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Do Birth Control Pills Contribute to Estrogen Dominance?
September 20, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Estrogen Dominance Causes
Birth control pills have an interesting effect on the physical body. Because they keep the levels of estrogen in the body so high the body is tricked into believing it is pregnant and, as such, a true pregnancy can never occur. These continuously high levels of estrogen can also, unfortunately, contribute to the development of estrogen dominance.
Types of Hormonal Birth Control
There are three main types of hormonal contraception, or birth control. The first is your standard hormonal contraceptive, including the pill, vaginal rings (like NuvaRing), and the patch. All of these methods of birth control contain synthetic versions of both estrogen and progestin which are designed to keep the body from releasing eggs while at the same time thickening the cervical mucus so that it is more difficult for sperm to find eggs to begin with.
The second option is an extended-cycle pill. With extended cycle pills, like Seasonale, women take 12 weeks of synthetic hormones and only have four periods per year instead of the average of 13 (or once each season).
Mini pills, while not as effective as traditional hormonal contraception, only contain progestin. The pills are designed to thicken the mucus in the cervix, prohibiting the sperm from reaching the eggs and preventing implantation of a fertilized egg.
The Gruesome Side Effects of Birth Control Pills
The main problem with most hormonal birth control methods is the fact that they’re made with synthetic hormones. Synthetic estrogen has been known to cause yeast infections, vaginitis, pain during menstruation, yeast infections, leg cramps, and breast pain. Synthetic progestin has been linked to heart disease, strokes, blood clots, and even breast cancer. Scientists also believe that the synthetic estrogen and progesterone hormones, because they trick the body into not ovulating, are one of the main reasons for increased levels of infertility.
Most women who have incredibly painful periods while on birth control don’t realize that it is the birth control itself causing the problem. The pills keep progesterone levels at bay while increasing estrogen levels and that reduced level of progesterone is what causes cramping, pain, and an irregular menstrual flow in addition to many unseen side effects, including estrogen dominance.
Alternatives to Traditional Birth Control Pills
If you suffer from estrogen dominance, or are simply disgusted with the negative side effects of birth control pills, you may want to consider an alternative method of contraception. Believe it or not, you have a wide variety of alternatives, most of which are much safer than hormonal birth control pills. The simplest options are over the counter birth control methods such as condoms, contraceptive sponges, and spermicides. . Sponges and spermicides do rely on small amounts of chemicals and may not be the most viable alternative. All of these contraceptive methods can be purchased at your local pharmacy or online.
Prescription alternatives include diaphragms, cervical caps, and IUDs. If your main goal is to stay away from hormones you will need to talk to your doctor about using a polyethylene, silicone, copper, or silver IUD. Some, like Mirena, contain small levels of hormones so you’ll want to ensure you’re getting a non-hormonal version.
Those who’d prefer all-natural alternatives to hormonal birth control pills may be interested in the Fertility Awareness Method or the Ovulation Method. Both methods track changes in a woman’s body to determine what time of month she is fertile. Couples then know when they are capable of conceiving or when to use extra backup protection to avoid pregnancy.
You should not, however, suddenly stop any type of hormonal birth control without first consulting your physician. Suddenly stopping a drug may cause your body to experience hormonal or chemical fluctuations and you may need to be monitored as you wean yourself off of the medication.
Talk to your doctor about estrogen dominance before starting a new birth control pill or contraceptive regime, especially if the pill you have chosen or have been taking contains mostly synthetic estrogen. There may be healthier and safer alternatives that will in turn reduce your risk for developing estrogen dominance and related disorders in the future.
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i usually stick to natural birth control methods because i am a christian, natural birth control has no side effects too.~,;