Holistically Supporting Your Body on Birth Control
Young women in their high school, college, or post-college years are bound to have heard of, experimented with, or had curiosities about birth control.
Before starting college, my birth control journey began with pills. This was a trial and error process to find the brand that worked for my body but, once I found my fit, I stayed on pills for two years before switching to the Kyleena IUD my sophomore year of college (after continuously failing to remember to take my pills). Before getting the IUD, I had a long conversation with my primary care doctor to discuss the several options of, not only IUDs but the many other options available to me. Ultimately, I decided on Kyleena, a hormonal IUD, because I liked that it wasn’t as long of a commitment as the copper IUD and that it would be using hormones to prevent pregnancy; I haven’t had any problems with it so far. That being said, the procedure to put it in was utterly terrifying, and I dread the day of needing to go back to get it taken out, but after having it for 3 plus years I often forget it’s there. Besides the IUD being relatively easy day-to-day, I often forget that my hormones are operating in a much different way than others who aren’t using a hormonal birth control method.
At BabesRising, we are completely pro-choice for women everywhere, and believe that choosing to go on birth control or not is dependent on your body, your research, and choosing what feels best for YOU! However, as birth control affects our body’s natural hormone production, it’s important to understand potential side effects or health impacts the body may experience while on birth control, and supporting the body holistically through supplements, foods, and self-care practices will help to keep it healthy and balanced. Then, if the time comes when you’d like to stop using birth control, your body will feel supported.
Another aspect many women using birth control may experience is an irregular, or complete lack of, a period, a factor I’ve dealt with since getting the IUD. One part of me felt relief not getting my period every month, as I don’t worry about things like bleeding through my clothes or not having a tampon or pad on me when I need it, but, I’ve also felt a disconnect to my innate feminine energy that comes with the menstrual cycle. Since many birth control options regulate the hormones in a specific way that may not allow for a regular period, you can tune into this feminine energy and still live cyclically by syncing up with the phases of the moon instead!
Holistic health while on birth control -
The main things to be mindful of are that the majority of birth controls (hormonal or otherwise), can impact the digestive system and strip the body of B vitamins and minerals, so supporting digestion and replenishing vitamins and minerals consistently through foods and supplements is one of the most important things to focus on when taking birth control.
Top supplement recommendations:
Probiotics - this is huge as birth control can deplete your body of good bacteria, and taking a high quality probiotic supplement every morning or evening can replenish your levels.
B-vitamin complex - check if you have methylation issues, to make sure you get a methylated form of B vitamins
Folate/folic acid - on it’s own, or in a multivitamin in active form (MTHF).
Magnesium - critical for metabolic functions, relaxation, and sleep support.
Electrolytes - to replenish the body with sodium, magnesium, potassium, and other electrolytes in an ideal ratio that can help with energy, mood, sleep, and beyond. LMNT is my favorite brand, Ultima is also great!
Sample supplement schedule:
First thing in the AM - Have a large glass of water with lemon juice + electrolytes + a probiotic (on an empty stomach).
With breakfast - Take B-vitamin complex + folic acid or multi-vitamin.
With dinner (or before bed) - Take magnesium.
Top food recommendations:
Organic, grass-fed beef (at least a few times/month) - to support balanced iron and protein levels.
Leafy greens - to replenish minerals.
Beets/beet greens - to support liver health.
Organic fruits and vegetables - apples, berries, citrus fruits, greens, and any other veggies rich in minerals and fiber.
Probiotic-rich foods - organic yogurt (milk or coconut milk-based), kefir/kombucha, and fermented veggies sprinkled into your diet.
Staying connected to your feminine energy & living cyclically while on birth control -
Since your hormones are being controlled in a way that may result in an irregular or nonexistent period, you can follow along with the cycles of the moon to connect to your feminine energy and align with the shifts that take place within the stages of the menstrual cycle.
Phase One – New Moon (equivalent to your period/menstruation)
2 days before the new moon, on the new moon, and 2 days after the new moon is a great time to act as if you are on your period, and/or time your birth control pills (for those who take the pill) so that you bleed during this time of the month!
This is a beautiful, introspective time for rest, replenishment, & restoration. A time to, quite literally, “recharge” your batteries. Take it easy, spend time on your own, tap into your intuition, and take extra good care of yourself. Keep your body warm, and support your body with nourishing foods & drinks. Say “no” to as much as possible. Keep your calendar spacious and free from obligations that will take a lot of your energy. Ask for extra support/help from loved ones. Communicate your feelings fully to those around you, and permit yourself to be “lazy”. Your body’s reproductive system is cleansing. Honor this, it's important to later maintain high energy levels during the rest of your cycle!
Phase Two – Waxing Moon (equivalent to the follicular phase)
This next week is a great time to act as if you’re in your follicular phase.
This is a FRESH, NEW time. It's a time for new ideas, activities, thoughts, etc. A time for a fresh, clean slate. Start to get back out into the world, cleanse your physical space & your body, and start to dress in light, beautiful clothes. Start the creative process for various ideas/projects in your personal & professional life. Get your calendar & home organized. Enjoy the gradual build of energy
Phase Three - Full Moon (equivalent to ovulation)
2 days before the full moon, on the full moon, and 2 days after the full moon is a great time to act as if you are ovulating.
You will most likely feel on fire during this time of the month (although it all depends - tune into your body!) During ovulation, your hormones are plentiful, and you will also have a boost of Testosterone. This is a very yang (“doing”) phase. Put yourself out there, wear a sexy outfit, socialize, set up the job interview, launch the project, and lift the weights. Take advantage of this elevation in your hormones. You might forget about self-care during this phase because you want to “do” so much. Don’t worry. Self-care might look very different than your typical self in this phase of your cycle (for example, self-care could be hitting your favorite workout & then going out to catch up with a girlfriend!)
Phase Four - Waning Moon (equivalent to the luteal phase)
This next week is a great time to act as if you are in your luteal phase.
Just like the changing & falling leaves in Autumn, your body is going through shifts & changes as your hormones begin to decrease (as you get closer to bleeding). You might feel energized one day and fatigued the next. Your patience might be lower, your attitude might be stronger. Enjoy this “Wild Woman” time of the month. Let your voice OUT; feel your emotions; honor what it means & feels like to be a colorful, beautiful, powerful woman. Use nature to balance your body, along with plenty of self-care -- it will help a ton during this phase to minimize any PMS, cravings, excessive emotions, etc.
Here is a calendar that shows you the exact moon phases for the entire year!
To deepen your understanding of honoring your cycle, grab our free guide here!
We understand that the effects of birth control vary from person to person, as well as between birth control types, so it’s important to consult with your doctor/gynecologist and do research on your own, as there’s no one right solution.
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