetic hormones are released in your body, and shut down your communication between brain and ovaries + body’s natural hormone production to prevent ovulation. This is how it prevents pregnancy.
- However, it is a lie to say this will fix any of your other issues like heavy periods or balance your hormones. It will MASK these issues, but it is not fixing them. Gett off hormonal BC, and those issues will most likely arise again.
- This applies to all hormonal birth control, not just pills
Misconceptions
- You can get pregnant every day of month
- If you choose non hormonal methods, you’ll for sure get pregnant
Timeframe:
- everyone is different
- What you do TODAY for your hormones, will be seen 3+ months down the road. Expect for it to take months to find balance again
What to expect:
- little changes if any at first
- issues you used BC to “fix”, may come back, and sometimes with a vengeance. Don’t let this scare you to hop back on it. It’ll take time to heal the root but worth it!
- emotions can even be everywhere until you get balanced out
- may need MORE sleep and down time as your body is going to be working hard to get back into balance, fix deficiencies, etc.
- My DUTCH test post BC ex: it show postmenopausal levels of progesterone, low estrogen, and on the lower end of testosterone. These kind of hormonal levels explain why I
STEPS as you are coming off birth control
STEP 1: Choose alternative method before getting off!
- see a couple episodes back on all your options
- what I personally use: FAMtech (Natural Cycles) + ther methods on fertile days
STEP 2: Create a POA for diet, supplement, lifestyle (A-Z roadmap inside HHA)
- Nutrients BC depletes:
- Vitamin B2, B6, and folate
- Vitamin C & E (to get progesterone up)
- Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc
- Want to also take a Probiotic because of how hormonal BC messes with your gut health
- Stress Management: dietary stress, inflammatory stress, emotional stress, environmental stress
- Adequate Sleep + Circadian Rhythm
- Tracking your cycles to feel empowered
- Daily, Moderate Movement
STEP 3: As you’re getting off – Nutrition intake and repletion
- see above for which key nutrients to focus on
- nutrient dense, real food diet (with enough calories)
- fiber rich (to help detox estrogen)
- adequate healthy fats (to make hormones)
- eating balanced meals for blood sugar
- keep circadian rhythm in mind
- Inside of HHA, I have 75+ hormone recipes and 8 weeks of meal plans to help with this!
STEP 4: Gut + Liver Support
- 3 stages: 2 phases in liver, and then elimination through the gut
- when on the pill, gut microbiota can get disrupted and create an environment that’s more likely to grow harmful bacteria and yeast
- sex hormones and gut have relationship & pill ca contribute to inflammation and leaky gut (permeability in intestines)
- must have healthy gut to rid excess estrogen and other junk (liver packages it up and ships it to gut to eliminate)
- Enzyme beta-glucuronidase can increase, causing gut to go out of whack. If this enzyme is high, it can open up that box of estrogen from the liver before it’s excreted..wrecking havoc.Reduce this through calcium-D-glucarate if needed
- A Must: Have regular bowel movements
- Supplement with probiotic!
- ***I go through liver and gut support in-depthly in my 8-week program, Hormone Healing Academy!
STEP 5: Keep inflammation & stress down + get adequate sleep
- Decrease: toxins, food sensitivities, emotional stress, dietary stress
- Increase: sleep, down time, foods your body does well with
- Food journal to see what is specifically causing your body stress
- Incorporate Adaptogens
- Ditch toxic products and fragrances with hormone disruptors and switch to better alternatives
STEP 6: Testing 3 months out to see where hormones are and then use targeted supplements as needed!
- I love the DUTCH test! You can also do blood work, but in my opinion the DUTCH test is more comprehensive and gives you more data to work with!