Transitioning Off Birth Control

Are you transitioning off birth control, but you’re afraid of the unwanted side effects from years on the pill?

I get this question a lot, so below I have included some basic foundations to support your body when transitioning off the pill.

1. Replenish lost minerals from the pill. 

I personally use HTMA (hair tissue mineral analysis testing) with my private clients. This test helps us get a broad picture of how stress is manifesting in the body over the past three months. It also shows us where what minerals are depleted or trending towards depletion. It can be SUPER helpful and insightful as you work to transition off birth control. In general, though, it’s important to focus on your four main minerals: calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. A great idea is to drink an adrenal elixir 1-2 times daily to support your body. I have a recipe in this blog post!

2. Begin observing cervical mucus and get in the habit of taking your basal body temperature.

Your basic fertile and in-fertile pattern is going to look WAY different now that you’re off hormones. It’s time to begin observing your fertile biomarkers and getting curious about what your cervical mucus looks like. This can take between 3-6 months to stabilize (nine months for some) and can give you some clear insights into any underlying hormone imbalances from years on the pill.

3. Make sure you’re eating enough throughout the day.

I talk a lot more about this in my nutrition class. This is a BASIC but crucial need for the body. Most women are under-eating and waiting too long in between meals. Eating every 3-4 hours may be the exact thing you need to support stress on the body. Balance each of your meals with a protein, fat, and carbohydrate. Literally, balancing your blood sugar is KEY for supporting your body post-birth control.

4. Consider taking a good probiotic.

We know that the birth control pill can negatively affect the gut microbiome and contribute to dysbiosis. My favorite brand is MegaSpore. In addition to taking a probiotic, I would consider implementing gut healing tools to help ease the transition. This might look like drinking warming bone broth, thinking about taking digestive enzymes, or simply cooking and steaming your food to ease the digestive burden.

5. Release expectations + be patient with your body.

Your period will come back in time, I promise! Do not expect it to begin on the “typical” day you started your bleed while on the pill. Every body is different. Your unique nutrient status, stress levels, and biology will all play a huge role in triggering ovulation, and therefore your first period, post-pill. Be kind to yourself.

Learn More About the Transition Off Birth Control

I share more about how to ditch the pill and start Fertility Awareness Method in my free 60-minute FAM training, here!