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My Long-Term Relationship with The Pill
I was on the pill for nearly 15 years, but last year, I decided to take the plunge and finally made the choice to stop taking it.
I had a multitude of reasons for why I stopped taking the pill. In short, it didn’t deliver on its promise of clear skin and, more importantly, I was legitimately concerned about its risks related to breast cancer (given breast cancer already runs in my family). For more on why I stopped taking the pill, check out this article.
I had a TON of concerns about going off my birth control pill after being on them for so many years. In a way, I had become overly reliant on the pill to give me more regular periods, less cramping, and the *false* promise of clearer skin.
For one, I was worried that my period would permanently go MIA once I stopped, and that I’d have to go back on the pill.
I was also afraid that my hormones would go completely crazy and that the mood swings would be unbearable.
Additionally, I was legitimately concerned about experiencing bouts of depression and anxiety, something that can happen when you go off of birth control.
I knew I was at a crossroads with my health, but I also knew that going off the pill was a crucial and necessary step I wanted to take for myself.
So how did I start with this process with stopping the pill? I started by arming myself with knowledge.
Developing a Plan to Stop Taking the Pill
First, I went to my dermatologist to see what she would recommend. She immediately prescribed me spironolactone, but I ended up not taking it (more on that below).
Then, I started seeing a naturopath, which was the BEST decision I could have made. My naturopath had a holistic approach that addressed all of my concerns, and was by far the most insightful and beneficial decision I could have made in regards to learning about what herbs and supplements to take after stopping the pill.
Finally, I also started going to an acne clinic every 6 weeks for regular peels and “maintenance” work so that we could address what topical treatments I should use, and what foods I should be avoiding to minimize my acne after stopping birth control.
Out of these three approaches, I would say that seeing a naturopath was by far the most effective choice I made in regulating my hormones after stopping birth control. Why? By learning which supplements and herbs to take after stopping the pill, I was able to target other concerns, such as sleeplessness and acne, all of which are effected by hormone levels and imbalances.
In this way, stopping the pill and taking various herbs and supplements was like a detox from birth control, especially since I had been on it for nearly 15 years!
While I’m not a doctor or expert in any way on these supplements, I want to share with you what worked for me, because I know how confused I was when I decided to stop taking the pill. From this article, you will know the exact, recommended brands and doses I used because they worked, and because they minimized so many of the associated side effects of stopping birth control, like mood swings, acne, sleeplessness, and even anxiety. However, you should definitely chat with your healthcare provider before starting any of these supplements to see if they’re right for you.
Also important to note that these supplements were part of a larger plan. I stopped taking the pill 7 months ago, but I didn’t quit birth control and then start these supplements. I started these supplements 30 days before quitting the pill so that they had time to take effect (per my naturopath’s recommendation), and so that my body would be used to them. The crazy part of doing it this way? I had a period EXACTLY 30 days later after going off the pill, and since then my periods have been like clockwork!
You can see why I wholly attest to these supplements and believe in them so much.
If you’re ready to make the choice to stop taking the pill, or if you’re just interested in learning more about the process and what you can do to make the transition easier, check out these 5 herbs and supplements I took to balance my hormones after stopping birth control.
The 5 Herbs + Supplements I Took To Balance My Hormones After Stopping Birth Control
1. Fish Oil + Evening Primrose Oil Combo Supplement. This was the very first supplement that both my naturopath and esthetician recommended for regulating my hormones after stopping birth control, so I knew this was definitely a solid investment I wanted to make for the sake of my hormone health. I was a little hesitant to splurge on this vitamin, but my naturopath explained that unlike other basic vitamins where brand doesn’t matter as much (e.g., your basic Vitamin C supplement), a quality fish oil supplement is definitely one you want to spend a little more on, as you want to ensure you’re getting the purest available form of fish oil.
As an added bonus, the brand I use by Nordic Naturals (recommended by my naturopath) also incorporates a dose of Evening Primrose Oil, which has a proven record of supporting female hormonal needs, and even promotes healthier skin (thanks to its fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA). I started taking two of these a day a month before stopping birth control, and I’m positive that this supplement is the reason why I had a period exactly 30 days after quitting the pill. I still take two a day daily of Nordic Naturals Omega Woman for the hormonal balancing benefits (and for clear skin).
2. Spearmint Tea and/or Spearmint Capsules. I’ve always tested on the higher end for testosterone levels, which unfortunately means I’ve always had acne, particularly in the chin area. This isn’t an uncommon dilemma for women. In fact, many dermatologists prescribe the drug, spironolactone, for this very purpose: reducing testosterone in your body to reduce hormonal acne (typically in the chin area). I had tried spironolactone before during my college days with FANTASTIC results, but this time I didn’t want to be on a prescription, and I wanted to naturally balance my hormones without the help of drugs. But I’ll admit, I was very concerned about stopping birth control since my dermatologist had told me that my testosterone levels would likely “flare up” after stopping birth control (meaning I would have horrendous acne). After telling my naturopath this and fully detailing my concerns about hormones and my skin, she instantly afforded me with a natural, herbal solution to target my high testosterone. Spearmint tea.
Spearmint is a proven, natural herb that, when taken regularly, can reduce your testosterone levels and fight that nasty hormonal acne you get, particularly in the days leading up to your period and, of course, after stopping the pill. I was advised to drink one to two cups a day of spearmint tea by her favorite brand, Traditional Medicinals. I found the best deal on Amazon: 6 boxes of 16 (96 bags total) for 20 bucks! When I traveled, I would sometimes resort to using spearmint capsules, but I actually liked the minty freshness of the tea, and had a cup every afternoon. Soon after starting this tea, I was ecstatic when I realized that I had stopped getting cystic acne on my chin, something that was “normal” for me when I had been on the pill!
3. Adrenal Support Supplement. This is something I would definitely see a doctor or naturopath about before taking, as you want to make sure that your cortisol levels merit the help of a supplement. After taking an at home cortisol test (recommended by my naturopath), the results showed that my cortisol would naturally spike in the morning (as per normal), but rather than steadily declining throughout the day as it should have, it was spiking again in the evening. This was exceptionally insightful, as I now had an answer as to why I have always had trouble falling asleep, and even felt anxious most evenings thanks to that additional cortisol spike!
Cortisol is the stress hormone, and healthy levels of cortisol should normally follow the “cortisol curve” throughout the day. In a healthy curve, cortisol always starts out high in the morning after waking up, and then tapers off throughout the day and into the evening so that you’re relaxed and ready for bed by the end of the day. But when we’re chronically stressed, the body continues to release cortisol at all hours, or in my case, just before bed. This can lead to adrenal exhaustion over time, and can actually throw off the balance of other hormones, like estrogen. To bring my cortisol levels back into check, and to ultimately regulate my other hormones after stopping birth conrol, my naturopath suggested an adrenal support supplement, Seriphos for Adaptogen and Adrenal Support. Seriphos targets your cortisol and helps support your adrenal glands so that can achieve a healthier curve of cortisol throughout your day, and balance your hormones as a result. I still take one daily (the bottle lasts more than three months), but give myself a “break” from it during my period week. Since taking it, I’ve noticed that my sleep quality is far better and deeper, and that I feel less anxious in the evenings.
4. Probiotic. Whether you’re on the pill or not, taking a daily probiotic is always a huge health benefit, as it helps to establish an ideal microbial balance in the gut, making digestion more effective and thereby easing common stomach ailments (e.g., nausea, gas, bloating, etc.) However, more research continues to point to a strong connection between taking the pill and compromised gut health. In fact, women taking the pill for greater than five years are three times more likely to develop Chrohn’s Disease. Yikes! This is even more startling since I was on the pill for nearly 15 years. For the sake of your gut health, pop a probiotic on the daily, especially if you plan on going off of birth control.
5. Zinc. Did you know that birth control pills deplete zinc over time? Zinc is an important trace mineral that helps to support fertility, clear skin, and promotes healthy fetal growth and development (significant if you’re trying to get pregnant). Additionally, zinc is key to maintaining optimal mental health, making it one supplement that you definitely want to utilize while you’re going off the pill. While you can get zinc from many sources (e.g. eggs, seafood, and red meat), I was advised by my naturopath and esthetician to take additional zinc while going off the pill to reestablish my zinc levels, support likely mood fluctuations, and as an added bonus, promote clearer skin. The supplement they both recommended was OptiZinc, which also has a small amount of copper in it (zinc depletes copper and vice versa, so it’s important to take a combination pill so you’re getting the right amount of each).
Going off of birth control is a tough decision, and while it may not be the right decision for every woman out there, for me, it was hands-down one of the best health decisions I’ve made to date. I hope this post was informative and helpful to you. If you would like to see other articles like this, please let me know in the quick yes/no survey below! 🙂
