Let’s Get Real about the Pill’s Side Effects

Ah yes, the ever-famous pill. Love it, hate it. Everyone has something to say about it.

Aside from being the most popular form of birth control, the pill has been prescribed to treat health issues like acne, cramps, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, for decades. One out of three women are prescribed the pill to manage these and other health symptoms.

But recent findings suggest it might be a bitter pill to swallow for girls.

Try FEMM’s telehealth to finally get to the root cause of your symptoms.

What are the Side Effects of Birth Control?

In December 2019, images of a shrunken hypothalamus from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders went viral.

Found at the base of the brain, the hypothalamus is responsible for producing hormones and regulating important bodily functions. (Mood, appetite, sex drive…. You get the picture.)

So, a smaller hypothalamus means…? The study confirmed that there is a difference in the size of the brain structure between women who take oral contraceptives and those who don’t.  So what? Scientists also confirmed that along with the decrease in hypothalamus size, comes an increase in anger and depressive symptoms. So yes, it’s not just our imagination.

Birth control side effects are NOT new. Studies confirming a feeling of loss in the quality of life for many women taking the pill is a common thread.

Research in Denmark involving more than a million women linked oral contraceptive use to depression and even suicide.

Skip the Birth Control and use Fertility Awareness

So, is there a way to bypass all of this drama AND still get the health care that the pill is often prescribed for? What about my PCOS? Acne? Painful periods?

Fertility Education and Medical Management (FEMM) helps you take control, without birth control and the side effects.

The free FEMM Health App focuses on a woman’s cycle as an indicator of her hormonal health. What’s more, 1-on-1 support is available for you to ask your questions in-person or online.

FEMM Medical Practitioners in your area provide testing and treatment to address the underlying cause of symptoms such as depression, weight gain, acne, and more, through restorative endocrinology.

This is what healthcare developed by women, for women, looks like.