Here’s your history lesson of the day about birth control:

The first run of the pill was progestin only (made to mimic our naturally occurring hormone, progesterone) and its intended use was to regulate periods.
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A “side effect” was pregnancy prevention and this quickly caught on as a way to prevent having babies, despite its advertised purpose.
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It was invented in 1956 and was tested in a study called, “The Puerto Rico Pill Trials.” The women who took the pill complained of many extreme side-effects, including three women who ended up dying. Their reactions were dismissed and deemed psychosomatic.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This high-dose pill was approved by the FDA in 1957 but taken off the market in 1988 because of the continual side effects.
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One of the pill’s main components is progestin. It works by suppressing ovulation in most cycles while thinning the cervical lining, making it difficult for an egg to implant, and also changes the cervical fluid.
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Some side effects of progestin include:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Bloating
• Vaginal discharge
• Spotting or irregular vaginal bleeding
• Missing period
• Prolonged periods
• Low libido
• Skin conditions
• Bone density loss
• Breast pain
• Symptoms of Anxiety/ Depression

Our natural progesterone production is essential for maintaining hormonal balance, avoiding PMS symptoms, and mental health, but we cannot make progesterone when we are on the pill because it is made after we ovulate.

Our bodies make specific hormones because we NEED them. Our bodies are designed to make a baby, whether we want one or not. There is an almost magical balance between your hormones and all other bodily functions that requires hormones.

If you find that you’re having some of the side effects listed above while on HBC, I would encourage you to do more research and speak with your doctor! There are other options that may provide less symptoms like the non-hormonal IUD or other natural forms of birth control!

💌 Wanting some guidance while come off of Hormonal Birth Control to avoid withdrawal symptoms and get your hormones back on track? Message me!