Are you debating about coming off the pill and choosing a non-hormonal method of birth control, but you’re worried your periods may get worse again, or experience bad cramps or not sure how to handle your PCOS without it? Or, have you recently come off the pill and started to notice an increase in acne, digestion problems, your period is still yet to appear, or you may have irregular or painful periods? In order to give your body the best support when coming off the pill > download my free guide on 5 Steps To Balance Your Hormones Naturally. What is the Pill?! The pill is a contraceptive that shuts down ovulation by stopping the ovaries releasing an egg each month. Basically, the pill sends your hormones to sleep for the duration that you're on it by overtaking your natural hormones with synthetic hormones. What are the most common issues experienced when on the Pill? -Mood swings -Increased anxiety and depression -Spotting between periods -Weight gain -Breast tenderness or swollen breasts -Digestions problems (bloating, cramps, reflux) -Headaches and Migraines
What are the common issues experienced when coming off the Pill?
No matter how long you have been on the pill, 1 week, 1 year or 10 years. Your body’s natural process has been shut, so it is very common to experience the symptoms below as your body is trying to balance itself out and start producing hormones naturally again. These symptoms are usually a result of a withdrawal from the synthetic form of estrogen in the pill, as well as a sudden surge of androgens and experiencing a delay in establishing regular ovulation again.
-Post pill acne
-Irregular or missing periods
-Post pill PCOS
-Nutrient depletion
-Anxiety, depression or mood fluctuations
-Heavy or light flow.
-Action steps to come off the pill
Steps To Take When Coming Off The Pill:
1. Improve Dietary Choices
It is is important to address your dietary choices when coming off the pill to ensure you are receiving enough adequate nutrients to support healthy monthly cycles and ovulation. You want to be supporting the natural hormonal production of estrogen, progesterone and androgens.
Increase intake of the following:
- Adequate levels of protein, carbohydrates and fats
- Green leafy vegetables
- Phytoestrogen-rich foods
- Cruciferous vegetables
Limit intake of the following:
- Caffeine and Alcohol
- Avoid inflammatory foods
- Avoid sugar and processed goods
2. Address Lifestyle & Environmental Factors
Dependent on your lifestyle and current environment, these factors have the ability to affect your period in a negative way. When you are on the pill, your body has been told to go to sleep by the synthetic hormones you’re taking. In order to support the body as best as you can post-pill life, addressing lifestyle and environmental factors can help you in achieving natural healthy cycles and ovulation.
Here Are My Top Tips:
- Supporting Stress Levels: Our stress levels can vary day-to-day dependent on our home life and occupation. If you make a conscious effort everyday to get into that ‘rest and digest’ state by activating your parasympathetic nervous system. Through incorporating activities such as, hiking, getting out in nature, journalling, mediation, massage, herbal tea, epsom salt baths, journal, have time in nature, exercise, having calming herbal teas, practice daily breathing exercises, and participate in meditation.
- Exercise/Movement: Exercise and any form of movement assists in the production of feel good neurotransmitters, e.g. endorphins which helps to lower stress and increase relaxation and happiness. Exercise helps to support healthy blood sugar regulation and improve insulin sensitivity to help promote a balanced production of female hormone.
- Prioritise Sleep & Sleep Hygiene:
We are all guilty of it, watching TV till late or scrolling on our phones all night, but turning off all technology around 30 to 60 minutes before bed to limit your exposure to blue light is so important. Try winding down by reading a book or doing a guided meditation with dimmed red light to signal your body it’s time to rest.
3. Speak to your Practitioner about getting your Hormones tested
It may be worth considering talking to your practitioner or doctor about getting your hormones tested to check where your hormones are currently after coming off the pill. You may want to give it some time first (few months) for them to start adapting first. Aim to have the following hormones tested: Progesterone, Estrogen, Testosterone, Cortisol, DHEAs, FSH, LH, Prolactin, SHBG.
4. Supporting Detoxification & Elimination Your liver and gut are the two major organs that are responsible for breaking down and clearing hormones once they have been used up in the body. It is critical that these systems are working swiftly to prevent a build-up of hormones that can contribute to hormonal imbalances. Here’s a brief overview of how to support these two systems of detoxification (You can find out more on 12 week package here) How To Support Your Liver:
Reduce your exposure to endocrine disruptors, e.g. household cleaners, perfumers, EMFS.
Reduce your caffeine and alcohol intake
Increase your cruciferous vegetable intake
Increase bitter foods to support digestion
Increase your water intake to 2 litres per day
Side note: When you are undergoing any type detox protocol it is common for your body to show an increase in your symptoms for a week or two. When you come off the pill and start to support your body naturally, you may notice an outbreak in certain symptoms. This can be a normal reaction to the detox so be patient with the process and know you are on the right track.
4. Supplementation
When you’re on the pill, it is still worth taking supplements that the pill is known to deplete. Also - in the weeks or months leading up to you coming off the pill, it is important to start replenishing these key nutrients through supplementation and making healthier dietary choices to support your body the best you can and minimise any side effects you could experience when coming off the pill. Side Note: talk to a professional before taking any supplements.
-Magnesium
-B Complex
-Zinc
-Probiotics
Summary: Your Post-Pill Checklist 1. Improve Dietary Choices 2. Address Lifestyle & Environmental Factors 3. Speak To Your Practitioner about getting your Hormones tested 4. Support Detoxification & Elimination
5. Supplementation Now: The Journey is Yours! Let Me Know In the Comments Below! Are you debating about coming off the pill? Have you noticed side effects from being on the pill? How Was Your Experience Coming Off The Pill?