The Truth About the Pill

To understand how the pill works, let us first recall how the menstrual cycle functions.

The female menstrual cycle unfolds in two phases, before and after ovulation.

In 2013, 41% of women aged 15 to 49 were using the pill[1]. And even though its use declined following the pill crisis that year, it remained the most widely used form of contraception in France in 2016[2]. However, this decline did not apply to 15–19 year-olds.

The pill is prescribed for contraceptive purposes in approximately half of cases. In the other half, it is prescribed for hormonal issues: painful, absent, or irregular periods, acne or other skin problems, endometriosis, or other symptoms such as premenstrual syndrome, depression, irritability, mood swings... However, natural, hormone-free alternatives do exist, including taking a food supplement premenstrual syndrome and/or a food supplement for painful periods.
 

The pill does not regulate hormones — it merely masks symptoms without addressing the root cause. It therefore cannot be considered a treatment for these hormonal imbalances.

By inhibiting the natural production of oestrogen and progesterone and introducing a significant dose of synthetic hormones into our body, the pill disrupts our body's delicate hormonal ecosystem. As a knock-on effect, the production of other hormones is also impacted. 

Thyroid hormones

Produced by the thyroid, thyroid hormones affect every cell in our body and regulate metabolism in the broadest sense (hair and nail growth, energy, mood, weight…). However, the pill can weaken thyroid activity and contribute to the following symptoms: hair loss, weight gain, irritability, fatigue…

Androgen hormones
 

These are male hormones (testosterone and its derivatives) that regulate ovulation, libido and desire[3], muscle mass and bone health in women. Produced in part by the ovaries, androgen hormones are inhibited by the pill. Hence the following side effects: low libido, difficulty reaching orgasm, reduced attraction to your partner…

Blood sugar regulatory hormones
 

Blood sugar is the level of sugar in the blood. Every time we eat, blood sugar rises as the sugars (carbohydrates) from our food pass into the bloodstream. The hormone insulin is then secreted to bring blood sugar back down to a normal level by moving sugar from the blood into the cells. However, the pill can disrupt this mechanism and contribute to the following symptoms: fatigue, irritability, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), sugar cravings, increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes…

Its effects go beyond hormones and disrupt our overall health

Effects on the liver

The liver is responsible for regulating our hormones by setting aside those that have been used or are present in excess. The significant dose of synthetic hormones delivered daily by the pill therefore places a considerable additional workload on it.

Effects on nutritional status

The pill depletes certain nutrient stores, in particular B vitamins, magnesium and zinc, for example[4] — nutrients that are also essential for hormonal regulation, as well as immunity, fertility, cellular energy production, hair health, the nervous system… [5] Taking a women's food supplement including B vitamins, is worth considering. Our women's multivitamin is particularly rich in B vitamins. 

To stock up on magnesium, our magnesium food supplement is made for you. 

Pink Balance, our hormonal balance food supplement, in a red berry powder format. It contains maca, shatavari, beetroot and is naturally rich in B vitamins! 

Disruption of the gut microbiome

The pill contributes to reducing the population of beneficial bacteria within the gut microbiome. This microbiome regulates many aspects of our health, including immunity, hormones, digestion, mood and weight… If the gut microbiome is imbalanced, these functions can be negatively affected[6].

The pill, like any medication, is therefore not without consequence and has effects on the whole of our body.

When stopping the pill, the communication between the brain and the ovaries is expected to re-establish itself: the ovaries resume their function, produce oestrogen, ovulate, and the follicles produce progesterone.

Nevertheless, this communication can take time to re-establish, and some women take several months to return to their natural cycle [7] [8] [9]. Furthermore, the hormonal ecosystem does not necessarily recover from the effects of the pill without support, and the same applies to other functions affected by the pill (liver, gut microbiome, nutrient stores, etc.).
 

Finally, thestopping the pill can, in some people, cause a "rebound effect" following the hormonal imbalance. In other words, the natural production of hormones, which was suppressed during the time the pill was taken, can start up again with a little too much enthusiasm. This is often the case with androgens, which can surge after stopping the pill, causing hair loss or acne, for example [10].  

Historically, the pill has allowed women to gain independence, and today it suits many people. That said, very few women take the pill with a genuine understanding of what it involves – with real "informed consent" – meaning they are fully aware of the benefits, the risks, and the full range of side effects, and so on.

Many women also start taking the pill very early on, just a few years or even a few months after their first period. This is particularly the case for young women experiencing symptoms such as acne, painful or irregular periods, PCOS or endometriosis. These young women, now adults, often stop taking the pill when they decide they want a child. However, the imbalances that were present before starting the pill tend to resurface most of the time, potentially making conception more difficult – especially if they stop the pill later in life, at an age when fertility naturally declines.
 

Taking the pill is therefore a decision that deserves careful thought.

Whilst the pill has its rightful place in the range of medical contraceptive options, women who are prescribed it should be better informed about the risks and about the fact that it does not provide a solution to hormonal imbalances. It is also worth knowing that other contraceptive methods exist and deserve consideration, including male contraception options such as thermal contraception, which works by testicular elevation, is 100% natural and reversible. And when you think about it, women are only fertile for a few days each month whereas men are fertile 24 hours a day — so why should contraception not also be their responsibility?