PCOS and Birth Control: How to Prepare Your Body to Get off Birth Control

Essential Tips to Prepare Your Body for Life Without Birth Control

Are you ready to embark on a journey of reclaiming your hormonal health and bidding farewell to birth control while managing PCOS?

While living with PCOS presents unique challenges, discontinuing birth control requires a thoughtful approach. But by developing an intricate understanding of the connection between PCOS and birth control, you can create a plan that supports your body’s natural processes and empowers your hormonal health.

It’s time to embrace your body’s innate wisdom and embark on a transformative journey toward holistic well-being. By equipping yourself with knowledge and implementing effective strategies, you can take charge of your hormonal health and thrive on your path beyond birth control.

What is PCOS?

PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It is characterized by a combination of symptoms, including irregular menstrual cycles, anovulation, high levels of androgens (male hormones) such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and the presence of cysts in the ovaries. (1)

Women with PCOS can experience various symptoms, including irregular or absent periods, excessive hair growth (hirsutism), acne, weight gain, and difficulty getting pregnant. (2) PCOS is also associated with long-term health risks, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. (3)

In my previous blog, I shared more about the four types of PCOS, their symptoms, and treatment approaches.

Why Women with PCOS May Want to Get Off Birth Control

Many women with PCOS use birth control pills as a treatment option because the pill can help regulate menstrual cycles, reduce androgen levels, and alleviate acne and excess hair growth symptoms. However, hormonal birth control also suppresses our natural cycles of ovulation, menstruation, and hormonal fluctuations, which can mask underlying conditions. Plus, birth control has several side effects of its own!

So if you have PCOS and want to get off birth control because you want to get pregnant, stop using synthetic hormones, or just want to be free from birth control – you’ve come to the right place!

How to Prepare Your Body to Get Off Birth Control

You’re ready to bid farewell to birth control and regain hormonal balance, but the thought of how your body, periods, and cycle will adjust without it can be daunting.

Don’t worry, I understand!

If you plan to discontinue birth control, preparing your body in advance is beneficial, ideally two to three months beforehand. This allows for a smoother transition, and the great news is there are numerous effective ways to balance your hormones and alleviate your symptoms.

When supporting women with PCOS considering coming off birth control, I utilize various approaches; however, not all of these methods are appropriate for everyone. I carefully assess your health history and consider your goals to create a personalized treatment plan that supports your unique body.

1. Nutrition

When using oral birth control, the body may experience deficiencies in important nutrients such as vitamins B6 and B12, C and E, folate, zinc, and magnesium. To address this, I recommend you provide your body with an abundance of essential nutrients at every meal. Some examples of nutrient-dense foods to incorporate into your diet include:

Include plenty of vegetables and whole grains in your diet to increase your fiber intake. (4) Consuming more fiber is associated with better regulation of reproductive hormones in the body.
Opt for complex carbohydrates and avoid consuming simple carbs in isolation to prevent abrupt spikes and drops in blood sugar levels. (5)
Incorporate nutrient-rich sources of healthy fats such as avocado, almonds, flax seeds, and fatty fish. These foods are essential for promoting proper hormone production and function. (6)
Ensure you consume a variety of protein sources throughout the day. This helps stabilize blood sugar levels, supports mental well-being, and promotes hormone balance. (7)
Counterbalance the synthetic estrogens from oral birth control with natural phytoestrogens found in foods like flax seeds. (8)
Limit your intake of sugar, alcohol, and caffeine as they can trigger inflammatory responses and disrupt hormone balance, leading to other unpleasant symptoms.

2. Address Underlying Health Conditions

Addressing any underlying health conditions that may impact your hormonal balance is important when preparing to come off birth control. Here are some key health conditions to discuss with your care provider:

Develop strategies to improve your insulin sensitivity, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, fasting, and nutritional supplements.
Thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism, can disrupt hormonal balance. Get a full thyroid panelto assess your thyroid function.
Practice stress management techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and regular exercise to support healthy adrenal function.
The gut plays a significant role in hormone regulation. Support your gut health by consuming fiber-rich foods, probiotics, and prebiotics.

3. Promote Healthy Detox

The liver and gut play critical roles in processing hormones. When we support the body’s natural detoxification process, we can alleviate symptoms of hormonal imbalance, such as PMS, irregular periods, heavy periods, and hormonal acne. (9)

Promoting healthy detoxification can be beneficial, and here are some strategies to consider:

Engage in daily physical activity that gets your body moving.
Sweating can contribute to hormone balance, digestion, mental well-being, and energy levels. Include activities that induce sweat multiple times per week.
Prioritize regular bowel movements to help eliminate excess hormones from the body.
Avoid or minimize your exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can disrupt your hormonal balance.
Fasting according to your cycle (check out this book)

These practices nurture your liver and gut to support your natural detoxification processes and potentially reduce symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances.

4. Herbs and Supplements

Targeted herbal supplementation can be beneficial in supporting hormone balance and replenishing essential nutrients that may have been depleted due to oral birth control. Consider incorporating the following herbs, vitamins, and minerals into your routine:

Herbs:

Vitex (Chaste Berry Extract): Regulate ovulation, enhance fertility, and improve progesterone levels. (10)
Liver-supporting herbs like Milk Thistle, Turmeric, Burdock, and Dandelion Root assists the liver in processing synthetic and excess hormones, facilitating a smoother transition off of birth control. (11)
Saw Palmetto: This can help manage acne flare-ups that may occur after discontinuing birth control.

Vitamins, Minerals, and Other Nutrients:

B-complex: Supports energy production, hormone regulation, and overall well-being.
Magnesium: Helps with hormone synthesis, relaxation, and stress management.
Zinc: Essential for hormone production, immune function, and skin health.
Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant that aids in hormone metabolism and immune support.
NAC (N-acetyl cysteine): Supports liver function and helps with detoxification processes.

5. Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be beneficial in supporting your body’s transition off of birth control. Here’s how it can help:

Acupuncture treatments target specific points on the body that can help regulate and balance hormones.

Acupuncture can help regulate menstrual cycles by promoting healthy blood flow and supporting the body’s natural hormonal fluctuations.

Acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms, such as mood swings, cramps, bloating, and acne, common when transitioning off birth control.

Acupuncture sessions can promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and help manage stress.

Acupuncture can help optimize reproductive health by improving blood circulation, supporting the quality of eggs, and enhancing the overall health of the reproductive system. At Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine can help you develop a personalized treatment plan that includes acupuncture tailored to your needs.

6. Cycle Tracking

Cycle tracking allows you to become more attuned to your body and regain control of your menstrual cycle and fertility. Consider the following suggestions to get started:

Explore various cycle tracking apps available.
Keep track of your menstrual cycle, including the duration, flow characteristics, and any PMS symptoms.
Pay attention to details like spotting or the presence of clots.
Observe and document changes in cervical fluid throughout your cycle to help identify signs of ovulation.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) strips to track ovulation.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT) tracking

By actively engaging in cycle tracking, you will better understand your menstrual cycle, fertility patterns, and overall reproductive health, which will help you take charge of your body.

Learn more about non-hormonal birth control methods here.

Common Symptoms After Stopping Birth Control

One of the most common questions I get from women with PCOS who want to stop birth control is: “How long does it take for my hormones to find their balance again?”

Well, the answer is as unique as you are!

Some women will experience a swift return of their period within a couple of months, while others may take six months or longer. Your body needs time to rediscover your hormones' natural ebb and flow. And it’s not uncommon, though not necessarily the norm, to experience some post-birth control symptoms along the way.

These symptoms serve as a little red flag, signaling the presence of underlying hormone imbalances that were masked by your birth control. This is particularly true if you initially started taking birth control for reasons beyond contraception, such as battling menstrual cramps, coping with heavy periods, or combating acne.

Here are some of the most common symptoms that women experience as they come off birth control:

Acne
Irregular or missed periods
Heavier periods
Painful periods
Headaches

Remember, every individual’s experience with PCOS and birth control is unique. Working closely with your care provider is essential for developing a personalized plan to transition off birth control and manage your PCOS symptoms effectively.

Functional Medicine Support for PCOS in Denver, Colorado

If you’re considering transitioning off birth control while managing PCOS, preparing your body for a smooth journey is essential.

From addressing underlying health conditions to supporting your nutrition, nurturing your liver and gut health, supporting detox pathways, supporting nutrient deficiencies, incorporating acupuncture, there are various strategies you can use to empower your hormonal health.

Here at Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine, we take a proactive approach so that you can better understand your body, alleviate your symptoms, and work towards achieving hormonal balance naturally.

Join us on this empowering path to reclaiming your well-being and embracing the beauty of your PCOS journey by scheduling a free consultation today.

Find your trusted partner at Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine for your health journey.

Resources:

1. PubMed

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9. PubMed