Birth Control & Nutrient Deficiencies

Birth control is surprisingly complicated by the fact that no one talks about synthetic hormones.

When I am counseling women on the potentially harmful side effects of starting on a synthetic birth control, they rarely say that their regular doctor brought up the same concerns as me. The truth is that there are many documented side effects of birth control, including low libido, depression, anxiety, and weight gain. Some of the more obscure and less obvious side effects include damage to the gastrointestinal lining, chronic vaginal yeast infections, disturbances in the gut microflora, and significant nutrient depletions, all of which are very uncomfortable.

Diagnosing nutrient depletions from long term use of oral birth control is no easy task. Nutrient testing is not generally part of yearly routine blood work, conventional tests are really only looking at B-12 and Vitamin D levels. However, less obvious, certain vital nutrients are often found to be deficient in cases where patients are relying on synthetic birth control, such Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, Folic acid, C, E, trace minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and Coq10, which is  a significant antioxidant critical in brain and heart health. These are almost never tested in the course of treatment and that’s a big mistake. 

It's not exactly clear why birth control causes nutrient depletions, and because the mechanism of action is unknown, it's rarely discussed. Some folks’ hypotheses include damage to the gut lining due to the oral ingestion of synthetic birth control (digestive issues); others include the burden on the liver to detox these chemicals (the body doesn’t recognize it or is already overwhelmed). It's difficult for women to know if they're being affected by these depletions if they're not counseled on what to look out for. The good news is that you can account for these and supplement your diet with nutraceuticals to manage the possible/inevitable deficiencies, while taking birth control. 

Birth control pills have an impact on the balance of the gut microflora, creating an environment where the "bad" bacteria can overrun the good. This imbalance can cause a host of problems, including an abundance of vaginal yeast infections, and long term inflammation, predisposing women to intestinal bowel disease like Cron's and Colitis. It's important to remember, the immune system establishes and maintains a strong presence in the stomach, such that any damage to the lining, and chronic irritation there, can trigger the immune system to activate negatively (this can mean autoimmunity and extreme immune reactions). 

Deficiencies in magnesium can lead to constipation and muscle tension, cramps, twitching, and weakness. Long term magnesium deficiency has been linked to Osteoporosis and Cardiovascular irregularities such as high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats. 

Zinc deficiency is a major player in immune health and modulation. Low Zinc can cause decreased immune function, lack of taste, smell and appetite. Low Zinc levels have also been indicated in hair loss and depression. 

Nutrient depletion, specifically B-Vitamins, are both found in studies of patients diagnosed with depression. We don't make B vitamins on our own, which means  it is critical to obtain an abundance of them from our diet. The association between depression and decreased levels of B-12 and Folic acid are explicitly connected to depression. These critical nutrients are precursors to the essential neurotransmitters that regulate moods and emotions. One more, Vitamin B6, is an integral part of the production of serotonin from tryptophan. Serotonin is the Neurotransmitter mostly responsible for maintaining happiness and a favorable sense of self-worth. 

If you don’t have access to alternative and complementary healthcare, and you are taking synthetic birth control,  I strongly recommend taking a multi-vitamin for women, as well as an additional B-Complex vitamin, and an excellent soil-based probiotic to replace good bacteria and maintain proper balance in the gut microflora. If you want to talk it through, let’s make a time to connect.