things I wish I knew before taking birth control: part 2

birth control nutrients preconception pregnancy ttc

Let’s continue the series: Things I Knew Before Taking Birth Control. A friendly reminder, this post comes from a place of absolute love and genuine curiosity. There is no judgement or shaming here, and any such comments will be removed.

Today’s post is about how hormonal contraceptives can deplete key nutrients via various mechanisms. This aspect of hormonal contraceptives isn’t necessarily new...but based on my experience and conversations with many other women, it’s definitely not well-communicated to us. 

Nutrients depleted by hormonal contraceptives include:

↝Vitamin A

↝Folate

↝Vitamin B1

↝Vitamin B2

↝Vitamin B6

↝Vitamin B12

↝Vitamin C

↝Vitamin E

↝Zinc

↝Selenium

↝Magnesium

↝CoQ10

↝Ceruloplasmin Copper

For example, Vitamin B6 needs increase as much as 4,000% when using hormonal contraceptives. (Hendrickson-Jack)

Looking back to when I was using hormonal contraceptives, a lot the things I was experiencing make sense:

↠Brittle hair

↠Super soft nails

↠Cracks around my mouth

↠Bruising

↠Slow healing

It’s important to mention that if we’re looking to #TTC, the nutrients depleted by hormonal contraceptives are many of the primary ones we need to support egg quality, overall fertility, and the healthy growth and development of baby.

Working on replenishing these nutrients while both on and coming off hormonal contraceptives can be helpful in mitigating sympt0ms and putting our best foot forward. I teach you exactly how to do this in my eCourse, Conscious Conception. (link in bio)

What about you: Did you know that hormonal contraceptives can deplete key nutrients? Share your story! 💓

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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

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

Fallon, S. Cowan, T.S. (2013, 2015). The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Child Care. Washington, D.C.: NewTrends Publishing.

Haas, E. M. Levin, B. (2006). Staying Healthy with Nutrition. New York, NY: Ten Speed Press.

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

Palmery, M. Saraceno, A. Vaiarelli, A. Carlomagno, G. (2013). Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23852908/.

 

 

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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.