Joy McCarthy Holistic Nutritionist
Note from Joy:
I was personally on the birth control pill (bcp) for well over 10 years. My reasoning for going on it in the first place was that I was advised by my gynecologist it was the only solution to balance my hormones. However, it only masked the problem and gave me a whole slew of side effects, listed below.
It wasn’t until I stopped taking the bcp in 2007 that I began my true healing journey of getting my body back and on track and addressing the root cause.
Of course it took several months for all the symptoms to subside but it was absolutely incredible the changes that occurred in my body, my digestion and my sex drive. I felt like Joy again when my hormones were regulated naturally.
I have seen hundreds of women over the years and many of them have chosen to go off the bcp and follow a detoxifying diet along with herbs and supplements to aid the body in the removal of excess estrogen and balancing of their hormones.
I’m a joyous to tell you that I have never ever heard a single woman ever come back to me and say “Joy, I wish I didn’t make the choice to go off the pill”. In fact, every woman who has gone off the pill feels like they have their body back again. 
I hope this post from Guest Blogger Mary, a student at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition, lights a fire under your fanny to seriously consider if taking the pill is the best thing for you and you feel confident that you are making an informed decision.
To joyous hormones!
Joy
The Truth About the Birth Control Pill
By: Mary Cammisuli
The pill has allowed us to have care free sex whenever and wherever we want; the only problem is we are corrupting our bodies not only from a hormonal perspective, but also a nutritional perspective.
How many of you out there would eat something every day that could cause infertility, dry vagina, yeast infections, lost libido, cause hormone imbalance, or alter your choice in a mate? My guess is nobody would knowingly do this, but they are in fact side effects of taking the birth control pill, and over 100 million women worldwide take this tiny little pill that can potentially cause all these problems.
So, how does the Birth Control Pill work?
- Reduces period blood flow
- Thinning the lining of your uterus, which makes it difficult for an egg to implant, should it become fertilized
- Suppress the hormone estrogen that is needed to start a menstrual cycle
- Inhibits the development of egg in the ovaries
- Thickening your cervical mucus to help block sperm from fertilizing an egg
- Lower estrogen levels trigger the pituitary gland to push out the hormone that triggers egg development
The pill is considered to be both the most effective and the most hazardous form of contraception. Taking an oral dose of a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestin (synthetic progesterone) in amounts higher than the body’s natural levels prevents pregnancy.
Effects of using the Birth Control Pill
Infertility
- Prolong use of the pill may cause some women’s period to stop. Some women may take months or years to get their period back which results in temporary or sometimes permanent infertility.
Hormonal Imbalance
- The pill influences the body’s natural production of estrogen and progesterone, which can cause women to have a hard time rebalancing after coming off the pill. It can take months to a couple of years to normalize hormones after coming off the pill.
Lost Interest in Sex
- Women who take the contraceptive pill are in danger of losing their interest in sex, because the oral contraceptive pill inhibits testosterone, the hormone that drives sexual desire.
Birth Control Pill can alter your natural choice in a mate.
- When you’re taking a hormonal contraceptive, you interfere with your biology and risk producing a hormonal imbalance that might make you more attracted to men with similar chemical makeup. If you were on the pill when you met your mate, you might, therefore, feel less attracted to him when you stop taking it (for more information check out this study)
Nutrient Depletion
- Taking the pill can create certain nutrient deficiencies and excesses as well as increase your nutritional needs. Most of the B vitamins especially B6, folic acid are needed and copper levels usually rise, and zinc levels often fall. Therefore, more zinc is needed as well. An increased need for vitamins C, E, and K. It has also been found that the pill causes an alkaline imbalance in the vagina that may lead to infection.
Dry Vagina and Yeast Infections
- Vaginal dryness and yeast infections are common side effects of birth control. The pill sends a pregnancy state signal to the brain with excessive progesterone and/or estrogen, so that your brain will think you are pregnant and then shut down your ovarian function. This results in excessive progesterone or estrogen in the uterus and cervix.
Now, don’t get me wrong I do realize that some women take the pill due to other issues such as painful menstrual cramps and acne, but the question remains, has the pill actually healed any of the issues you had or is it just masking the symptoms of why you experience these hormonal imbalance signs in the first place?
Tell us what YOU think? Do you think the birth control pill has helped you? Have you gone off the pill and experienced improved health? Tell us your story below.
Mary – Holistic Nutrition Student
You can find Mary on Twitter – @MaryCammisuli
Check out Mary’s Blog: http://marycammisuli.wordpress.com/
Hi, thank you so much for this post. I, too was on the bcp for over a decade until I understood what it was doing to my body. I then went to the mirena IUD, thinking that it was better. I am interested what you and others use for birth control that does not contain hormones. Is there anything besides condoms? I am interested in getting my body back-hormone free. Thank you!
I love the natural fertility awareness method. It basically teaches you how to understand your menstrual cycle and your body’s signs (i.e. –>whole reproductive system). It is VERY precise once you really understand it. It uses body basal temperature, cervical mucus and the position of the cervix as the main factors to be aware of. Check out the book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” by Toni Weschler. An absolute must-read for all women! It changed my life and now I know exactly how my body’s hormonal cycle works
. PS: Until you are fully aware of your body’s fertility signs, using caution (condoms and/ or abstinence) is advised to avoid pregnancy. Hope this helps 
Thank you SO MUCH for the insight and for leading me in this direction! I appreciate it. ~ T
You’re very welcome. It’s a real pleasure. That book changed my life! I wish they taught us that kind of “Sex Ed” in school…Oh well, the more people find out the better
I could not agree more with this: getting off the BCP was the BEST decision I ever made for my body!
It was now almost 3 years ago and Im STILL experiencing some of the residual side effects (especially skin wise). Even though, I was on it for about 3.5 yrs, it always amazes me to see just how much its affected my body- which I see now in retrospect as my body is regulating itself back to homeostasis.
It is so important for all women to get back in touch with their own body and know that it is perfectly regulated on its own. No need for the pill to know when your next period will come or how to avoid pregnancy. Just learn to watch your body’s signs and to understand them. It has been such an empowering experience for me and that’s the reason why Im always a big fan of telling my story to whoever wishes to hear it.
Thanks for sharing this, Joy and Mary. Great information
excellent post! i, too, had a similar experience as Joy did with the pill. i realized how much better i felt off of the pill. when on it, i suffered from constant infections that just could not be treated. it took my body a looong while to re-balance itself, but i’ve now been off the pill for 7 years & everything is healthy again! the part about the pill influencing your mate selection is so interesting…can’t wait to read more about this.
Be careful of alternate treatments to birth control pills too…
The copper IUD ruined my life! I never tolerated bcp’s so after suffering a spinal injury from a car accident, the last thing I needed was to get pregnant. I decided to try the copper IUD as it was touted as being “safe” and hormone free. I started developing weird symptoms a few months later that got progressively worse; and each time I asked the doctors if it could be related to the IUD, they all said no. 6-7 years later, many many many doctors and specialist apts later, I was so ill I would literally crawl to my bed at the end of the day and sometimes wondered if I would awake in the morning. Doctors were at a loss to explain why and then I was scheduled for a procedure that required the IUD to be removed (due to precancerous gynecological cellular changes, believed to be from the IUD). 4 months after having the IUD removed (and not reinserted), I started to feel a bit better but not without severe lasting damage. While I feel a lot better than I did with the IUD, 3 years after having the IUD removed, everyday is still a challenge due to the lasting side effects / damage.
So much so, that I am looking into starting a civil lawsuit against the company to prevent this from happening to someone else. Since I have started telling my story to people, I am hearing of other women developing strange health problems after using the copper IUD. So, if you or anyone you know has had health problems after using a copper IUD, including strange things like heart palpitations or developing new unexplained allergies to foods/liquids, please post here or get Joy to forward a message to me with your contact info. I would love to talk with you.
Thanks
Wow! I am so sorry to hear about this. I made the switch to the copper IUD recently to rid myself of hormones and I have not had any issues. It is so strange how people can have such different reactions to things!
I was on the pill for approx. 6 or 7 years, and I felt horrible about it.. Something about taking a pill like that everyday, made me feel strange.
I went off of it a year or two ago and at first had huge issues with my hormones being imbalanced (once in a while I still deal with this)… But over all, my body has never felt better.
I noticed I was sleeping more, I had less headaches, and my digestion was better.
I haven’t been on it since and I don’t plan on taking it again…
Doctors that I’ve been to have told me to go back on it, even my mother and friends agree… But I just don’t feel right about it. I rather keep my body at it’s most natural state.
Thank-you so much for posting this, I’ve always wondered if I was completely nuts for not wanting to take it.
So great to see this post here! Congrats Mary on such a wonderful post
I am in my recovery of being off birth control. I have tried several different kinds and always noticed things were never quite right. And after a severe emotional, physical and mental reaction to the nuva ring this summer i have rid myself of hormones completely. I am still working on feeling %100, but I am getting better and better every day. It has taken 6 months to even get to this point! I hope the longer I am off of the hormones the more my body will balance itself again. I just got a copper IUD as a hormone free form of birth control and so far so good. I am so happy to rid my body of all the bad things that bcp had caused.
I understand there’s side effects for some women, but not for everyone. It’s irresponsible to go off of it and continue as always. “Use condoms” is just bad advice.
I have done both – been on the bcp for over 10 years and then off for 5 years. Recently I just went back on the bcp in an attempt to balance my hormones that are completely out of control. Unfortunately, the natural treatment from a naturopath who specializes in hormones still isn’t enough. Although I agree the less meds you put in your body the better, sometimes, depending on the individual, the bcp can help. It really is quite amazing how people can have such different reactions. Finding your perfect balance is key…and not so easy to do, as we know! (So congrats to everyone who has : )
I went through a BC nightmare….
I was put on bcp when I was 14 in hopes of alleviating the sever cramping I was having that actually caused me to loose conciousness at times. From there on, at 15-16 my GP advised my mother about a new birth control option that would be good for me, since it alleviated the option of “forgetting” to take the pill. I had just started dating and my mother agree’d that Depo Provera seemed like a good solution (mind you it was nearly 4 years later before I was ever sexually active).
At 22, I had been on Depo for 6, nearly 7 years straight when the insomnia started. I dropped weight drastically within 3 months (30-40lbs), I had migraines and dizzy spells that would cause me to pass out, and my appetite was non existent with abdominal pains making eating for the sake of eating nearly impossible. My GP sent me to specialists and an answer was never found. I finally looked at my birth control as a potential cause and was horrified to learn that use of Depo Provera was linked to so many health issues, and that my GP had failed to notify me that I should have been off it for a month at a time every year. I was given injection after injection for nearly 7 years.
It was 10 months after that before I had a period, but during that time I was terrified I was infertile after receiving so much artificial hormones for so long. I had pretty much given up on my GP when I went to a naturapath and he advised me what I was going through was likely adrenal failure, or at the very least adrenal fatigue. We had just commenced treatment when I discovered that at 23 I was pregnant with my first born, and within the first month of pregnancy I was back to my old self again.
After my daughter was born, at the insistence of my family, I started BC again, this time the patch and then I moved onto seasonelle… It wasn’t a year before the same issues started cropping up. I was down to 113 lbs, home alone with my 16 month old daughter (my husband was away with the Canadian Armed Forces in Haiti for earthquake relief) when I decided never again would I feel like that. After my second daughter was born, I spoke with my naturopath and OB-GYN about non hormonal BC options. For us, our best option was the copper IUD. Pregnancy was giving my body the kick start it needed to produce the hormones it needed to function, and I refused to stop that by giving it artificial hormones again. We made some changes at home, opting for Organic produce and meats at all points possible, and even found a job with an organic foods company that lets me keep my ear to the ground when it comes to health and wellness. I’m currently 28, artificial hormone free and planning my third child, free of health issues! (other than the usual cold and flu of course)
I was put on bcp when I was 14 in hopes of alleviating the sever cramping I was having that actually caused me to loose conciousness at times. From there on, at 15-16 my GP advised my mother about a new birth control option that would be good for me, since it alleviated the option of “forgetting” to take the pill. I had just started dating and my mother agree’d that Depo Provera seemed like a good solution (mind you it was nearly 4 years later before I was ever sexually active).
At 22, I had been on Depo for 6, nearly 7 years straight when the insomnia started. I dropped weight drastically within 3 months (30-40lbs), I had migraines and dizzy spells that would cause me to pass out, and my appetite was non existent with abdominal pains making eating for the sake of eating nearly impossible. My GP sent me to specialists and an answer was never found. I finally looked at my birth control as a potential cause and was horrified to learn that use of Depo Provera was linked to so many health issues, and that my GP had failed to notify me that I should have been off it for a month at a time every year. I was given injection after injection for nearly 7 years.
It was 10 months after that before I had a period, but during that time I was terrified I was infertile after receiving so much artificial hormones for so long. I had pretty much given up on my GP when I went to a naturapath and he advised me what I was going through was likely adrenal failure, or at the very least adrenal fatigue. We had just commenced treatment when I discovered that at 23 I was pregnant with my first born, and within the first month of pregnancy I was back to my old self again.
After my daughter was born, at the insistence of my family, I started BC again, this time the patch and then I moved onto seasonelle… It wasn’t a year before the same issues started cropping up. I was down to 113 lbs, home alone with my 16 month old daughter (my husband was away with the Canadian Armed Forces in Haiti for earthquake relief) when I decided never again would I feel like that. After my second daughter was born, I spoke with my naturopath and OB-GYN about non hormonal BC options. For us, our best option was the copper IUD. Pregnancy was giving my body the kick start it needed to produce the hormones it needed to function, and I refused to stop that by giving it artificial hormones again. We made some changes at home, opting for Organic produce and meats at all points possible, and even found a job with an organic foods company that lets me keep my ear to the ground when it comes to health and wellness. I’m currently 28, artificial hormone free and planning my third child, free of health issues! (other than the usual cold and flu of course)
I was on the pill for over a decade and decided to stop taking it several years ago. I had cramps so bad that I would crawl up in bed and sob (I’d never had cramps that bad in my entire life), my skin broke out with bad acne, my period was so heavy and I also went into a very deep depression and felt very emotionally unstable. The upside was that my sex drive was back in full swing. After 3 months of craziness I went back on the pill because I just couldn’t take it anymore.
I’ve been wanting to figure out a way to get off of the pill but I am literally terrified of going through all of that again. I am much healthier now than I was when I tried going off of it. Any advice for helping to balance out after going off of the pill and get through it? Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Just came off the bcp about 5 months ago, after being on it for 13 years and repeatedly being told it was safe to take long term. The only reason I decided to stop taking it was that we discovered I had a hole bunch of health problems related to it after experiencing strange symptoms for about a year. No one thought it was the bcp or my hormones that could be causing the problems, but somehow I convinced one doctor that things were wrong with me and he sent me for the right tests.
After being off for 5 months I actually haven’t seen improvements externally, things have actually gotten worse in that way. But internally – blood tests – SLOWLY seem to be getting closer to normal.
I wish I had known all these things before I went on the bcp or at least early on that I could have saved myself from some of these health issues.
Joy/Mary – what have you found to be helpful in restoring balance? Diet? Or just plain ol’ time…?
Thanks for the post, more gals need to learn the harsh truth about bcp!
Great article, but is there any advice for those who’ve recently gone off of BCP? After almost of decade of taking BCP, I decided that the side effects were definitely outweighing any benefits. It’s been about 7 months and I still don’t feel 100% back to my old self (that is, if I remember what that was!). Any advice?
Thanks for the post!!
Yes, you should probably do a more intense cleanse.. like a liver/kidney cleanse!
Is anyone concerned about having a metal, like copper, INSIDE them? This is why I did not choose this hormone free method-specifically because it is a metal (metal toxicity etc) No one seems to discuss this aspect of the IUD and I am interested in what others think. Thank you for any insight!
Has anyone ever experienced issues such as leg cramping, or sex drive issues do to B.c, including the IUD? I have been using some form of BC for 10+ years including the pill, the Nuva Ring, and currently have the IUD. I am considering having it removed for many reasons including wanting to be able to conceive in the next 5 years . However am slightly nervous to remove it due to trying to go off BC for a few months a couple years ago and that is when the leg pain and vein issues started occurring. Just interested if anyone has any suggestions.
Has anyone ever experienced issues such as leg cramping due to B.c, including the IUD? I have been using some form of BC for 10+ years including the pill, the Nuva Ring, and currently have the IUD. I am considering having it removed for many reasons including wanting to be able to conceive in the next 5 years . However am slightly nervous to remove it due to trying to go off BC for a few months a couple years ago and that is when the leg pain and vein issues started occurring. Just interested if anyone has any suggestions.
nice post about the birth control Thanks for share this post
I have been on the BCP for 25 years. Yes that’s right. I went on them for pain relief around 14. I have considered going off (went off briefly in 20s before pain started coming back and went back on). I do not have endometreosis. We are talking about extreme, debilitating pain, not regular cramps. I’ve considered going off the pill but am afraid of the pain and my doctor has reassured me about certain concerns that make me feel it’s best to stay on the pill for now. I’d be interested in hearing from people who went off the BCP after being on for years for extremely painful periods and who do not have pain without the BCP. It is relevant whether they have had kids, because that can make the pain better on its own. Thanks.
I went off the pill a year ago after being on it for far too long. Thankfully I didn’t have much trouble getting my cycle back on track. The biggest change I noticed was weight loss. I have come to realize that going off the pill wasn’t the answer to my digestive issues but I’m still so happy I did it and would never go back on it or suggest it to anyone.
Thank you for posting this! I’ve had terribly painful period cramps for the past four years that result in throwing up and loose b.m.’s. I’ve always thought the pill was so unnatural and unnecessary. I am determined to find the actual cause, which no doctor has been able to tell me yet. Every doctor has told me I need to go on birth control. One doctor was bold enough to even tell me I am “stupid” for not being on the pill. My last doctors appt. even resulted in me succumbing to my doctors words and had her write me a prescription which I never ended up picking up. It’s a relief to know I am not the crazy one.
So pleased to read this article. I found that the bcp made me fat and no longer able to read my own body. I also developed a nasty food intolerance to all fruits and veggies that were raw – my Tongue would swell up. I stopped the bcp and e symptoms disappeared immediately. Terrifying to think I must have been poisoning my body really.
Look into the ladycomp or babycomp. Small, basal thermometer/computer that tracks your temps, cycles, fertile and infertile days.
My husband and I both love it!
Reliable, natural, and easy!
I have suffered from acne, depression, PMDD since my early teens. When I was 22, I finally tried birth control hoping that it would balance my hormones. After a few months, I had gained a bit of weight, my skin had worsened, & my moods were more extreme than ever. I consulted my doctor and she insisted that it would just take time for my body to adjust. I took the pill dilligently for a little over a year and NEVER saw an improvement. I had gained about thirty pounds, my skin was worse than ever, and my moods were deplorable. I decided to stop taking bc and dealt with more months of difficult periods and skin issues. I finally spoke with a friend who has suffered from similar issues when I noticed that her skin had been looking really great. She told me that she had been taking Chaste Tree Berry Extract. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try and I now SWEAR by it. I have seen AMAZING improvement in my overall moods, my food cravings, my skin, and my PMS. I have also started taking fish oils & MSM (an anti-inflammatory) and I changed my diet to be mostly raw, no dairy, and limit my wheat & sugar intake. I focus all of my meals around proteins & practice yoga everyday. I can’t even tell you how much this has changed my life. I have not found a lot of research or studies about it, but I can tell you that it worked for me & my friend. You have to take it everyday & I started noticing everything being regulated after a few months. I experimented once and didn’t take it for two months and both months my period came at the wrong time and had TERRIBLE cramps again. My skin also broke out worse than it has in over a year and my sex drive almost completely diminished (no thanks!!!) I would love to send anyone before and after pics of my skin if you need tangible proof. I am so grateful to Joy & others like her for being life-changing resources & am happy to share my personal experience & thoughts with anyone! I am not a nutrintionist or necessarily well-read in all things holistic, but what I know is that I feel & look better since I have made these changes to my life. And that’s compelling enough for me!
Thanks for this insightful post! I haven’t been on BCP for over 10yrs. I’m not a fan (at all) of birth control but hey, now I’m on it as it was a choice that my partner and I made together (Nuvaring which is inserted). After reading this post, I want off again!
Hello! Great article! Thank you! What are some healthier contraception options? Thank you!
I got off the mirena about a month ago and I can feel the difference, I do not regret getting that thing off my body!! The removal was painful! The iud got stuck and upon pulling it out it scraped my uterus. Withdrawal symptoms after that were horrible!! I’m doing well now and it’s been a month. I really wish I would’ve know the problems that come after removal.
I took bcp’s for almost 3.5 years before being told to stop taking them by a naturopath. My doctor still tried to convince me to take them to help with my osteopenia but there is no way i’m going that route again. Around the same time that i started taking bcp, my childhood eczema which had been mostly under control through my teen years starting coming back. I didn’t realize it was the bcp till i saw a naturopath for my eczema. The detox she made me go through was brutal. I detoxed through my skin and for 6 months looked worse than i ever had before. That’s how toxic i was. But once that was done, i had the best skin i had ever seen on myself and i felt great.
Hi Joy, I too would love to go off of the pill. I am convinced this is contributing to my moods swings and a decreased sex drive. I have been on the pill on and off for about 20 years now, so I am ready to be done with it. Can you offer some suggestions on how to eliminate the extra estrogen in my body? Thanks!
I was on the low-estrogen BCP for a couple years and decided to go off of it because I had stopped getting periods and thought something was wrong. I had also experienced a low libido on the pill and just decided that hormonal birth control was the wrong choice for me.
It has been over a year and I have still not gotten my period back. I had blood work done by my doctor, and all my levels are normal except my estradiol level (about 29). I have been working to get this level up because my husband and I want to start having children in the next year or so and I’m worried that this has affected my fertility.
I’ve been looking for ways to naturally boost my estrogen level because I don’t want to undergo more costly tests or take medications. Before I ever went on the BCP, I had perfectly regular periods every month – to the day! – and rarely ever had cramps or other PMS symptoms. I worry that the BCP has disrupted my previously balanced hormones.
I’ve started eating more edamame and flaxseed on a regular basis (use the flaxseed in my homemade almond-walnut butter!), and am going to try maca powder soon. Crossing my fingers that I can finally have a period for the first time in over a year and a half (never thought I’d be wishing for that!!).
Any other tips for boosting my estrogen level are very much appreciated!!
Hi Joy!
I stopped using birth control about a month and a half ago, after using it for about 8 months straight. I have not had a period since I stopped the pill and Im pretty sure Im not pregnant. Basically, i am wondering what I can do to balance out my hormones and get my period back!!
I excercise regularly, practise yoga, eat clean but I was wondering if theres anything else I can do.. Thanks!!
Hi Leigh!
You need to do a detox to support the liver and various channels of elimination to ensure you are excreting excess hormones. Please contact me through the contact page, I can help you.