Hormonal Manipulation and You

Ever read those little information pamphlets that come with your hormonal birth control prescriptions? Ever see the long list of potential side effects and wonder just how much of risk there really is?

Interestingly enough, many women today don’t really know or understand the health risks that are associated with the manipulation of their hormones through hormonal birth control methods. Your endocrine (hormonal) system is part of a complex network that also impacts your vascular health and brain function. In the old days, when receiving a prescription for hormonal birth control, women were required to sign a piece paper stating that they were aware of the health risks involved - when was the last time you had to do this? And while the pill in particular has seen many changes since it was first released in 1962, many of the same potential side effects remain.

How many of these common side effects of hormonal birth control are you familiar with?
* Nausea, vomiting, constipation, or bloating
* Irregular menstruation and spotting
* Breast swelling or tenderness
* Decreased libido
* Weight gain or loss of appetite
* Mood swings, anxiety, nervousness or depression
* Changes in vaginal discharge and vaginal infections
* Headaches, dizziness and fatigue
* High blood pressure and cholesterol
* Acne or permanent discoloration of the face
* Fluid retention
* Bone density loss
* Hair loss or changes in hair growth
* Enlarged ovarian follicles

And how about these potential long-term complications?
* Eye problems or vision impairment
* Gallbladder disease and gallstones
* Embolism
* Resistance to Insulin
* Immune system suppression
* Heart attack
* Stroke
* Breast tumors and liver tumors
* Ectopic Pregnancies
* Links with certain cancers such as cervical cancer
* Blood clots in legs, lungs, heart and brain
* Jaundice

Sounds scary, doesn’t it? These potential health risks are not something to be taken lightly - manipulating your hormones is serious business. Remember all of the fuss when HRT was found to be more dangerous than previously thought for women in their menopausal years? Why, then, is it still considered “safe” to manipulate women’s hormones during their fertile years?

It all comes down to choice
We’re not telling you all of this to scare you - many women will continue to use hormonal birth control methods, and will be pleased with their effects. Our goal is simply to empower you with all of the information, so that YOU can make the best choice for YOU. As it stands, the last 70 years or so is the first time in human history that we've manipulated female hormones to this degree. Hormonal imbalances are common in women, and infertility is at an all-time high. Can we say for sure this is all connected? No, but we also can’t say for sure that it isn't. With so many options available for re-connecting with our cycles as a powerful source of our feminine energy, why take the drug?

Want to learn more?
If you’re interested in reading more about hormonal birth control, here are a couple of good articles to start with:

Health Risks of Hormonal Birth Control, from the Women’s Health Information website

Is the Pill Playing Havoc with Your Mental Health?, from the Aphrodite Womens’s Health website

Share your thoughts
Share your thoughts and experiences with hormonal birth control (positive or negative) with the larger LSW community, in the comments section below. An LSW Counselor will respond!

Laughing Sage Wellness is committed to helping women become their own best experts on their bodies and their health. After all, who knows you better than YOU?