The Impact of Birth Control Pills on Female Fertility

[@dm_podcast_takeways]

Summary: Natalie Crawford discusses various aspects of birth control, focusing on hormone-based contraception in females. She explains how birth control pills work, clarifying that they do not prevent the release of eggs but rather prevent ovulation by suppressing FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) from the brain. Natalie also explains that while birth control does not impair fertility, it can impact ovarian reserve markers like AMH (anti-mullerian hormone), which may appear lower in individuals on the pill but is reversible upon discontinuation. Natalie addresses the various forms of hormone-based birth control, including pills, IUDs (Intrauterine Devices), and their effects on the body. She highlights the importance of understanding the risks and benefits of each method, noting that some birth control pills can have androgenic or male hormone-like properties. The conversation expands to discuss the broader impacts of birth control on health. Natalie mentions how birth control pills can be beneficial for mental health, heavy periods, and conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome, which can cause hormonal imbalances leading to issues like increased body hair, acne, and metabolic syndrome. Natalie also touches on the potential risks of birth control, such as increased risk of blood clots and gastrointestinal issues. She mentions the importance of considering genetic factors like Factor V Leiden mutation before starting birth control, especially for individuals with a family history of blood clots.

[@KatieGlass-pi1xu]

I found this episode extremely interesting, however, feel that she really glossed over many of the negative side effects of BC - insulin resistance, buildup of iron due to not having a period, estrogen dominance which leads to more inflammation, can reduce size of clitoris making it harder to achieve orgasm for a woman, along with the bad side effects she did mention. It is really healthy long term for women to ovulate and naturally produce progesterone to balance out estrogen. Copper IUD can cause copper toxicity, inflammation, estrogen dominance, mineral imbalances, and anemia. Would have loved for her to speak more on fertility awareness and how a woman can track their fertility through testing their own hormones at home through fertility monitor, BBT (can use tech like a wearable BBT monitor such as Tempdrop), tracking cervical fluid. There are many methods of fertility awareness with similar efficacy rates for avoiding pregnancy that involve no harmful side effects or taking synthetic hormones.

[@gothikasweb3685]

Certainly nobody needs my opinion but... The birth control pill ruined my body, my feminine intuition, my perception towards the right partner. I stopped taking, felt more feminine and "inside of my skin" again... Nothing scientific here, just feelings.

[@v.e.l.pianist7848]

I mean, it's hormones being messed with and hormones are pretty much "feelings", so your body being different in relation to an expected result from a medication is reasonable.

[@xmax9297]

I don’t know why, but I don’t believe her when she says it’s COMPLETELY reversible. Once you start messing with hormones it’s never that simple. Not to mention every case is different. So why respond with such an absolute? Profit driven? Sad.

[@GOLDHAWK360]

My thoughts exactly

[@sravasaksitam]

You think a birth control pill has permanent effects?

[@travelexperiencesbydesign2188]

I did Ivf and I had never been on birth control ever. I did Ivf 3 years ago at 40. I’m just getting back to normal after 2 years off of the hormones I was put on. I don’t believe that either. I had perfect health just couldn’t pregnant bc of my older eggs. Already had 1 child at 30. hormones and birth control are not good.

[@Diabloisbackk]

00:31 🩸 Birth control pills, specifically combined oral contraception, do not change the release of eggs but suppress ovulation by preventing FSH release. 02:00 🥼 Prolonged use of birth control pills can temporarily suppress AMH levels, affecting ovarian reserve assessment, but this effect is reversible. 03:28 💊 Long-term birth control pill use may potentially improve fertility, particularly for those with underlying conditions like endometriosis. 05:54 🔄 Synthetic testosterone intake by males can shut down sperm production, unlike estrogen-progestin pills in females, due to differences in spermatogenesis and ovarian egg reserve. 06:53 ⚠ Birth control pills have risks, including potential impacts on vaginal and vulvar health, mental health, and metabolic health, but they can also offer benefits such as preventing endometrial and ovarian cancers. 14:37 💉 Individuals with Factor V Leiden mutation should be cautious with oral contraception due to increased clotting risk, but routine genetic screening for this mutation is not recommended before starting birth control.

[@JJ_Adventures]

She's part of the system that clearly wants women to be on this BS.

[@jf8138]

Why should they not have a choice to be on it? You creep.

[@JJ_Adventures]

@@jf8138 🤡

[@JJ_Adventures]

@@jf8138 how dare I care about people not playing god with their hormones 🤡

[@JJ_Adventures]

@@jf8138 then be a good little 🐑 and do what they want you to do.

[@JJ_Adventures]

@@jf8138 🐑

[@mindbrain935]

I know 3 girls personally who got depressed and longtherm out of hormonal balance because of taking the pill. One is still struggling with the consequences after years. So somehow even if the lady seams to be an expert it seams to me that she is not critical enough. And it does also not mean that there are some non average people who could be severely damaged by an hormonal solution which not fits their body and messed up their hormones in a critical development phase.

[@mindbrain935]

I wish a even more critical and diverse discussion on that topic.

[@v.e.l.pianist7848]

Yeah... you're only getting that discussion if you study the material and subject matter yourself.

[@thomaslemon3971]

There are so many issues with birth control for women, that you just gotta wonder sometimes: does everyone forget that condoms are a thing? Lol

[@katherinelucas2161]

Something is reducing fertility rates.

[@jsmithsemper4848]

🎼Tried multiple forms of female birth control for years & kept getting violently ill. 🎤🎵🎶Wooooah whoa weird eugenics let me gooooo-Oh. 🎶 Thank you for addressing the factor 5 factor! 📍

[@Kookbandit]

The fact that she uses the term "people" to describe women indicates that she's on the woke train

[@murielbrown3013]

A low carb high animal foods diet very effectively helps with hormonal issues.

[@Some_kind_of_wonderfü]

Dr Sara Hill is the best on this topic 🙌

[@JeffMartinez648]

Why over my head, I’ll trust you!

[@JirapasWatson]

are you going to make a testing board like the ones at tafe and take us through that?

[@jjuniper274]

I need to listen to this whole episode. I'm quite certain SOMETHING is disrupting the cycles in some women. I also understand there has been an increase in PCOS, which is clearly a hormonal dysfunction. Is it phthalates? Is it BC? Is it our disconnect from nature and cycles of the sun and earth? I hypothisize it's probably a combo of all things. Welcome to complex systems. I think we probably should have explored this more before tearing down Chesterton's Fence.

[@mindbrain935]

The pco symptoms was sth. friends of me struggled with after taking and getting off the pill again. It seams that the pill messed up their hormones for good

[@britishbuffalo21]

My theory is artificial food preservatives and other unnatural food substances

[@funygameur]

09:45/11:00 - Talking about the Pill being *"better for mental health [with again a caveat] for women with PCOS]"* Okay this really infuriates me. My specialty is mental health. You are talking about an other field as yours in an assertive manner. When, if didn't find your degree in a cereal box or a univeristy riddled with dogmatuc corruption, you should know that women taking the pill *weither they have PCOS or not* when they are surveyed and/or studied when under pill and after usage, it's *clear that they're mental health decreased by influence of the pill and increased when they got out of it.* There is a différence between pain, incimfort that is transient even in this case repeated, systematic, and bad mental health outcome. I won't make a really compelling argument as I don't have the time to do that here where it wouldn't be productive but I'll say that this intervention was really insulting to the very principles of scientific thinking.

[@nursingcowgirl]

I completely disagree with this lady in the blue dress regarding bc.

[@Alex1611AD]

In what way?

[@ForrestMystic]

How so? What's your qualifications? Have you been in involved in research for this subject? Also, calling a professional who studies something "the lady in the blue dress" is denying her expertise and setting her up as some random chick off the street. She isn't.

[@jacobxavier1068]

Completely disagree with her as well. Source: Am an experienced plumber

[@NGMtibbi]

And who cares about what u think?

[@lukeharris2622]

✝️💪