First of all, let me preface this by saying that I do believe birth control has played a pivotal role in women’s rights. The freedom of choice it has given to us cannot be understated.

However, we have not been given the proper education on how it truly affects our bodies.

I have experienced first-hand the negative affect birth control can have on your system, but I have also experienced the healing that’s possible when you remove it.

My Story

To use a personal example, I developed multiple lumps in my breasts after starting birth control. Luckily, they were benign, but it took numerous appointments, with several doctors, and invasive procedures to figure that out.

The effects only got worse from there. By year 4 of taking birth control, I had completely lost my sex drive and sex actually became extremely painful for me. The only fix my doctors would suggest was changing the dosage of my birth control and putting me on creams meant for women going through menopause.

I’d later find out that both of those issues were common side effects of birth control.

After a year of different pills and creams, I decided to go off of my birth control in a last-ditch effort to let my body heal naturally.

When I told my gynecologist what I intended to do, she said she agreed with my decision, but wasn’t actually allowed to tell me to do that. In her words, “if anyone actually read the side-effect list included in the birth control box, they would never take the stuff.”

This story is obviously deeply personal to share, but I believe it’s important for women to start having these open conversations of their experiences. When I started talking to the women in my life, I realized so many of them had had similar experiences to my own!

Now, let’s get into the facts.

First, let’s take a look at how hormonal birth control affects the body.

Hormonal birth control methods, such as birth control pills, patches, injections, and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), work by altering the hormonal balance in the body to prevent pregnancy. Here’s a breakdown of how hormonal birth control affects the body:

1. Suppression of Ovulation:
   • One of the primary mechanisms of hormonal birth control is the suppression of ovulation, the release of an egg from the ovaries. Birth control methods containing synthetic versions of estrogen and/or progestin work to inhibit the normal hormonal signals that trigger ovulation. Without ovulation, there is no egg available for fertilization by sperm.
2. Thickening of Cervical Mucus:
   • Hormonal contraceptives alter the consistency of cervical mucus, making it thicker and less hospitable to sperm. This change inhibits sperm movement, reducing the likelihood of successful fertilization.
3. Changes in Uterine Lining:
   • Hormonal birth control methods affect the uterine lining, making it less receptive to a fertilized egg. If ovulation occurs despite contraceptive measures, the altered uterine lining may hinder the implantation of a fertilized egg, preventing the establishment of pregnancy.
4. Altered Tubal Transport: The movement of the egg through the fallopian tubes and the transportation of sperm may be affected by hormonal contraceptives, further reducing the chances of fertilization.

In essence, the purpose of birth control is to cut off the communication between your brain and your reproductive system. Then, it uses artificial hormones to “replace” what your body would naturally produce and change the way it operates.

There are numerous negative affects from introducing artificial hormones to your system.

The most common side effects include:

1. Nausea and Vomiting
2. Breast Tenderness
3. Decrease in Libido
4. Mood Changes
5. Weight Changes
6. Headaches
7. Irregular Bleeding / Spotting
8. Changes in Menstrual Flow
9. Skin Changes
10. Potential Impact / Exacerbation of Mood Disorders
11. Decreased Bone Density
12. Impact on Sexual Function

These are just a few of the common side effects. More intense side effects include blood clots, increased blood pressure, gastrointestinal issues, liver and gallbladder problems, painful intercourse, and prolonged fertility problems.

So, what are your options?

Here’s a list of non-hormonal options of birth control:

1. The obvious one: condoms. (I know he might say it doesn’t “feel as good”, but your health is much more important. And… the alternative is your sex drive being so low you don’t want to do anything with him anyway!)
2. Diaphragms
3. Copper IUD
4. Natural Family Planning (NFP) Methods
5. Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABMs)

If you continue to take hormonal birth control, there are still measures you can take to help mitigate any negative affects. This can include monitoring your mental and physical health more closely, and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regime.

At the end of the day, you have to make the choice that’s best for your situation. The more we can learn about how our own bodies operate, the more informed our decisions can be for our long-term health and happiness!