The Nitty-Gritty on the Birth Control Pill + Gut Health
There’s nothing wrong with choosing hormonal birth control. There’s something terribly wrong with being deceived or having information withheld in order to get you to take it.
– Dr. Jolene Brighten
This was me years ago. I always had an irregular period. Some doctors chalked it up to my increased activity as an athlete. Other doctors chalked it up to PCOS. But no one asked the investigative questions like what was my nutrition like, was I sleeping well, how was my gut health, etc. Instead of seeking out the root cause for my irregular period, I was put on birth control pills because they told me that was the only way to regulate my period and protect my body.
How little I knew. How much I put my trust in my respective doctors. How wrecked my body got.
I don’t have a vendetta for doctors and conventional medicine. There are many caring, attentive, wonderful doctors out there that have your best interest in mind and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty to help you to not settle for the “norm.” However, most conventional doctors know what they know and they stick to that. That’s probably where my doctors failed me – they stuck to what was protocol instead of seeing my body as a whole and digging deep. That’s where my frustration lies. But I have to thank my doctors because they were one of the main reasons I pursued my career and now embrace the passion to teach you + empower you in your health.
Back to birth control. Right. I was prescribed birth control, so I took it (I just trusted even though I was concerned about taking it). I eventually noticed my period “normalized”, as in I had one every month. When my period started to get wonky, my doctor switched me over to another brand. Then another. And another. I can’t even tell you what brands I took or how long they worked for me. All I know is why I was on the pill, my moods were worse, hormonal acne kicked in, my digestive system went haywire, and I felt the least in touch with my body.
After being on the pill for a length of time I can’t recall (somewhere between 5-7 years), I called it. I wanted off. I cut it cold turkey. And my period? Gone for THREE years. What happened? Those hormones the pill was producing were synthetic – aka not natural. My body no longer had to carry out its normal functions when it came to my period because the pill did it for me. I went from experiencing fake periods on the pill to none at all off the pill. My body took three years to re-balance + feel safe. There were other factors as to why I lost my period, like over-exercising, undereating, lack of sleep, and stress, but the pill was the instigator. Alas, I had a long road of recovery ahead of me.
Does every woman experience this on the pill? Not necessarily. Every woman’s experience is different because of bioindividuality. But, one thing is true for each woman that takes the birth control pill – your body will be depleted of certain nutrients, you will not ovulate (this is needed even if you aren’t trying to get pregnant), and your microbiome will be affected.
I share all of this with you so you are informed + can make the best decision for you, knowing the risks of taking birth control. This article is not to shame you or make you feel guilty if you are on some version of birth control. Shame is not the name of the game and you will never experience that from me. Again, I am just here to inform + support you in the best way I can.
So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty, shall we?
cue Nacho Libre
How the Pill Can Impact Gut Health
Disrupts your microbiome
The pill can and typically will alter your microbiome. It’s like having someone come to decorate your space. They come in and do their thing, which may lead to re-arranging things, removing things, or adding things that you don’t want. They did it in a way that you wouldn’t prefer or find helpful. That’s what the pill does to your gut. It can disrupt the number of bacteria you have in your gut (good or bad), inflame your intestinal lining, impact the amount of stomach acid you have, etc. The possible result – leaky gut, candida, microbial diversity, change in motility, bloating, gas, and yeast infections.
Depletes specific nutrients
Like most medications, the pill can deplete your body of specific nutrients needed for various functions throughout the body. These nutrients are vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, zinc, magnesium, and selenium levels. Out of those listed, the top three most depleted are magnesium, selenium, and zinc. These minerals help assist numerous enzymatic functions. Vitamin B6 is involved in over 100 enzymatic reactions and helps support fertility, your nervous system, and cognition. Zinc is a cofactor for hydrochloric acid (stomach acid), which is needed for optimal gut health.
Increases inflammation
Your body can be inflamed by so many things, including food sensitivities, medications, stress, toxins, and so on. Birth control can also increase inflammation in the body. Increased inflammation can lead to heightened PMS symptoms, including cramping, bloating, anxiety, connection with your partner, and depression.
Another digestive-related challenge – many women encounter IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and/or IBD (irritable bowel disease) after starting the pill. IBS is a gut-related issue in which you toggle between constipation and loose bowel movements. Some women experience mild IBS while others have it severe. It isn’t fun and it doesn’t mind interrupting your daily activities, but it is treatable. Again, not all women on the pill experience IBS, but it is quite common. This study also shows the correlation between oral contraceptives and IBD.
On top of the gut challenges the pill is likely to cause, there’s one more big takeaway you need to know – the pill does not fix your period symptoms. What it does is disrupt your brain’s communication with your ovaries and instead of allowing your body to produce natural hormones as you go through your cycle, it produces synthetic hormones. So when you bleed, it’s a fake bleed, and you do not ovulate because that is stopped too.
Menstrual cups are a safe, non-toxic, and sustainable menstrual product. They are excellent alternatives to tampons!
Your body is meant to cycle through all the phases. You are supposed to bleed during menstruation and ovulate during ovulation. Your hormones are meant to fluctuate and your body is meant to continually cycle through each phase. This natural, incredible cycle is no longer natural when you are on the pill. That is something to be aware of, if not concerned about. The longer you are on the pill, the more challenging it is to return to normal cycling + previous symptoms can return, and there is the chance of post birth control syndrome (PCBS) once getting off the pill (I’ve had experience with this so know you aren’t alone if you encounter it).
The pill isn’t the end all be all for “fixing” your period challenges and PMS symptoms. You can support your PMS symptoms, PCOS, acne, and irregular periods through supportive nutritional and lifestyle practices. The same rings true for supporting your body while on hormonal contraceptives, especially the pill. If your sole concern for being on the pill is to prevent pregnancy, there is a list of non-hormonal contraceptives + birth control alternatives you can research.
My favorite method is the FAM method, which is not the same thing as the rhythm method. I highly recommend checking it out and reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. This is a book I recommend every woman should read! Don’t let the title mislead you! The book teaches you how to read your body, understand your cycle, interpret things like temperature and cervical fluid, and to learn when you are fertile during your cycle. Truth be told, I think it should be required reading for teenagers–it’s that informative.
My fellow ladies, your body is the only one you get in this life. Learn to treat it well and with respect + admiration. Appreciate all that it does for you! And again, whether you choose to stick with the pill or not, the decision is up to you. Not me, not your friends, not the doctor. Just you. All I ask is that you become informed of the effects it can have on your body, short and long term.
If you choose to cut cold turkey from the pill or any other hormonal contraceptive, please work with a trained practitioner to ensure you’re supporting your body through the process. As a functional nutritional therapist and hormone specialist, I can help! Just please, don’t do it alone. And if you’re coming off the pill because you are ready to step into motherhood, know it will take time for your body to come back into balance! The timeline will differ for every woman, but it will happen as long as you are supporting it along the way, so I recommend planning accordingly.
Bottom line–the pill isn’t the only answer to your period problems or whatever else you may be facing. While there is research that shows pros and cons, more research is coming out showing the negative effects birth control can have on a woman.
If it doesn't feel right or if it doesn’t sit well with you, share that with your doctor and do what’s right for you.
This is a hefty topic and I’ve only skimmed the surface. If you’re ready to get in alignment with your cycle, learn more about birth control, or get to the root of your health challenges, give me a shout! I’ll be here, waiting :).
Don’t forget to snag your free copy on how to cycle sync with your cycle for a better period + happier hormones!
Be educated.
Do the research.
Ask the questions. And then keep asking.
Sources –
Bertone-Johnson ER, Ronnenberg AG, Houghton SC, Nobles C, Zagarins SE, Takashima-Uebelhoer BB, Faraj JL, Whitcomb BW. Association of inflammation markers with menstrual symptom severity and premenstrual syndrome in young women. Hum Reprod. 2014 Sep;29(9):1987-94. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deu170. Epub 2014 Jul 17. PMID: 25035435.
Brighten, J. Dr. (2018). Is Birth Control Bad for Your Gut? Retrieved from https://drbrighten.com/is-birth-control-bad-for-your-gut/
Khalili H. (2016). Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Oral Contraceptives and Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Current Evidence and Future Directions. Drug safety, 39(3), 193–197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-015-0372-y
Skovlund CW, Mørch LS, Kessing LV, Lidegaard Ø. Association of Hormonal Contraception With Depression. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(11):1154–1162. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.2387
Webb JL. Nutritional effects of oral contraceptive use: a review. J Reprod Med. 1980 Oct;25(4):150-6. PMID: 7001015.
Wilson SM, Bivins BN, Russell KA, Bailey LB. Oral contraceptive use: impact on folate, vitamin B₆, and vitamin B₁₂ status. Nutr Rev. 2011 Oct;69(10):572-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00419.x. PMID: 21967158.