Getting off of Birth Control
& regulating my hormones
Helllooo friends! I am currently sipping on a salty warm lemon water about to transition into my frothy protein cacao latte. First thing I have been really taking advantage of back in my kitchen — making alll the bevs.
I shared with you all that I decided to get my IUD out. This wasn’t some spur of the moment decision, it was something I had been wanting and planning for since I basically first got it in. BUT before we dive straight in, let’s go back to the beginning.
What we’re chatting about today:
My story being on birth control
How birth control has affected me
How I have worked on harmonizing and balancing my hormones pre/during/post being on birth control
Q&A
I want to say a couple things before we get into it.
You know your own body best. Always remember that. Your feeling + intuition should always trump anything that I say from my personal experiences. Take what you are inspired by, leave what does not work for you.
If you disagree with what I say - that is awesome (and I am not being sarcastic). I think it’s special having two people disagree on things. That means there is room for growth and learning on both ends (as long as both parties are open to listening, learning and talking). Plus, two things can be true at the same time! Especially when it comes to health + wellness, because we are all so very different. I would love to hear from you, discuss with you, and have a nice conversation. But when it comes to negativity, hatred, and fear based commenting - that is not something I am interested in. You can disagree with someone without attacking them.
I am learning and growing each and every day. I was gluten and dairy free for 7+ years and now I can’t imagine living without both. I was vegan and now animal products are essential for me. If I am not changing, learning, evolving, then what am I doing? I am and forever will be a student of holistic health. Where I am at now will be different from where I am 5 years from now, and what’s discussed today is based on my personal experiences and learnings to this point!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. None of this is medical advice. Just a fun discussion and conversation based on my personal experiences and learnings.
I have been on birth control since I was in high school. I remember I used to get terrible cramps during my menstrual cycle, so bad that I would be curled over and not be able to walk. So of course I did what I thought I should do, I went to the expert, an OBGYN. She told me that I needed to go on birth control and that was my only option, so I went on the pill.
Looking back, the way I think now is a lot different. If there is a symptom - that is my body trying to communicate to me that something is wrong. The worst thing I could do in a situation like that is numb that communication. Instead seek out what is causing the symptom, fix that, so that my body was no longer exerting those symptoms.
I was on the pill for about 6 years. I dealt with a lot of negative symptoms throughout that time. I didn’t know any better though, I just thought it was normal and what I had to deal with in order to not be in extreme pain! During this time, every single one of my peers was also on the pill, it was the norm. Birth control and it’s potential negative harm on women’s health and hormones was not really spoken about.
In college, I started learning about different forms of birth control, and little bits about the negative affects that they could potentially have on my health. I knew I wanted to be off of it, but an OBGYN convinced me that this was not an option. I voiced my concerns, my symptoms, and she swayed me to instead go on the IUD.
I actually love my current OBGYN. She listens, asks questions, and understands. I am not placing any blame for this because this is a lot of their training and how they believe is the best care for female well-being. I am a believer that we need a mix of western and holistic medicine for each individual because everyone is so different, and health is not one-size-fits all. Either way, it is important to do your own research and advocate for yourself.
I felt that maybe the IUD would be a better option for me than the oral pill method of taking birth control, but immediately when I got it in, it felt like my body was rejecting it. Every once in a while I would get those extreme bouts of pain in my lower abdomen, right where the IUD was. I felt like my personality and mood changed, I dealt with extreme fatigue, gut issues, I felt nauseous and dizzy a lot of the time, my digestion was off, and more.
I also completely lost my period. Which admittedly at the time I was not that mad about, to me that was a bonus I don’t have to deal with my period every month. Now looking back, I know that my period is a sign of health. That it is a blessing (not a nuisance) and means I am healthy and nourished.
Either way I felt like I didn’t have a better option. But as time went on, I learned more about health and wellness. I fell more in love with holistic health. I learned about my body and well-being. My intuition and desire to get this IUD out of my body and be natural grew and grew.
I was so scared though. I had never been off birth control since high school. The thoughts flooded in - Would my extreme cramps come back? Would I have acne? Would I have super painful heavy periods? Would I get mood swings? Would I gain weight? Would I get pregnant?? I am in a healthy loving relationship - but no where near ready for that.
All the fear came flowing in, and stopped me from making the best decision for me. This fear had been etched in and engrained for so long that it blinded me. Which was ok. At the time I wasn’t ready. We are all at different stages, and I truly believe that the stress of getting it out was going to be worse for me at that time then the potential negative affects of the birth control itself.
So I decided to educate myself more. I learned about women’s hormones. I learned about birth control. I learned about our 28-day hormonal cycle, the 4 phases, I became fascinated with it. Through this time I was working on rebalancing my own hormones while on birth control, and I ended up getting my period back. That was a big win.
The best thing that I did to learn my body was to track my cycle in my notes app. Every day I would jot down how I was feeling, my mood, digestion, any symptoms I was having. After doing this for a few months I became really in tune with my body and the phases of my cycle.
I also linked some of my favorite books that helped me along this journey here.
I knew what phase I was in when I was in it, and I tuned into my body and listened to what it was telling me. In each phase of our cycles, we have different strengths, so I learned how to harness those strengths. I dive more into those specific strengths here:
Once I began to understand my cycle and my body more, I started feeling more comfortable to go off birth control. I ended up getting an Oura ring and getting a Natural Cycles* subscription. This is a hormonal free form of birth control that tracks basal body temperature. *I think “ELLA” works as a discount for their annual subscription.
While still on birth control, I used this natural method of tracking as well to get the hang of it and understand my body. I was really diligent about it. After a few months, I felt ready to go completely natural. I am sharing this with you now because it took a lot of prep before I just got it out, that is what felt right for me.
It has only been a short period of me birth control free compared to how long I had been on it, so many changes can happen, but I like to keep you guys updated with everything as it is happening.
Pre/During/Post-Birth Control Hormone Health
Women’s hormones are all over the place. Literally. While men run on a 24-Hour Testosterone Cycle, where their testosterone is highest in the morning and slowly decreases throughout the day then restarts the next day, women run on a 28-DAY hormonal cycle where hormones ebb & flow all throughout the month.
The number one best thing someone can do for their hormone health is tune into their body. Stop trying to numb the symptoms and listen. Begin to build trust with your intuition. More tips on that here:
We are all so different, so there isn’t a one-sized fits all solution to hormone health. There is no one pill that will magically “balance hormones”. However there are daily habits and tools you can provide so that your body starts to operate more effectively, therefore letting things come back to equilibrium. Along with what I mentioned above, here are some more of the things that I prioritized to support my hormones.
1. Balancing my stress + nervous system
Stress is the biggest factor in imbalanced hormones + overall decline of health. Physical and mental stress. Of course a bit of stress in the body is natural, but today we are in a constant state of fight or flight, and when that happens our hormones can end up all out of whack. Nervous system balancing practices:
The best thing to do is to choose one of these, make it a habit, then add another…
Daily Gratitude
Mindset Work: Journaling, Getting out of my comfort zone, Slowing down
Slow Mornings: Deep stretching, breathing, red light, walking, etc… pre-phone + work
Walking more often
More low-impact movement
Deep breath-work, humming, tapping, meditation, legs up the wall
Grounding + spending time in nature
Sunlight whenever I can
Cutting out Coffee: I did this for a few months pre-getting out my IUD
Chiropractic work + acupuncture
Staying off my phone/technology as much as I can, choosing nature/reading
Creating vs. Consuming
2. Limited my use of endocrine-disrupting products
Unfortunately with little-to no regulations in the United States, there are toxins in a lot of our beauty and cleaning products. Fortunately, it is being talked about a LOT more and there are lots of applications and resources to lead us to better options. I am not completely “toxin free” but I do my best to make better choices!
A few apps I’ve used in the past and liked are the EWG Healthy Living App & Think Dirty.
My Swaps / Compromises
Switched out all of my toxic cleaning products to cleaner options. Brands I like/use and trust:
Branch Basics (discount glowwithella)
Blueland*
Aunt Fannie’s*
Molly’s Suds*
Rosey*
*you can get all of these brands + more on Thrive Market and my link gets you 30% off your first order + a free gift, I order at least twice a month I love it.
Discontinued buying clothing with polyester (doesn’t mean I didn’t throw away all my other clothing I still use it, but more consciously consumed)
Invested in organic cotton bedding. We sleep in our beds EVERY NIGHT and sleep is where we HEAL!
I personally use Brooklinen, but I’ve heard Parachute also has wonderful linen sheets as well
Discontinued use of artificial fragrance (parfum)
Simplified my skincare/shower/makeup routine to the basics + chose clean options (we are sold this idea that we need a 10-step skincare routine, when real skin health comes from within, and most of these products are imbalancing our within!)
Invested in quality air-purifiers , water-filters , and shower filter
3. Optimize Circadian Rhythm + Sleep Health
I’ve said it once and I will say it again - sleep is one of the most PRODUCTIVE things that we can do for our bodies. It is where our bodies go in and heal. Being sleep deprived throws off the balance of every system in our bodies. I dive deeper into how I optimize my sleep health in these two posts:
This is another reason why I love the oura ring so much because it helps track the stats of my sleep which has made a massive difference in understanding my body and what it responds well, or not well, to.
4. LESS = MORE
This was one of the most important mindset shifts for me. We don’t need to be doing a million things for our health. Our bodies are SMART. Going back to the basics, listening to our intuition, and living life to enjoy the simple pleasures is so very important. Health is no longer health when we are obsessing and stressing over it — then what’s the point?
Instead of outsourcing the answers from everyone, get quiet, listen to what your body is telling you, and provide it with the tools it needs to thrive. The foundational pillars of health! The basics, more on that here:
5. Nourishing my Body
I have went through extremes of every diet out there. Veganism, Vegetarian, Carnivore, Keto, Paleo, and everything that these had in common for me was that they were restrictive and therefore exerting stress on my body.
Through trial and error I realized that living in the extreme of anything does not work for me. I find I am my most healthy in the middle. A good balance of local seasonal produce, high-quality animal foods, and then whatever the hell else I want when I am craving it! The thing that matters most to me is choosing real ingredients versus things that are processed most of the time. And when I am not doing that, I enjoy it versus stress over it.
A huge thing that has changed my life is incorporating high-quality animal products into my diet alongside local/seasonal produce. 100% Grass Fed Meat (beef, venison, bison), Bone Broth, Pasture-Raised Eggs and Chicken, Raw Milk (or low-pasteurized non homogenized A2), Quality Dairy (yogurt, cheese, butter), and eating nose-to-tail (Organ Meats). Getting enough protein alongside my good fats and carbs has been integral in nourishing my body. I prefer regenerative + organic whenever that is an option!
Getting organ meats can definitely be hard, so my favorite way to start is either through supplementation or ancestral blends. Force of Nature has delicious ancestral blend meats that incorporate the organ meats into it. You cannot taste it at all and it is such an easy way to get those nutrients. I also enjoy Heart&Soil supplements (they have one for female health + generalized ones!), and Lineage Provisions has a great protein powder + beef snacks!
Something that I also do in addition to the animal proteins is use digestive bitters pre-my meals. This helps my body better digest the nutrients I am taking in. I love the digestive juice + glucose bitters from Organic Olivia (discount is glowwithella).
There are also a few supplements besides the above I used to assist my body in adjusting to the hormonal changes it was going through:
*discount for all of these is “glowwithella”
In addition I made sure to hydrate my body with quality minerals and electrolytes as well, as well as antioxidant + polyphenol rich nutrients. I swear matcha , mineral salt, raw honey & EVOO are my best friends…
With all that being said, I want to get into your questions as well!
Questions + Answers
A lot of your questions have answers in everything that I went over above!! But a few I wanted to dive into more detail :)
Q: If I am feeling good on birth control and it’s working for me, what are the dangers?
If you are feeling good on birth control and it’s working for you, then that is amazing. Don’t let mine or others experiences get in your head. We are all so different, each of our bodies operates differently and responds differently to every single thing based on a million different factors! Listen to your body + your own intuition, and that is all that matters.
Q: How are you feeling after getting off of it?
In the beginning I had some bad cramping post-removal. I also had a couple days where I felt really weak and exhausted. My hairline got more oily than usual and I broke out around my hairline which never happens to me. Definitely all symptoms of my body responding to the sudden change in hormones.
I took note of all of these things and let them happen, listened to my body, did what I could to provide it with tools to heal itself (everything from above!). In a few months once I have been off of it for longer, I am going to do a full panel testing on my hormones to really see how they are doing. Since this is new I want to wait a little bit but I will definitely keep you updated.
But overall - Amazing. I feel like the best version of myself again. I don’t know how to explain it but I feel more connected?? less muted?? I feel more sane lol. It is new, but birth control never made me feel good. I always felt my body rejecting it so I think my body is super happy I finally listened.
Q: I have been off the pill now for over a year and still feel out of whack. Do you feel the same?
I am so sorry that you are feeling this way. It can be so incredibly frustrating when it feels like all the decisions you are making are right but your body still feels wrong.
I am very blessed that I felt instantly better and more myself as soon as I got off. I think that a lot of the pre-prep work that I did years prior really helped me with a smooth transition. It is normal to still feel this way though, It can take a while for your body to regulate after hormones being all over the place!
I recommend going back to the basics, really listening to what your body is telling you, working on balancing your nervous system and the things I talked about above. If you feel you’ve already done all of this, it never hurts to go get your hormones tested. I recommend going to a naturopathic doctor, but starting with your OBGYN or practitioner is a wonderful place to start. Make sure you are doing it at the right timing of your cycle for it to be accurate. This may highlight some important things going on in your body that you didn’t know prior and takes the guesswork out!
Q: Did you suffer from hormonal acne? How did you work through it?
Yes I did / still do! I have scars as well. The root cause of everyone’s acne is different. For me, I think it had a lot to do with my stress + gut/liver being overwhelmed. When I worked on regulating my body, gut health and hormones (as gone over above!) this made a huge difference in my skin.
Hormonal acne and acne can feel debilitating. At my worst it even affected my personality because I was embarrassed to go outside, hangout with friends, I felt like everyone was looking at my acne and it was all I could notice on myself.
I want you to know that first of all, no one is looking at your acne. Everyone is worried about themselves (and if people are judging you for that — that is their own insecurities and judgement manifesting and you do not need that energy). Surround yourself with supportive people who uplift you. Second of all, you are incredibly beautiful no matter what is on your face and it is the energy that you show up with that people care about and remember, your acne is temporary and does not define you in any way. You are beautiful, and zoom out to when you are wrinkly and older, you will be so upset with yourself for letting acne on your face get in the way of ENJOYING LIFE!!!!! Third, this stress that we put on ourselves for being perfect all the time is only causing our issues to be worse, I learned this the hard way!!
I think the biggest problem made when it comes to hormonal acne is people pile on all of these products to treat it topically. However, hormonal acne is usually caused by in imbalance from within. Instead of muting the symptom and communication your body is signaling (acne), look within. Go back to the basics of health to regulate your body. Evaluate your lifestyle, your environment, and ask questions. And instead of using a million products and stripping your skin of it’s healing barrier, do less.
A few things that can support skin health: proper hydration (clean water, minerals, electrolytes), nourishing your body through food, balancing nervous system, removing endocrine disruptors, supporting lymphatic drainage, supporting liver health + detoxification, healing + supporting imbalances in your gut microbiome, prioritizing oral health. A lil more on supporting detoxification:
After evaluating your mindset, lifestyle and environment, if you are still struggling then I also recommend to work with an expert. They will be able to see imbalances in your gut/hormones/body through testing and work on a plan to treat it from a root cause. Know that your body is smart - and it is communicating with you that something is wrong internally through this acne, and by giving it the proper tools and time it will eventually heal itself. Less = more!!!!
Reach out to me if you want referrals for some naturopathic doctors! Also join the chat because we often make recommendations there. I recently had on a dear friend Ranim who is an incredibly knowledgable practitioner who also helps with this!
YOU ARE NOT ALONE! I LOVE YOU <3
Q: How long does it take to “recover” from the pill? Does being on it longer take longer to “recover?”
Everyone is different. There is no right answer here. Some people are fine right away, others can take 6 months, a year, 1 month. It just depends. It depends on a lot of factors from what birth control you were on, hormonal and thyroid issues, autoimmune issues, what your lifestyle and environment looks like, etc.
Don’t compare yourself to anyone else’s timeline because that’ll only lead you off path. Focus on yourself, tune into your body and give it the resources and tools it needs to thrive.
I was on the pill for 5+ years and then I was on the IUD for 4+ years. I don’t feel like I needed much “recovery” time personally, but I know people who were on the pill for less than a year and took months and months to balance back. So again, there is no forsure answer IMO because we are all so different, you cannot compare.
Q: How long did it take your cycle to regulate after going off?
I am super grateful that my cycle was regular as soon as I got it out. My next period came on time. I know this is not normal for a lot of people, but I think because I did all the prep-work my body had already started becoming more balanced and regular so it wasn’t a huge shift. I didn’t have my period for 2+ years prior. I list a lot of tips on how I got my period back here:
Q: Did you become less attracted to your partner? I heard this can happen cause your smell changes?
I have read about this too and the studies are fascinating. I actually had the opposite effect. I don’t know it was even possible but I became even more attracted and obsessed with my boyfriend. I felt so much more connected with him. It has really positively benefitted our relationship.
I had a friend who went off of birth control and became un-attracted to her partner. She was really worried for a while but after a few months, once her body started to balance again, everything went back to normal. I think it just depends on a per-person basis.
Q: How do you track your ovulation / manage seggs life now?
Communication here is key. I am really grateful to have an incredibly supportive and loving partner who wants the best for me. We had a lot of conversations building up to me getting my IUD out about pre-cautions, planning, getting on the same page, etc.
I personally use the oura ring which integrates into natural cycles. How it works is it takes my basal body temperature automatically in the morning right when I wake up and transfer that info into the app. The app then tracks my cycle, knows what phase I am in, and based on that information gives me GREEN and RED days. Green days essentially mean that you are not fertile, red days are days you could be fertile and to be more safe. Because it is so new we definitely take extra precaution to be safe, but my main birth control is the natural cycles app! I love it. They also have a partner view so my boyfriend has the app on his phone with all of the information as well!
“ELLA” should work as a discount for their annual subscription
Q: How to deal with constipation around PMS?
Ok this is one of the most fascinating things I have learned about hormones.
Estrogen and Progesterone play a role in gut motility (the movement of food through your digestive tract) and the stretching and contracting of the muscles in your GI tract that lead to digestion! Estrogen increases muscular contractions leading to better motility. Right before ovulation and before your period, estrogen drops which can cause cramping, loose stools. Progesterone relaxes the muscle, which can slow motility causing you to feel bloated or heavy. This is all from the book Hormone Intelligence by Dr. Aviva Romm. So feeling a bit constipated is a normal feeling based on hormonal changes during PMS. I recommend taking some tips from here for supporting digestion during this phase:
I love you guys & I am here for you! Remember all that really matters is that you feel good. What works for me may not work for you and vis versa. I hope you have an amazing rest of your week, let me know if you have any more follow-up questions, and I will definitely be keeping you updated on how I am feeling as time goes on! XO -Ella
Loved this post so much. I am dealing with hormonal acne right now after going off the pill in December and I am definitely taking away LESS = MORE. I want to be kinder to myself and accept that maybe my acne is just my body trying to tell me something & not punishing me💕
The timing of this post, wow! I had a salpingectomy in April, gave myself six weeks to heal, and told myself I would finish this pack of birth control pills and then see what happens. I’m due to take my last pill TONIGHT! I appreciate all the detail you put into this post and am especially glad that you made it available to free subscribers. I signed up for a paid subscription as soon as I finished reading. Thank you!