131. Effects of Long Term Birth Control Use

09/12/22 • 40 min

This episode has been a long time coming. It was my decision to get off birth control after reading the book In The Flo by Alisa Vitti, which was honestly a staple in my personal growth and my growth as a woman to learn more about my body.
Through this book I learned that when the body goes through the menstruation for people who are on birth control, it’s not even a real period. That was all I needed to know, I started really taking a closer look at my periods and looking inward.
What are the long term side effects of hormonal birth control?

Damaged microbiome – hormonal birth control acts just like an antibiotic in your gut, destroying the essential microbiome balance. The impact of the pill on the microbiome will last long after you stop taking it without actions to replenish good gut bacteria. - After being off birth control for a year and a half I’m finally not experiencing any IBS symptoms.
Increased inflammation – if you are prescribed the pill for common period problems, you should know that those issues result from hormonal imbalance and inflammation in the body. The pill does not treat these root causes, but can mask the symptoms you experience. - When I got off birth control I noticed more inflammation in my body and weight gain. The way your weight fluctuates though your cycle is astounding to me.
Micronutrient deficiency – hormonal birth control prevents the absorption of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals, which have short and long term impacts on your health. - I now get monthly IV therapy. It has helped put these vitamins back into my body that I was missing from being on birth control.
Suppressed ovulation – consistent ovulation protects women’s long term health. Hormonal birth control suppresses ovulation. Suppressing ovulation has long term consequences, even if ovulation returns shortly after you come off the medication. - Ovulation should be happening around day 10-14, but it’s been very hard to me to track, likely because of my years of being on birth control.
Masked reproductive health issues – the pill is not a real treatment for reproductive health issues. Hormonal birth control can help manage symptoms for some women, but it is only a band-aid solution. - This sticks out to me so much. For people who suffer from endometriosis or PCOS, birth control is such an easy thing for a doctor to prescribe and not really hear you or the things you’re dealing with.

Getting off of birth control really brought a new level to our sex life. Since I know a person can only get pregnant during the ovulation phase, I’m able to not have penetrative sex during that time. Which means we get to be creative with our sex life.
The biggest side effect I experienced from coming off of birth control was the weight gain. I’ve learned to love my body in whatever condition it’s in.
I’m now able to feel my emotions more. I’m embracing and embodying my feelings, not trying to push it back or push through it, but am really feeling into the emotions.
I can see things brighter. I feel lighter, I can see more, and I feel so proud of myself for speaking up and advocating for myself.
Resources
Sexual Confidence Academy
Flo Living Article
Everlywell Testing Kit

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Connect with Rachel!
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Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
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Email: [email protected]

Damaged microbiome – hormonal birth control acts just like an antibiotic in your gut, destroying the essential microbiome balance. The impact of the pill on the microbiome will last long after you stop taking it without actions to replenish good gut bacteria. - After being off birth control for a year and a half I’m finally not experiencing any IBS symptoms.
Increased inflammation – if you are prescribed the pill for common period problems, you should know that those issues result from hormonal imbalance and inflammation in the body. The pill does not treat these root causes, but can mask the symptoms you experience. - When I got off birth control I noticed more inflammation in my body and weight gain. The way your weight fluctuates though your cycle is astounding to me.
Micronutrient deficiency – hormonal birth control prevents the absorption of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals, which have short and long term impacts on your health. - I now get monthly IV therapy. It has helped put these vitamins back into my body that I was missing from being on birth control.
Suppressed ovulation – consistent ovulation protects women’s long term health. Hormonal birth control suppresses ovulation. Suppressing ovulation has long term consequences, even if ovulation returns shortly after you come off the medication. - Ovulation should be happening around day 10-14, but it’s been very hard to me to track, likely because of my years of being on birth control.
Masked reproductive health issues – the pill is not a real treatment for reproductive health issues. Hormonal birth control can help manage symptoms for some women, but it is only a band-aid solution. - This sticks out to me so much. For people who suffer from endometriosis or PCOS, birth control is such an easy thing for a doctor to prescribe and not really hear you or the things you’re dealing with.

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Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]

Previous Episode

130. Erectile Dysfunction, Early & Delayed Ejaculation

Through the process of joining the Sex & Love Co team, I have had more male referrals. Though my work is really centered around women’s sexual health, men’s sexual health is also near and dear to my heart.
There are a number of things that men seek out sex coaching, therapy, counseling for. I find these to be the most common:
Low or no sexual desire
Early or pre-ejaculation
Erectile dysfunction
Delayed Ejaculation
Sexual inhibition
Body Dysmorphia
Social or dating skills needed to be strengthened or learned
Desire for better pleasure or more frequent pleasure
Sexual Trauma

Step one to getting to the solution is going to the doctor. You need to be sure that there aren’t any physical causes of your sexual concern. You can mention this to your primary care doctor, but the person you’re really going to want to see is a urologist.
Early Ejaculation
The most common sexual complaint among men under 40. Statistics put the number of men with this concern between 40 and 70 %
A lot of times men complaining about early ejaculation end up in the average window of sex length. The average length of sex including foreplay is 6-14 minutes. The average length of sex from penetration to ejaculation is 5 minutes.
What are the causes?
They can vary from something as subtle as anxiety about performance to something more obvious like a type A personality with self pressuring characteristics.
What can help?
SSRI’s that list decreased sexual desire.
Medications like Viagra or Cialis.
Penis rings are a great thing to use to be able to add sensation to the penis and stop the urge to ejaculate.
Creams that numb the penis.
Self training and learning control.
For any of these things, you should be practicing with solo pleasure first. Doing this first will give you the confidence to take these things that you’ve learned into an experience with a partner.
Erectile Dysfunction
When a man is not able to get or sustain an erection long enough to penetrate. About 1 in 10 men and over 50% of men over the age of 50 have experienced erectile dysfunction.
What are the causes?
Can vary from some physical causes like blood flow or diseases, to psychological issues like anxiety to repressed anger or relationship issues.
What can help?
Those medications I mentioned earlier like Viagra.
Some herbal options.
Doctors can prescribe self injected medications for men who need to avoid the side effects from Viagra.
Penis pumps; a good pump can produce a firm erection via suction that can last through a love making session. These are a good choice for men who have situational ED caused by insecurity.
And of course there’s couples coaching.
Delayed Ejaculation
Only happens to around 10% of men. It is easy to identify yet is the most difficult concern to treat. This is essentially when a man is feeling like an orgasm is coming on, but can not release with ejaculate.
There are three major factors
Medical causes like retrograde ejaculation or antidepressants
Intimacy issues
Partners can sometimes take on the responsibility for the issue and try harder to make the man reach orgasm but are actually exacerbating the situation
What can help?
If you think it's medical it's worth talking to a doctor
If you're looking at working with a coach or therapist, you're mostly going to be looking at safety issues. Men who don't feel safe enough to let go with a partner really need positive encouragement, nurturi

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Next Episode

132. Supporting Your Chakras

If you checked out the title of this episode, you are probably one of my people. You are in this energy loving world, maybe already know what chakras are, or at least you’ve heard the word chakra before.
There are hundreds of chakras that are located in our body, but you generally think of 7 main chakras.Root - At the base of your pelvis. Responsible for security and safety, and feeling centered in life. Will create a foundation for balance with your other chakras. Affirmations - I am safe, I am blessed, I am beautiful. I can achieve whatever I want. The universe is with me. Sacral - About 2 inches above your belly button. Your creation, sex, pleasure, sensuality, and passion. Overall enjoyment of life is dependent on this chakra. Affirmations - I am living a very joyful life. I celebrate my sexuality and embrace it. My creativity is flowing through my body freely, and I’m happy with it. I attract the people who love and accept me just as I am. Solar Plexus - 2 inches above your belly button, right under your breast bone. Responsible for your personality, personal choices, freedom, self esteem, and your power of transformation. Affirmations - I am ambitious. I feel calm and confident. I am manifesting positive outcomes in my life. Heart - Right in the middle of your chest. Responsible for compassion, joy, love for ourselves and others, empathy, forgiveness, peace, generosity, gratitude and our ability to trust in others. Affirmations - I love myself. I love all the people around me. I forgive others, and I forgive myself too. Throat - At the base of your throat. Plays an essential role in your communication, boundaries, willpower, emotions, thoughts, feelings, and expressing your emotions to others. Affirmations - My words are valuable. I speak with clarity and confidence. I respect my thoughts and will share them with others without any fear.
Third Eye -Between your eyebrows. Is not about the physical, but stimulates your energy to give you clarity about dimensions beyond our world. Affirmations - I see clarity in all things. I follow and trust my intuition. I am connected with the universe. Crown - At the tip of your head. The most spiritual of all the chakras. Through this people are connected to the oneness of everything. Affirmations - I am living in the present moment. I am connected to all. I am opening myself to receive spiritual guidance.
How do I know if one of my chakras is blocked?
Ask yourself these questions, and journal your answers.Root - Do you feel grounded? Are you physically healthy?Sacral - Are you an emotionally balanced person? Are you comfortable expressing yourself sexually?Solar Plexus - Do you have a high degree of self esteem? Are you confident?Heart - Do you have love in your life? Are you emotionally connected to others?Throat - Do you communicate your thoughts well? Do people consider you articulate?Third Eye - Do you intuitively know certain things? Are you wise? Crown - Do you understand your spiritual connection to all that exists? Are you able to recognize your inner and outer beauty?

Resources:
EOC Institute
10 Minute Chakra Balancing Meditation
17 minute Chakra Balancing Meditation
Information in this episode was learned from the Chakra & Crystals Certification

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Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]