The Pill- Side effects and Vitamin Depletion

As mentioned previously, my side effects from getting off the pill were:

1. Weight gain
2. Tender breasts
3. Painful abdominal, especially right hand side hip bone
4. Deficient in magnesium and other vitamins

Below is a list of other possible side effects if you stop using the pill :

• Weight gain
• Mood swings
• Circulatory symptoms
• Liver problems 
• Blood clots
• Raise potassium levels
• Acne until hormones become normal, so make sure you have a good face-washing routine. My fave is Olay Thermal Skin Polisher $20 at Woolworths!

• Tender breasts for first few weeks
• Lower abdominal pain and bloating
• Takes up to several months to begin ovulating again once off the Pill
• Can cause post-pill amenorrhea (or lack of menstruation). If you haven't received period within 3 months, seriously consider seeing your doctor.
• Raises copper levels, which increases cancer risk and interferes with zinc
• Creates high lipid peroxidase, which increases oxidative stress and cardiovascular and cancer risk
• Disrupts intestinal flora (beneficial bacteria in the gut) and causes dysbiosis, leaky gut, food allergies and candida
• Lowers B6, B12, Zinc, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium, B-carotenes & Vitamin E!!!
• Low magnesium also causes chocolate cravings, thus eating sugar causes weight gain and many other health problems. Raw Chocolate, Nuts, seeds, legumes and fruit should be your alternative.
• Birth control also contributes to hypothyroid due to excess estrogen!
• A deficiency of B vitamins and magnesium can result in high levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which can cause heart disease.

A progestin called drospirenone is found in some birth control pills such as Yaz, Yasmin, Gianvi, Syeda, Safyral, and Beyaz and is linked to a higher risk for blood clots than other pills control pills. 

Drospirenone may also raise potassium levels in the blood which may cause heart or health problems.

Raises copper, which increases cancer risk and interferes with zinc:copper ratio, causing copper toxicity: http://www.holistic-back-relief.com/copper-toxicity.html

Disrupts folate (folic acid) and B12 metabolism, which is important for energy production. Depletion of folate could cause birth defects if one becomes pregnant while on or shortly after birth control if one does not supplement and eat foods high in folic acid: http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/fetaldevelopment/l/blfolatefacts.htm

How to combat this:


Eat probiotic foods (raw, unpasteurized miso, sauerkraut, kim chi, beet kvass, organic apple cider vinegar and organic yogurt/kefir if tolerate dairy) to restore and balance intestinal flora. Sickness starts in the gut! Eat wild fish 2-3 times a week and/or take fish oil supplements.

The good news is that with proper nutrition and supplementation you can reduce your risk of nutrient deficiencies. A high nutrient diet of low-fat proteins, whole grains, vegetables, nuts and seeds is ideal, and supplementation can also help maintain a proper nutrient balance.

FOLATE or FOLIC ACID? Here is a good comparison blog from Wellness Mama