Nearly 90% of women have used oral contraceptives at some point during their reproductive years. In addition to being used for the prevention of pregnancy, hormonal birth control is also often prescribed to address other patient concerns, including acne, heavy periods, PMS symptoms, irregular menstruation and more.
Although hormonal birth control may potentially offer a quick fix, the long-term consequences in some cases can lead to even worse problems than what it was prescribed to cover up.
This is because hormonal birth control does not address any of the underlying imbalances causing health issues and instead acts as nothing more than a bandaid to cover up the symptoms of much deeper problems.
By artificially suppressing symptoms with synthetic hormones, an opportunity to explore the root cause is missed.
Birth control drugs silence a conversation the body is trying to have with you. The expression of unwanted symptoms is a message of concern communicated from within, intended as a call to action, asking you to become an agent for healing.
Giving over control of your body’s natural hormonal balance to a synthetic drug revokes the freedom to discover real, sustainable practices that will promote life-long systemic health.
The most concerning aspect of hormonal birth control is that most patients are not fully informed of all the potential adverse effects these synthetic hormones can have on their body.
If you’re currently using hormonal birth control or considering starting, it’s important to be aware of the many possible side effects with which it can be associated:
Gut microbiome disruption [6, 54]
Intestinal permeability (leaky gut) [6]
Nutrient deficiencies [8]
Mood disorders [9, 49, 51, 52, 53]
Depression [7, 49, 51, 52]
Anxiety [11, 49]
Fatigue [49]
Weight gain [28, 51, 52, 53]
Bloating [51]
Nausea [42, 53]
Abdominal cramping [42]
Dizziness [51]
Increased sleep disturbances [25]
Hair loss [12, 13, 39]
Headaches [14, 42]
Migraines [14, 23, 51]
Increased risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) [6,18, 52]
Increased risk of breast, cervical and uterine cancers [24, 51, 52, 53, 55]
Hypothyroidism [15]
Lowered testosterone levels [16]
Hirsutism [51]
Increased risk of strokes and clots [26, 27, 53]
Increased inflammation [6, 17]
Increased risk of peripheral venous thrombosis [20, 26]
Increased risk of pulmonary embolism [21]
Alteration of brain structures and functions [1, 10, 41]
Adversely alters mate selection [2]
Increased risk for hepatocellular adenoma [3, 4, 51]
Increased risk for hypertension [5, 51]
Increased risk for insulin resistance [29, 46]
Glycemic regulation impairment [29, 46]
Blood sugar dysregulation [29]
Increased risk of developing blood clots [30]
Decreased libido [31, 42, 51, 53]
Vaginal dryness [51]
Sexual disturbances [49]
Increased risk of UTI [32]
Increased risk of Candida [33, 39]
Increased risk of yeast infection [34]
Anemia [35]
Impairment of optimal bone mass [36]
Increased risk of osteoporotic bone fractures [52]
Increased risk of suicide [37, 38, 52]
Increase risk of telangiectasia (spider veins) [39]
Increased risk of gallstones [22]
Increased risk of gallbladder disease [53]
Increased risk of autoimmune disease, including multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, lupus and interstitial cystitis [40, 52]
Increased risk for skin conditions, including acne, eczema, contact dermatitis, pruritus, alopecia, melasma, erythema nodosum and urticaria. [39, 40, 51, 53]
Increased risk of arthropathies (joint disease) [40]
HPA axis dysfunction [41]
Can biologically mimic a state of chronic mental stress [41]
Breast tenderness [42, 53]
Increased vaginal discharge [42]
Breakthrough bleeding [42, 44]
Spotting [44]
Abnormal uterine bleeding [43]
Silent menstruation [44]
Post-pill amenorrhea [44]
Menstrual irregularities [44]
Increased triglyceride levels [41, 44]
Increased cholesterol and phospholipids [44]
Hyperinsulinemia [45, 46]
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease [46, 47, 53]
Increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) [51]
Increase risk of diabetes [46]
Increased risk of arterial and venous thromboembolic events [47]
Development of benign tumors of the liver and the cervix [44, 53]
Cases of irreversible renal failure [48]
Increased risk of inflammatory and coagulatory disorders in women with PCOS [19]
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