A Naturopathic Guide to Coming Off The Pill

This naturopathic guide to coming off the pill will empower you to make informed choices about your hormonal health.

There is a growing number of women becoming aware of the pitfalls of using the pill. This naturopathic guide to coming off the pill will help you to navigate the steps you can take to transition from using the pill to using holistic therapies to optimise your hormonal health.

Why Would You Want To Come Off The Pill?

The decision to transition off the oral contraceptive pill can arise for a number of reasons. You may be looking to prepare your body for conception, perhaps you’re feeling ready to address the real underlying cause of hormone imbalance or you may simply want to be free from taking synthetic hormones. Whatever your reason, this article will outline the key points to consider as you make this decision.

A Naturopathic Guide to Coming Off The Pill: Common Misconceptions

Before we discuss how to begin supporting your body to transition off the pill, let’s explore some common misconceptions about pill use

1. The pill will fix your periods

There is a common misconception that the pill can fix your periods. This could not be further from the truth. Women struggling with PCOS and other hormonal challenges are often prescribed the pill as a way to “regulate” their hormones.

The pill creates a false sense of regularity through forced, withdrawal bleeds while failing to address the true underlying cause of the imbalance.

The most important part of your menstrual cycle is ovulation. Without regular ovulation we fail to produce enough progesterone to oppose estrogen. This can leave women with an imbalance known as estrogen dominance.

When estrogen “dominates” we can experience worsening of health conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, adenomyosis, anxiety, depression and thyroid issues.

Estrogen dominance can manifest as:

– Weight gain and excessive cellulite, especially around the lower abdomen, hips, thighs and buttocks
– Fluid retention
– Heavy, painful periods
– Anxiety, depression, overwhelm, binge eating
– Low thyroid function

Interestingly, the oral contraceptive pill inhibits ovulation. While you are on the pill you may experience withdrawal bleeds but you will not experience a menstrual cycle or viable ovulation. As a result, regardless of the pill you choose to use, you can be at risk of developing estrogen dominance.

When ovulation is suppressed by synthetic hormones, you cannot regulate your cycle or bring balance to your hormones.

Unfortunately, for many women the pill can inhibit ovulation for months, sometimes even years after stopping the pill. This can interfere with general health, hormone health and fertility.

If you have been taking the pill to heal PCOS or other hormone challenges, it is important to know that true healing will begin when you stop the pill and address the root cause.

2. The pill will fix your skin

Another common misconception is around the pills ability to fix skin issues like hormonal acne, rosacea or cystic acne.

While taking the pill may improve the appearance of skin problems like acne, there is a high risk of the skin concern returning once the pill is stopped.

Once again, this is because the pill does not address the true root cause of cystic acne, it simply suppresses the hormones that are triggering the breakouts and these hormones can rebound with a vengeance once the pill is stopped.

3. The pill will not cause weight gain

Unfortunately, stubborn weight gain and rapid weight gain are commonly associated with the pill. Estrogen only pills are more commonly associated with rapid and stubborn weight gain however, the mini pill (progestin only pill), the mirena and the implanon may product the same problem.

The rapid and stubborn weight gain that is associated with the pill develops due to:

– Hormone changes (elevated estrogen, depleted progesterone)
– Increase in fluid retention and fat storage (due to estrogen dominance)
– Changes in gut health (microbiome imbalance)
– Nutrient deficiencies (discussed below)
– Suppressed thyroid function / cellular hypo thyroid (estrogen dominance can down regulate thyroid function)
– Binge eating or emotional eating (due to estrogen dominance)

The weight gain associated with the pill does not typically respond to standard, calorically restricted methods. Instead, you must focus on resolving the underlying hormone imbalance that lead to the initial weight gain.

4. The pill will not impact fertility

For many women, their period will return immediately after stopping the pill and as a result, they are able to conceive within a few months. For others, their period may fail to return for several months or they may experience monthly bleeds without ovulation which causes fertility challenges.

A hormone naturopath can help you to restore balance to your body which will improve your menstrual cycle and fertility health.

A Naturopathic Guide to Coming Off The Pill: How to do it Safely

In terms of safety, you can come off the pill at any time in your cycle. There are no dangerous withdrawal symptoms and the body does not build dependence on the pill like it can with other prescription medications.

Your reason to use the pill in the first place will determine if any prep work is advised before coming off the pill. While this prep work is not essential, for some women, especially those using the pill to suppress acne or painful periods, there may be a rebound of symptoms after coming off the pill. Preparing with the following steps may help to lessen the severity of side effects.

1. Address nutrient deficiencies

The pill depletes a number of nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, selenium, zinc.

It is important to address these deficiencies with diet changes and key nutritional supplements (if appropriate) to minimise side effects as you come off the pill.

2. Support detox pathways

It is common for women to experience the imbalance of low progesterone and high estrogen after using the pill for several months or years.

To minimise the side effects of estrogen dominance you can begin to prioritise the health of your detox pathways to ensure your body is able to clear excess estrogen as easily and effectively as possibly.

The organs and body systems involved in estrogen detoxification primarily include the gall bladder, the liver and the gut.

Gall bladder removal will affect the bodies ability to detox estrogen and interventions to support estrogen detoxification is often required when the gall bladder has been removed.

Alcohol, toxin or xenoestrogen exposure can impair the livers ability to detox estrogen. Optimal liver health is required for best out comes.

Daily bowel movements are essential for estrogen elimination. Sluggish bowels, imcomplete bowel movements or only moving your bowels every second day can cause an accumulation of estrogen and may exacerbate the symptoms associated with estrogen dominance.

3. Optimise gut health

Poor gut health can affect the clearance of estrogen via the bowels. As discussed earlier, regular bowel movements are required for optimal estrogen clearance.

Interestingly, the type of bacteria present in your digestive system can impact your ability to detox. There are certain strains of unhelpful bacteria that increase the way your body “recycles” toxins and hormones. Instead of eliminating these toxins and hormones through the bowels, this bacteria can trigger reabsorption back into the blood stream, forcing the liver to double down on detoxing which can eventually lead to an over accumulation of estrogen.

Unhelpful bacteria tends to clear itself from the digestive system as optimal gut health is achieved.

Gut health must be a primary focus for those who have chosen to use the pill for skin concerns. A majority of skin issues reflect the health of our digestive system.

4. Work with a hormone naturopath

Uncovering the real root cause of PCOS, skin issues and other hormone imbalances can be confusing and overwhelming. Working with an experienced hormone naturopath will simplify this process. We have access to advanced functional testing and evidence based protocols that can help you to achieve the balance you desire.

Whether you want to eliminate the symptoms of PCOS, heal your skin, lose weight, regulate your cycle or optimise fertility, working with a hormone naturopath can help.

Here are 3 ways I can help you now:

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