Post Birth Control Syndrome,
If you are reading this blog, you are likely in one of two situations...
1. You are thinking about getting off birth control, but you are worried about what will happen once you are off it.
2. You recently got off it, and feel like you are a hormonal mess!
In either situation, you may have come across something called, Post-Birth Control Syndrome! Is it a real thing? How do you solve it? Can You prevent it? If you have these questions, I have the answers! I am a Naturopathic doctor who focuses in hormonal health and I'm here to break down the facts from fiction and help you understand all about “Post-Birth Control Syndrome”
What is so-called “Post Birth Control Syndrome?”
Post-birth control syndrome may be described as a set of symptoms that arise 3+ months after discontinuation of birth control. Although this is not a true medical diagnosis, having symptoms pop up after being on birth control is a reality for many women! Some symptoms women experience include irregular or absence of menses, heavier bleeding, acne, mood swings, migraines and many more.
Why does it happen?
First and foremost, let’s debunk something about birth control: it DOES NOT balance your hormones. It may appear to “regulate” your period, reduce acne, or even lessen your flow, but the reality is it never solved that hormone imbalance to start.
Birth control prevents your natural hormones from cycling, it stops ovulation and induces an artificial menses. By doing this your natural hormonal symphony is “paused” which prevents those pesky symptoms from arising.
Therefore, symptoms may appear to resolve but that hormonal imbalance that made you decide to go on it in the first place was actually never fixed, it was masked instead.
Once you stop your hormonal birth control, your hormones revert to what they were before. So the question becomes, is this truly a post-birth control syndrome? or is it just a pre-existing hormonal imbalance rearing its ugly head?
Can my Diet & Lifestyle Determine Whether I Experience Symptoms of Post-Birth Control?
Simply put, YES!
Poor dietary and lifestyle habits can worsen or exaggerate the shifts in hormones post-birth control. Some of these habits may include, over-exercising, lack of healthy fat and protein intake, poor sleep and high stress. You might have not recognized the impact these habits had on your period while on birth control. This is because, again, it prevents your natural hormones from cycling!
Does This Happen To Everyone?
No, it doesn’t! Some women will not experience any symptoms after quitting birth control. However… most women will not notice any changes until 3+ months off the pill. Many will think they are in the clear… and for this reason, it can come as a surprise!
Can You Do Anything To Prevent “Post-Birth Control Syndrome”
From Happening?
Yes, in many circumstances there are ways to prevent severe hormonal shifts and therefore symptoms from popping up post-birth control.
These include but are not limited to...
- Optimizing your diet to support healthy hormones. This means getting a healthy amount of protein and fat in your diet.
- Supporting liver function
- Optimizing nutrients commonly depleted in birth control (B vitamins, Folic Acid, Magnesium, and Zinc to name a few)
- Prioritizing sleep
- Improving stress management
- Optimizing gut health
- And not to mention balancing your hormones! And many other methods of support.
Keep in mind, treatment for one individual post-birth control may greatly differ for another! There is no cookie cutter treatment, it must be individualized to you and your symptoms.
If you are worried about getting off birth control or feel like your hormones are a mess since getting off it, apply to work with me. I’d love to chat!
Dr. Michelle Webb
Your Hormone & Gut Health Naturopathic Doctor
Gnoth C, Frank-Herrmann P, Schmoll A, Godehardt E, Freundl G. Cycle characteristics after discontinuation of oral contraceptives. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2002 Aug;16(4):307-17. PMID: 12396560. Nakamura MS, Harada K, Otani S. Sindrome pos-pilula [Post-pill syndrome]. Femina. 1976 May;4(5):298-300. Portuguese. PMID: 12159220.
