How to Heal Your Gut After Hormonal Birth Control
May 25, 2023
Taking long-term hormonal birth control can have negative side effects on your gut health, and increases your risk of gut health issues like candida overgrowth, SIBO, and gut dysbiosis.
Healing your gut after long-term hormonal birth control use is important if you are getting chronic, recurring vaginal infections like yeast infections, BV, UTIs, vulvodynia, vaginitis, genital herpes, or genital warts outbreaks.
These recurring infections are connected to inflammation, a weakened immune system, hormone imbalances, and blood sugar imbalances which are all connected to your gut health.
Some of the other side effects of taking long-term hormonal birth control are:
- spotting
- bloating
- acne
- weight gain
- increased water retention
- headaches and migraines
- nausea
- breast tenderness
- mood swings, anxiety, depression
- low libido
Whether you have taken long-term hormonal birth control in the past, or are currently taking it, it’s a good idea to do a gut health reset to prevent any long-term health concerns.
Long-term use of hormonal birth control depletes the good bacteria in your gut and hinders the absorption of essential nutrients like:
- Vitamin B2, B6, B9 (folate), and B12
- Vitamin C, D, and E
- Selenium
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Zinc
How I Healed My Gut After Being on Long-term Hormonal Birth Control:
I was on the birth control pill for 15 years which was one of the causes of my chronic yeast and BV infections and candida overgrowth in my mid-30s.
The ONLY WAY that I was able to heal my gut and rebalance my hormones to get rid of my vaginal infections and eliminate my candida overgrowth, was by changing my diet and lifestyle!
I have learned to revolve my life around my vagina because I never want to go back to the way I was feeling when I was dealing with recurring infections.
Here’s what I eat to keep my gut, hormones, and vagina happy:
- Good fats – salmon, nuts & seeds, eggs, avocado, good-quality oils like extra virgin olive oil, and organic, cold-pressed coconut oil.
- Good-quality sources of protein – I buy quality, organic, and grass-fed lean meats like chicken breast, turkey, and liver, eggs, fish (salmon), good-quality paleo protein powder, nuts & seeds, and some plant-based proteins like lentils and chickpeas.
- Low GI/low starch fruits, veggies, and carbs – dark leafy greens, berries, citrus, avocado, sweet potato, quinoa.
- But it’s not just what to eat/not eat that matters, the HOW to eat is equally as important, and this is where I can help you!
A holistic approach to healing your gut, rebalancing your hormones, and getting rid of recurring vaginal infections after long-term birth control use can help to:
- Restore the healthy balance of gut bacteria
- Improve nutrient absorption and digestion
- Improve nutrient absorption and digestion
- Reduce inflammation
- Strengthen your immune system
- Rebalance hormones
- Get rid of recurring vaginal infections
- Clear your skin
- More energy and mental clarity
- Plus so much more!
If you are currently on hormonal birth control and are wanting to consider alternative, non-hormonal birth control options, do your research and talk to your doctor about the best birth control methods for you.
If you want to heal your gut after being on long-term hormonal birth control, changing your diet is the first place to start, and I can help you with that!
I’m here to make it EASY for you to change your diet and lifestyle by giving you the tools, guidance, and support to learn how to heal your gut on your own with my online F*CK CANDIDA program, or with my PRIVATE 1:1 COACHING if you value personal support as you go through your gut-healing journey.
