3 things to do if you're coming off the pill

So many women are put on the pill to "sort out" their periods, whether they're heavy, painful or irregular. Yet the pill doesn't cure anything, it just masks the symptoms. This means that when you come come off the pill, sometimes decades later, the symptoms have rarely magically disappeared. It can also be nerve-wracking as you're not sure how your body will react to the change in hormone levels. I've been there and I understand the worry!

It often takes around three months for your body to get back into balance after stopping the pill. If your periods were fairly regular before you started taking it but you find they're irregular or you're getting more spots than usual or your mood is more up and down when you come off it, your body will likely sort itself out soon enough. However, if things don't get any better after about six months, especially if your periods caused you trouble before you went on the pill, it may be worth speaking to somebody (like me!) to look into what's happening.

Here are three areas to focus on whilst you're coming off the pill:

1. Replace depleted nutrients: The pill has been shown to deplete B vitamins (especially B12, folate, B6 and B2), vitamin C and E, magnesium, selenium and zinc. This can cause various unwanted symptoms like low energy and anxiety, but it's especially important to correct any nutrient depletions if you're coming off the pill because you're looking to get pregnant. This is a good multi-nutrient which will help you replenish your nutrient status, and it's good to also take a standalone magnesium. Read my blog post to decide which is the best form of magnesium for you. (Code LAJN15 will get you 15% off at The Natural Dispensary but always check for interactions with any medication you're taking before starting any supplements.)

   
   

2. Daily bowel movements: It's important to prioritise this because this is how your oestrogen leaves the body. If you're not doing a poo at least once a day, your oestrogen levels can build up, potentially causing symptoms like heavy/painful periods, weight gain, and mood swings. If regularity is tricky for you, eat at least five portions of veg and have wholegrains and pulses (e.g. lentils, chickpeas, quinoa) daily as fibre is essential for regular poos. Drinking at least 1.5-2L water and moving every day will also help.

   
   

3. Balance blood sugar: It's been shown that the pill disrupts our glucose control and insulin sensitivity and it has also been linked to an increase in fasting blood glucose and a higher risk of pre-diabetes. Imbalanced blood sugar can further dysregulate our hormones, so it's important to prioritise keeping it as steady as possible during this period when your hormones are already in flux. To do this, eat real, whole foods, don't skip meals - especially not breakfast, make sure all meals include veg, protein and a small amount of carbs, and limit sugar and processed foods.

If you're finding it difficult coming off contraception and would like some support into getting to the bottom of what's going on, please book in for a free twenty minute chat. I'd love to help!