Not-so-fun fact: Birth Control was the first medication prescribed for people that weren’t sick.
No one here is questioning birth control’s ability to prevent unwanted pregnancies. If this is your ultimate goal for your teen, then the pill will achieve this 99% of the time when used correctly.
What I would like to address are all of the other reasons teens are being prescribed birth control.
You see, nowadays, birth control isn’t just used to prevent unwanted pregnancies. In my practice, I have seen it used to combat :
•acne
•irregular menstrual cycles
•low blood pressure
•PMS
•depression/anxiety
•PCOS
•cramps
•endometriosis
•and migraines to name a few.
While we might be trying to “fix” one problem by masking it with synthetic hormones, we are actually risking other more serious side effects.
Let’s back up and look at the types
of birth control pills and how they work:
1. Progestin-only pills (or “mini-pills”): Contain only one hormone, progestin, which causes cervical mucus to thicken and the lining of the uterus to thin. This keeps sperm from reaching the egg. Less often, mini-pills prevent pregnancy by keeping the ovaries from releasing eggs.
2. Combined pills: Contain two hormones, estrogen and progestin. Hormones are chemicals that control how different parts of your body work. These pills are taken every day and prevent pregnancy by keeping the ovaries from releasing eggs. The pills also cause cervical mucus to thicken and the lining of the uterus to thin. This keeps sperm from meeting with and fertilizing an egg. (1)
These synthetic hormones are meant to affect your Reproductive system; however, all of our body’s systems are interconnected. It is obvious that these synthetic hormones (those that your body are not producing naturally) are affecting a lot more.
In fact, a very large study in 2002 was abruptly halted because it found that post-menopausal women who take estrogen combined with progestin have a greater risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and blood clots within five years of starting the hormones. (2) This was the exact opposite of what the researchers set out to uncover.
The news made national headlines and resulted in millions of women halting their use of synthetic hormones. Guess what magnificent thing happened? Breast cancer incidence fell by 7%!! (3)
Other shocking side effects of birth control:
• Increased risk of cervical & breast cancers
• Increased risk of heart attack & stroke
• Migraines
• Higher blood pressure
• Gall bladder disease
• Infertility
• Benign liver tumors
• Decreased bone density
• Yeast overgrowth and infection
• Increased risk of blood clotting
This is not to mention all of the common side effects such as:
• Nausea, vomiting, constipation, or bloating
• Irregular menses & spotting
• Breast swelling or tenderness
• Decreased libido
• Weight gain or loss of appetite
• Mood swings, anxiety, nervousness or depression
• Changes in vaginal discharge & vaginal infections
• Headaches, dizziness and fatigue
• High blood pressure and cholesterol
• Acne or permanent discolouration of the face
• Fluid retention
• Bone density loss
• Hair loss or changes in hair growth
• Enlarged ovarian follicles
Keep in mind, just like all prescription drugs, birth control is forcing your body to do something it isn’t doing naturally.
If you are thinking about giving your teen birth control to help control acne, PMS, irregular cycles, etc., ask yourself WHY they are experiencing these symptoms.
Birth control will not address the source of your unwanted symptoms. It will simply mask them. Sometimes. Are you willing to subject your teenager to the possible risks listed above? That answer is yours and yours alone.
Just know that there are ways to uncover the underlying source of your teen’s symptoms.
I have had huge success utilizing Nutrition Response Testing with my teenage patients. This is a natural method that will support their body’s ability to regain balance and improve their overall health and longevity.
Questions? Just ask!
Want to work with me 1:1 to create the perfect diet for you and/or your family? Contact me today at dana@thrivekin.com.
Sources:
1. https://www.hhs.gov/…/birth-control-pills/index.html