Looking for a naturopathic guide for getting off your birth control pills? Read this post below prepared by one of the best Ballarat naturopaths to be guided properly.
A lot of women go on an oral contraceptive pill (OCP) for different reasons during their life. It may be because it was recommended by a doctor to help with their menstrual health, or to help regulate hormonal acne. Other women will use it as a contraceptive.
Whatever your reason for using it, there will also come a time where you want to come off the pill. Most women feel better when they come off the OCP, but there are some who do not.
Most Common Post-Pill Symptoms
If you happen to be one of the women who comes off the pill and starts experiencing problems, it can be challenging. You may want to go back on the OCP rather than trying to transition off it. The symptoms you can experience include post-pill acne, PMS, PCOS, anxiety, heavy periods, painful periods, facial hair, and amenorrhea.
These symptoms occur due to one or more of the following:
- Withdrawal from a strong synthetic estrogen.
- A surge in androgen levels, particularly if you also have PCOS.
- Experiencing a true period for the first time in many years.
- Delays or problems in establishing a regular ovulatory cycle.
Naturopathic Approach for Coming Off Hormonal Birth Control
A naturopath can help support you through each of these reasons. They can also help you to figure out if there was something else going on that you might not realise. Some of the ways they can help include:
- Supporting and stabilising your ovulatory cycle to help ensure adequate production of your own estrogen and progesterone which will help with synthetic estrogen withdrawal.
- Starting treatment to help minimise an androgen surge, which is best done at least a month before you come off the pill.
- Determining what period problems, you may have had prior to commencing the OCP and working with you to address them and providing support to establish a normal menstrual cycle.
- Working with you to establish a regular period, supporting ovulation and normal hormone production.
There are different herbs and supplements that a naturopath can use to support you in achieving each of these goals. A consultation can help determine the most appropriate approach and response for your individual health picture. Book your appointment with a Ballarat naturopath here.
