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things I wish I knew before taking birth control: part 8

birth control gut issues

Let’s continue the series: Things I Knew Before Taking Birth Control. A friendly reminder, there is no 

judgment or shaming here, and any such comments will be removed.

 

When I was on the pill, I had this chronic white film on my tongue and was incredibly bloated — all the time. Little did I know hormonal contraceptives (HCs) can impact the gut. Let’s see how:

 

〰HCs disrupt normal gut flora and can create an environment where harmful bacteria and yeast overgrow.

〰Excess synthetic estrogen affects the integrity of the intestinal barrier (potentially leading to leaky gut).

〰Excess estrogen increases endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS).

〰HCs destroy Ceruloplasmin, which regulates Iron. Unregulated, excess Iron feeds pathogens like candida.

〰Long-term use of HCs can increase the risk for developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

〰HCs can inflame the digestive tract so much so that the risk for autoimmune disease of the gut. For example, the pill increases the risk of developing Crohn’s disease by 300%.

 

Why is this important? The gut is where:

 

〰Nutrients are created and recycled

〰Old hormones are eliminated (or get reactivated)

〰Thyroid hormone gets converted

〰70-80% of immune system cells exist 

〰And more

 

Symptoms of gut issues can include:

 

∿Gas

∿Bloating

∿Constipation

∿IBS

∿Depression

∿Brain fog

∿Acne

∿Eczema

∿Histamine intolerance

∿Thrush

One of my main focuses when coming off the pill was my gut health. And since we imprint our microbiome onto our babies, this is also why teaching gut health is a focus in my eCourse, Conscious Conception.

What about you? Did the pill mess with your gut?

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Not medical advice.

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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.

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References

Bernstein, M.T. Graff, L.A. Avery, L. Palatnick, C. Parnerowski, K. Targownik, L.E. (2014). Gastrointestinal symptoms before and during menses in healthy women. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3901893/.

Brighten, J. (2019). Beyond the Pill. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

Elin, R.J. Wolff, S.M. (1974). The Role of Iron in Nonspecific Resistance to Infection Induced by Endotoxin. Retrieved from: pdfs.semanticscholar.org/de95/2a2d800e6e233a7fae838b260e2d15210bea.pdf.

Hendrickson-Jack, L. (2019). The Fifth Vital Sign. Fertility Friday Publishing.

Maher, J.J. (1998). HOW DOES ESTROGEN INCREASE ENDOTOXIN TOXICITY? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS. Retrieved from: https://www.functionalps.com/blog/2011/12/07/how-does-estrogen-enhance-endotoxin-toxicity-let-me-count-the-ways/.

 

Peat, R. (1997). From PMS to Menopause. Eugene, OR.

Robbins, M. (2017). Iron Toxicity Post #62: You do NOT have a Candida Infection, you DO have an Iron Infestation!. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/iron-toxicity-post-62-you-do-not-have-a-candida-infection-you-do-have-an-iron-infestation/.

Wiertsema, S.P. van Bergenhenegouwen, J. Garssen, J. Knippels, L.M. (2021). The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System in the Context of Infectious Diseases throughout Life and the Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Treatment Strategies. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8001875/.

 

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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. While the owner of this website tries to keep the information up to date, there may be things that are out-of-date and out of their control.