I got off the pill because it made me feel weird and "dulled" and when I told my doctors they all told me it was all in my head... Funny thing is, if you ask other women they would usually have the same experiences
@@hacunamatata6802 my doctor talked with me about different things with the birth control pill I'm taking. However, this video gave more information. I didn't just blindly take these pills, I just feel like my doctor didn't give me all the information she should be obligated to tell me about the script she wrote me (especially because I was a minor when she first wrote it. It was for a bad hormonal imbalance which was affecting my social life and mental health)
@@Coid I was told about the weight gain and increased depression risk but she didn't tell me much else. I was a kid when the script was written for me initially so I didn't know what questions I needed to ask
I need a video discussing why the side effects of the men's birth control were so terrible, but the horrible side effects of birth control in women are accepted, normalized, and standard. I hate needing to have menstrual regulation due to ovarian cysts. Otherwise I'd stay away completely from external hormones.
One of the big drawbacks to mens birth control is that while women birth control simulates a portion of their naturally occurring cycle to prevent ovulation mens birth control cannot do that. It is an entirely unnatural state for their hormones. Due to that they will likely have far more side effects than even women do.
@@plaidzebra13 The side effects on women are numerous, intense, and truly unbearable enough as it is. Mine ruined my life, and 6 years on I still have long term side effects. There was one pill they made for men that was in testing; a few men in the test sample had..... Headaches, so they pulled it, just because of headaches.... Headaches are far from the worst side effects women have to suffer among the plethora of side effects. Yet it's normal for women to suffer these side effects.
You should read beyond the pill by jolene brighten. Hormonal contraceptives do not "regulate" your cycle. They shut down your natural hormones and replace them with synthetic ones. There are some natural supplements that can help you fix your ovarian cyst problem. If I were you I would see a functional medicine doctor.
She wrote a book about this! It's called This is your Brain on Birth Control. It's super awesome and goes more into detail from her talk here! Truly worth reading.
The talk was super awesome so I would have to assume that the book will have to be as well. One the best talks, and the best speakers I've encountered lately.
Best thing a doctor told me: “ hormones don’t affect anything” and after a lot of push back when I asked for a hormone panel to be done he finally replied “I can order one for you but I don’t know how to read it” Man. I wonder what awesome med school he went to!
hormones don't affect anything? I guess anti depressants don't work then. Doctors are not trained to make you healthy. They are government drug dealers. I don't know if you are Canadian but in Canada, unless you know you want a certain drug its pointless to go to the doctors. Their only answer to anything is pills or go see a paid specialist.
I was on the pill for 3 years I wasn’t myself and had extremely high anxiety, to the point where I had horrible anxiety attacks daily. I had no self confidence and got monthly UTIs and yeast infections. Almost all my doctors told me that it’s all in my head. I stopped taking the pill last summer because I was extremely suicidal and at a breaking point. It’s been 7 months now and I almost feel like myself again. I wish scientists/doctors would listen to us and wouldn’t dismiss all our symptoms like we are just “crazy women”. I love the idea if birth control but A LOT has to change.
Katie Millikin I don’t know I’m neither a doctor or researcher but I would constantly get yeast infections and UTI’s while on the pill. I have been on and off birth control often enough to definitely pin point it to the pill. Have you tried D-mannose supplements? Life saver!! I stopped taking BC back in June and haven’t had a single UTI since even though I had them almost every month before that. One progressed into a kidney infection in May which was very fun.....
I take the pill because of endometriosis, it’s a need for me. The thing is that I have the same symptoms as you and I one year I had UTI like 5 times. Looked for it on the internet if it had anything to do with the pill and everywhere I looked it said that it was linked. When I went to the gynecologist that prescribed the pill to me and asked him he said that the pill has nothing to do with UTI. Also, I’ve never had it before the pill.
I was crazy off the pill and had horrible PMS symptoms and emotional changes. Now that I've been taking the combination pill for three years in a row, I have much more level headed thinking and not nearly as emotional. I know it can have the opposite effect on others though.
Started at 16 and took it til 28. My body still struggles to regulate the hormones properly after three years without it. A couple of friends have had blood clogs, one even in the lung. I think, the long-term negative effects of the pill are underestimated and down-played.
Same. Had been on the pill for 5 years, then mirena for 5 years. Now I’ve been of birth control for 2 months, because I wanted to know how my unmedicated self was. And so far, it has been a lot better, less stress, less angry, way less depressed and more emotionally stable. Still waiting for my hormones to regulate themselves more, but so far it’s so worth it.
I’m happy this is being addressed, my mental health disimproved dramatically when I took the pill. I was extremely anxious every day and I would cry constantly. I’m so happy I’m off of it now, I wish I would have been warned about the effects
I had a negative reaction to the pill too. I already had mental health issues and was under a lot of stress at the time. I don't recommend it if you already suffer from mental illness unless you absolutely need it.
When I was on estrogen and progesterone pills I ended up on anti depressants. I realized this and change to a progesterone only pill, and now im off anti depressants, and my period completely stopped. Which is great because I take it for periods so bad that get sick and have to stay home.
I’ve been looking for more of this type of research for awhile now and am so happy this is being made more public. I’ve been off the pill for almost a year now (after being on it for about a decade) and my mental health has improved so much because of it. My anxiety has become bearable again and my panic attacks almost nonexistent now. Funny part is that awhile ago I spoke with two separate doctors about the possibility of the pill making my anxiety worse and they both said they had never heard anything in regards to that. Then 6 months ago at a bachelorette party weekend the group I was with got onto the same subject, and guess what? Two of the women I spoke with had to also discontinue the pill for mental health reasons after also having been on the pill for years.
Harmony Alexandria HBC usually lessens the severity of PMS or PMDD (the only mood disorder reported to benefit from HBC) symptoms for obvious reasons. In fact, new research and case studies have shown that HBC can worsen or even trigger anxiety and mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.
@@lauren23160 Can you tell me which kind of hormones your pill contained? There are some differences and apparently I am on a "mild" version of the pill. Just interested in what your kind was.
I’m so relieved someone else said this because I went to my physician assistant several times within a year saying something was wrong with my hormones. We did several tests for my thryroid but nothing came up. Instead she convinced the doctor in the office that I was just depressed so they sent me to a guy to talk to about issues (not a real licensed psychologist) and he diagnosed me with seasonal depression. It didn’t go away and I used to be so happy when I was younger my friends and classmates thought I was crazy with joy. Anyway, I realized that taking the bcp inconsistently really messes up my body and brain. I wanted to watch this this video because I never had prolonged anxiety or depression. It wasn’t like me. Only until a month ago when I stopped taking the pill did I feel joy for a fleeting 2 minutes. The first time in 3 years. I just want to know how long it’ll be until I can feel like myself again.
I got off the pill 4 months ago after being on it for almost 7 years. It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made! I didn’t realize how different the pill made me feel mentally and emotionally until I stopped taking it. I feel like a whole new person, and even people close to me say the same thing. Please ladies, do your research ❤️ I recommend Dr. Jolene Brightens book Beyond the Pill.
Girl same, I have immense anxiety and I STILL feel so much better and more vibrant off the pill. It’s great that it works for some women but a lot of people at risk for negative side effects are being completely ignored by medical professionals! imo
Exactly. I got off the pill after taking it for 6 years. I had bouts of panic attacks and anxiety during the years I was taking it. It was the best decision I had this pandemic. I believe that the pill has something to do with my sanity😅
Congrats! I too just recently got off the pill after being on it for 6 years. If you don't mind me asking, did you experience any symptoms like acne or irregular periods for a bit after stopping the pill?
I appreciate her not being biased at all and just giving out straight data and fact. I like that she mentioned that although it has side effects it’s still good for certain people who have certain conditions and that she talked about using it herself.
While i was on the pill i was getting migraines at the same time every month, seemingly lining up with a certain color of pill in the pack. These migraines were the worst migraines I've ever experienced, complete with vomiting and shaking uncontrollably. I stopped taking birth control and i haven't had one of those migraines since!
@@isabellasims1346 you know for a while i got sick whenever i ate shellfish but i ate a bunch of shrimp over the holiday and i was fine... Wonder if it was related
@@xxromanovaxx6682 her point is valid though. Some girls benefit more from taking the pill. There are a ton of reasons a girl or woman may need to be on birth control
I've never took the pill until I was 20. It works wonders on my depression and anxiety, my confidence grows, my brain fog fades. I'm less of a mess in general. Everyone is different, but yes. There is no way anyone can say that there isn't a link between the pill and the brain.
Same here, some people have different reactions but for me it was only helpful, I had 0libido for a year after I left my partner and only the pill helped me with anxiety and libido
I'm in the same case but the exact oposit effect, I was doing great and now I'm a mess. I think every woman have to find the right amount of hormones for her 🤷♀️
FINALLY THIS INFORMATION!!!! My doctor wants me to go on the pill to help control my mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, but I asked her to do a blood test on me to see if my progesterone level is infact too low, which from my own research I think it is, but she refused as they only “test progesterone levels of women that want to get pregnant” because my daily life as a single woman is LESS IMPORTANT than producing MORE HUMANS on a planet already bursting at the seams with humans. Then she continues to push the pill on me saying it will help but was unable to tell me exactly what it does to my brain and body. I would rather “be crazy” every 6 weeks rather than loose the function to know I should run away from a lion.
@@christenmclaughlin8476 completely untrue. Coming off birth control my body has been struggling to regulate my hormones and I have low progesterone. My doc is having me take vitex and if that doesn't work, we will add/try a progesterone cream. At no point has going on another pill been suggested to me as she knows I'm furious how much damage it already did to me.
I had a lazy doc who wouldn't do a hormone test too. That is absolutely untrue......I have been struggling since coming off the pill and I found a better provider who ordered the DUTCH test for me. I found out I'm too low in progesterone compared to estrogen.
This is my third day being off my combination birth control pills after 6 years. I got off of them due to migraines, and these past few days have been a real eye opener to all the symptoms I faced during those 6 years
As someone who is struggling very much with anxiety and sadness since starting the pill, this was incredibly interesting to hear. I feel validated. Going to talk to my doctor about coming off of it for now.
I'm 27 and I've been taking the generic form of Yaz for about 4 months now and my doctor said it would clear my acne. Well it hasn't. But it has drastically reduced my anxiety and depression. I deal with complex PTSD and ocd because of childhood trauma and since I've been on the pill I function way better. The body is complicated and strange
Sara Hill was a guest speaker in my class and talked a lot more about birth control than what's said in this ted talk. She explained how these hormones are shown to decrease the size of the hippocampus and reduce memory and learning ability. She said we don't know if that changes once the person comes off the pill, but in clinical tests women were shown to score lower on memory and learning skills than their non birth control counter parts!
I became depressed and felt very little emotion, no highs or lows. It took me a year to figure out that my switch in birth control pill was the reason.
As a woman,and a medical student,I admit I was only aware of the most obvious consequences of hormonal changes,this talk opened my eyes to a lot more,thank you.
We need to talk about this more! I was on the pill for a few months and it drastically deteriorated my mental health. I was crying all the time, was upset and anxious. I had a large suspicion it was the pill despite there being events in my life that were making me upset at the time so I decided to stop taking it. After I stopped I felt so much better and more stable. Almost all women I speak to have experiences like this, so why do doctors not mention this to you?
cheeseristical I agree! I’ve tried a few methods of birth control. One made me anxious and my skin erupted in tiny bumps. Another one gave me serious migraines, and another one made me feel as if I was constantly pms’ing. I stopped all of them. The copper IUD is the only one I kept for a few years.
Hormonal birth control made my life so difficult from age 16-23. It was like PMS 24/7/365. Always on edge. When I stopped taking it, it was like a veil lifted. I could suddenly control anger impulsively and was just down right not nearly as angry period, and my sec drive came much more naturally. No one. NO ONE, can tell me that birth control can't alter your brain.
My (female) Doctor was so great. When I went to her with complaints of increased anxiety from the pill she listened, explained and validated this to me. Then I switched to an IUD and have been doing great since. Sad to see so many woman are ignored when they ask about the negative side effects of the pill.
I've been on the pill for a bit over a month now and I've had anxiety attacks almost every day for the last couple weeks. I haven't had these attacks since high school, which was 3 years ago. I'm stopping taking the pill because I can only see this issue becoming more drastic in the future. I just hope others do their research before starting birth control.
To share: my body did not do well on birth control. Different types of birth control made my body react in different ways. I just want to encourage everyone to listen to their bodies and minds to make the safest decision for themselves. Please continue to do research.
I had psychological issues in the past and needed medication for it. My psychiatrist was very good at asking about which birth control method I was using, telling me which interactions / side effects the medications could have and asking me to discuss my psychopharmacology choices with my obgyn as well. Was very interesting that he had such insight into how everything works together. Wound up coming off the pill in the end. Hope more people can have the luck of consulting such a good doctor
When she said “if anyone has capricious hormones, it’s men” all the men in the audience be sitting there mad because she really just preached the truth.
@@pheonixrises11 It's also incredibly misleading. Swings in testosterone in men are miniscule compared to estrogen swings in women. Just because it happens more frequently doesn't make it have the same effect.
I was aware that the pill changes my libido, but I've never heard of the pill possibly surpressing the release of cortisol. I've had a really stressfull year. And this news about cortisol and the pill really gets me thinking. Would I have been able to deal with this in a better way, had I not been on the pill? I mean, I really enjoy the benefits the pill brings me. And I still would choose it over any other contraceptive. But still...
At the same time, long term elevated cortisol levels itself has so many negative effects on the body. (Suppressed immune system, increased risk of diabetes, can contribute to unhealthy weight gain, impede wound healing, weaken bones and connective tissues... People I work w/ who have had to take cortisol-analogue meds for a long time have paperthin skin that rips easily and takes ages of careful wound care to heal...) What does it really mean then for your health to have a blunted cortisol response, long term, then? Confusing to say the least.
I'd been on pills for 11 years, with short breaks in between. I've experienced each symptom that she mentions here, also significant worsening of depression symptoms in my case. Only after many years I associated my condition with taking pills. I wish it hadn't taken that much time, but no doctor ever mentioned those brain-related side effects. On one hand I'm glad that I had this protection and control, while at the same time, probably it was the worst thing I ever did to my mind and body. This is so important to talk about this and keep searching for better solutions!
The fact that I didn't know any of this despite researching the pill before going on it. This is my second day being off the pill after only a month and a half of being on it and I immediately felt better. I was in such a good mood when it was not a good day, my emotions were stable, I wasn't getting random panic attacks. While on the pill I wanted to cry all the time for no apparent reason and didn't make the connection it was the pill until couple of my friends said it did the same thing to her, yet none of these side effects were listed on any med site.
Can we all please appreciate most of the men's faces at 5:30 when they are told that they are the ones with unpredictable hormones compared to all the women cheering 😂
Got off the pill. Now have an IUD. It’s made an absolute world of difference. I seriously feel like I lost the years between 19 and 25 because of the hormones. I was so foggy and anxious.
I'm so grateful for this! I've spend more than over a decade to try and convince several male and female doctors my mental health was severely influenced by the birth control pill (in my puberty) and my IUD later on in life. After my second IUD my hormones got so out of balance, that it triggered my first "depression" I don't like to call it that, however. I call this: hormonal unbalanced. I felt with my whole body, mind and soul this was linked directly to hormonal birth control but like I said, nobody listened to me or took it seriously because I'm just a woman right? oh and without a phd or whatsoever to back me up. Just common sense. But I listened to my body and this is exactly what my body told me. And finally I have the 'evidence' to back up my theories about hormonal influence on the brain and our emotions. This is great.
It’s not because you’re “just a woman”….it’s because there is a vested and industrial scale interest in keeping people depressed, anxious, medicated, sterile, and just in general mentally stressed. My daughter wants to get on this stuff and hates me because I don’t think it will be good for her hormones…she says “what do you know, your just a white male!”
I've been on the pill for about 19 years. Always felt normal and it cured my acne. I'll edit this post after i've watched the video. Edit: Still loved the pill.
As much as this is rather concerning, the hormone shifts that happen to some women can be detrimental to their mental health. I suffer from PMS so horrible it is full scale depressive episodes, an emotional roller coaster that always leaves me despairing and debilitated. The birth control offers you the opportunity to skip periods altogether, ultimately saving many women from full on mental crises ever single month. As much as this information is valuable, I'm never going to stop taking it.
I support you and understand you. What you are discribing is not PMS, it’s called pre menstrual dysphoric disorder, PMDD, and it is debilitating indeed. Please take care of yourself. Not sure which of the 2 necessary evils is better though: ssri’s or bcp? What do you think?
Just curious, have you tried anything natural to help with those symptoms? Seen a naturopath? Tried yoga or meditation? I used to have bad pms and I lost weight, since losing weight I haven’t had it bad at all. Also, maybe diet change in general could help? Pharmaceuticals scare me, it’s all corrupt! Just some thoughts, I am not judging at all. I get worried for anyone who takes pharmaceuticals :(
I had the same issues with pms and some other hormonal issues as well, then my doctor told me about some new research that had connected some of these issues to insulin resistance. I had my blood work done, and it turns out i was pre diabetic and had pcos. I wasnt even overweight or anything, but i did have a lot of sugar, especially from sodas and coffee. Ive since followed the american heart Associations recommended 25g or less of added sugar per day and switched to using splenda in my coffee, and all of my symptoms have been gone for a year now. Im no longer insulin resistant, my periods are normal, and i havent had depression. Plus the best part, i lost 15lbs. Im not saying go off bc by any means, but try cutting sugar out for a month and see how you feel.
Elaine Always I agree. The pill stopped me from getting full-fledged endometriosis and I can actually function for the week of my period. Currently, I use it for “birth control” but I have been on it since I was 17 and won’t go off until I want to have a baby. I have had nothing but good come out of taking the pills. I am also a Registered Nurse and have done the research. This woman isn’t out to lunch, but there’s a lot of reasons why people take the pill. I haven’t personally experienced anything negative from it and have been on it for like 14 years
Most women aren't thrilled to go on the pill. It's a necessary step to take unless you want to be a stay-at-home mum and start having kids young. Or to manage other symptoms like heavy and/or painful periods etc
@@jfb919 amen. Like why bother with this study. I know if don't want babies, I need the pill. Men never take the burden of pregnancy. Also, pill had benefits me of stopping bleeding for half the month. The bc pill still greatest invention to me. Never want babies & men make a fuss once in committed relationship about condoms. I'll take the pill. Not being pregnant more important than side effects. Doc told me it decreases cervical cancer. Some just making stuff up on here about side effects.
birch tree I was excited to go on the pill. It has given me almost complete control over my reproductive organs including if and when I want my period to come. No more 9+ day periods with at least half those days being heavy days. I have intentionally not had a period in over 6 months and until I start having kids, it will remain that way and once I’m done having kids I will go back on the pill 24/7/365 unless I can eventually get all my reproductive organs taken out. I HATE PERIODS!!!
THIS!! The pill is so important to a lot of women at certain points in our lives, but it's extremely important that we talk about the negative sides to it as well and what it's doing to our bodies & brains. I felt like I was going crazy with all the symptoms I had as I reached being on it for 6 years. In my experience, doctors aren't completely open about it either, and I wasn't aware that the pill could cause this much "damage". I was always able to handle stress well, but while on the pill I found myself extremely short circuited and wasn't able to handle stress at all and had a hard time regulating my emotions. I also felt extreme anxiety over situations that I couldn't shake, and had a low self esteem. I felt very unmotivated a lot of the time, and EXTREMELY ravenously hungry, to the point where I thought I was possibly pregnant multiple times. I won't even get into the physical symptoms I was having but after watching many videos on it and listening to other women's experiences, I feel so seen and so heard. I've been off of it for only 2 weeks now and have seen major improvements already. The constant hunger diminished immediately and I can't wait to finally feel like myself again.
I loved this talk. It provided a new perspective on the effects of birth control. I took some form of birth control almost non-stop from the time I was 14 until I was 27. I thought it would help my acne and mood, but now I'm guessing all it really did was hold me back in life, because it didn't improve anything. At least it helped me stay child-free, but now I worry it's done irreversible damage. I'm now 31, so I've been off it for 4 years, but now I wonder if I would be someone different, someone better, if I'd never taken it in the first place.
The pill made me horribly depressed and anxious. I tired 3 different kinds (took one for about a week, the next for 3 years, the next for 2 years). Struggled with a deep, deep depression the whole time unaware of what was causing it since a lot of life changing things had been happening as well. I had an insurance lapse and was unable to pick up my prescription for 2 weeks and suddenly I was cured. It was such a relief to not feel that depression anymore. I will never use it again. My anxiety levels are better too.
As a man i can say we get just as emotional as women. whether we are man or woman we are all emotional beings. The goal should always be mastery over one's self be that man or woman
I used to think like that too, but then the emotions would just come out in weird random ways. There has to be a healthy outlet. Most people use exercise, but it's also important to just let people know how you're feeling every once in a while.
@@wildhrushka no it's not pervy and I don't think accusing women who like "pretty boys" as having low estrogen is right. Id like to see research on it. And even if there is, that doesn't make more feminine-looking men undeserving of a woman's love, or the right to their own "masculinity"
@@gracefry9637 It was a joke but I see your point - I could have put it in better words. I assume the speaker did the research before she said it on the ted-talk, and to be accurate she said low estrogen leads to certain preference (and not that liking gentle men points to low estrogen), It wasn't an accusation tough. And NO ONE said "pretty-boys" are "faminine-looking" or undeserving (and anyone who does say that should be shot - everyone deserve to be loved). If anything, I can happily say that these day, no one can really say who's looking more "femenine" and which are more attractive - because it's so fluid and individual - to each his own. PS: I'm not on the pill and I loove pretty boys. So there, everyone's happy.
My rule is: every form of medication has side effects so take them only if your life depends on it, or if it improves symptoms of a condition you may have.
My sister and I both figured out the attraction element on our own. We both found ourselves more attracted to kinder men, who may have seemed like they would be good dads, on the pill. And off the pill attracted to more fit and larger men. And actually, being in relationships while on the pill, finding ourselves no longer attracted to our boyfriends once going off the pill.
Codie Thompson According to some blood-analysis, I have an unhealthy amount of testosterone in my body, but I’ll be damned if I don’t bawl my eyes out at the movie Coco. Not all big dudes are douchebags
The saddest question I have: How many divorces have been caused by women being on the pill, being attracted to someone, then going off the pill after getting married and no longer finding their partner attractive?
I’ve wondered this too because i got married while on the pill, been married almost 2 years and been off of the pill for about a month. I still find him attractive though but hopefully that won’t change!
I’m going to go with 0, I find it almost offensive to imply women are so weak minded we don’t even know what men we are attracted too/can’t pick life partners. Met my husband on the pill, changed BCs multiple times and am now on nothing, no change
I'm about to start taking the pill & this is the video YT recommends me. Should I mention my doctor didn't even feel like discussing any negative effects the pill might give me? She didn't even ask me about the state of my mental health, just prescribed it.
What she said was completely true for me. I went off birth control for a couple years and I didnt realize how much I had changed while on it. On birth control everything was muted and felt like grayscale. Off birth control life felt vibrant and colorful. For me birth control pushed my emotions into a little box and I felt like I was watching life happen to me. That being said I went back on it because my cramps stopped responding to pain medicine :(
If you're struggling with painful or intense periods, have a look at Alissa Vitti's work and her book "In the Flo." Lifestyle and diet choices can have an impact on your cramps, for example, caffeine from coffee is bad for women.
I take birth control, I haven't had any negative side effects. I also had a great doctor that informed me about all side effects. It's sad that this out of the norm. The pill can influence so much in the body it's insane.
I had the WORST mood swings on birth control. They were so extreme I’d have these huge rage fits and be calm next minute, it also made me so depressed, I had absolutely no libido. After a year of being on birth control I started throwing up every day in the morning like clock work. I talked to 3 doctors about it and they all told me that it had nothing to do with the birth control. I stopped taking birth control just to experiment and see if it truly was the birth control making me sick like I thought. As soon as I stopped the birth control I stopped uncontrollably vomiting. Getting off of Birth control was the best decision I ever made.
Is it weird that when I got on the pill 3 years ago I lost weight, started taking control of my mental health by going to therapy (and have since ceased going), and got a very masculine boyfriend?
I've been dealing with irregular periods, horrible pain, acne and depression since I first started menstruating. Tests revealed that at 21 I had the estrogen and progesteron levels of a premenopausal woman. Been on the pill 3 months, no pain, more self confidence, quit smoking.
Sometimes birth control just masks our symptoms and doesn't help us in the long term. That was my issue and have finally been diagnosed with PCOS, something that I can reverse naturally and improve my symptoms with supporting my body to produce the hormones I need.
I used to be on the pill but I stopped taking it 2 years ago because I suspected that it negatively impacted my emotional state. Not sure how much it really did impact me (because to truly know i'd have to control for a lot of other factors) but I'm glad that I decided to stop taking it
I wish she gave an alternative at the end aside from just saying “here’s all the bad things about birth control, um keep taking it if you don’t want to get pregnant, bye.”
Also, planned parenthood has a pretty informative page about different methods of birth control, with the ability to sort by less/no hormone methods. Their data for natural cycles method has it around 76-88% effective
I find that i have the complete opposite experience with the birth control pill here. I started taking it for irregular periods at 16 but I soon found that my acne cleared and I wasn’t a sobbing hormonal mess around that time of the month. Not only this but I wasn’t soaking through maxi-pads every two hours or dealing with excruciating cramps. Earlier this year I was unable to get my pills on time & couldn’t get them until a month later. Worst pain of my life, I couldn’t believe I dealt with that for so long before getting on the pill.
It has the same effects on me, but all her points still stand. It also disappears your libido and makes you choose partners you later regret, and it mentally feels a lot like an anti-depressant- which for me is a bad thing :/
same! i love my pill. i had very debilitating periods before and taking the pill made my period lighter, shorter, and i get a lot less cramps. i used to have cystic acne which went away as well
My only issue with this and a few other things she said in the beginning is that I have NEVER heard anyone actually say that unless they were mocking the idea of it. Ever. Not an actual person I know or anything. And I'm 50.
Christine Kitson I haven’t either - directly. What I have heard is women’s emotions being blamed by others on ‘that time of the month,’ people saying they prefer male bosses because they are less emotional, and the term ‘hysterical’ only applied to women.
AND they've found that a shot of cortisol (stress hormone) after something traumatic can actually lessen the odds of getting PTSD. The human brain is very odd. But cool!
I believe in saving myself til marriage, but I’ve been taking the pill since I was 14 so that I can function again the horrible pain I have from endometriosis. It’s awful. If there are side effects to the pill then there’s literally nothing I can do about it, cuz having a period regularly will ruin my reproductive system and cover it with scars so that it’d be hard to have children in the future, so ironically, I need to take the pill in order to get pregnant one day... I only have a period like once or twice a year usually
I’m in the same boat but have been thinking about the marina iud instead, which also helps the symptoms but send hormones straight to your uterus instead of your entire body
Evi Ozyra when a woman has endometriosis every period she has causes scaring on her reproductive organs that it isn’t supposed to. If you skip a certain row of the pills and take it all the way through you can stop having a period for as long as you do that. That prevents the scaring and fertility issues.
I believe what she is saying doesn't apply to women with irregular periods ..she is talking about women with regular cycles ..when they take the pill the normal cycle is disrupted..on the other side women with irregular period when they take the pill..their cycle becomes more natural
You may look into the book Woman Code, it's super interesting and has helped me get my hormones leveled out so much. The author cured her own Endo by studying the endocrine system and the book teaches how you can do the same by holistically balance your hormones. Also, kudos for waiting til marriage - it's not easy but it's worth it! :)
I've always been terrified of birth control, since I track my hormones and cycle, and knew it would be like that. Here I am, 29 years old, 4 weeks into the depo shot (first time on birth control) and it was everything I thought it would be. Thank you for affirming me. My estrogen is very low right now.
I've never taken the pill. Ever. Just used condoms. Never got pregnant. I knew intuitively the pill was bad news. This talk confirmed it, but many women gave me anecdotal evidence throughout the years. Listen to your intuition. I'm glad I did.
Whenever I mentioned that birth control was affecting me I was blown off. My mood changed, weight was more difficult to control, my skin changed to the point where I'm still embarrassed of my face to this day. I use older photos for profile pictures or put nothing at all. I thought I was crazy, but I'm not. I'm trying to get back to a healthy place. It is difficult.
Calleen kent I didn’t even think about that. There are girls who get on the pill as soon as their period comes and don’t even give their body a chance to regulate itself or give themselves a chance to understand what normal for their body feels like.
i started “young,” but it was in an attempt to help regulate my terrible acne. not sure which decision is the best, and i think it varies from person to person/situation, but there has to be tweakage or other alternatives to introducing these hormones/chemicals to young women.
S P that definitely makes sense especially when birth control is seen as kind of a ”catch all” for women’s body issues. There needs to be some more alternatives brought out to the market for that kind of thing. I know things like acutane may not be for everyone with bad acne as well so it’s definitely understandable to use what is best available to us.
Hiccups this is not the video or thread to become defensive. This is a bunch of women speaking on their experiences and yours is valid but it’s no reason to make the conversation hostile. With kindness you may be able to change someone’s mind or bring a new perspective to the table, it’s hard for others to be receptive when that’s not present.
I started pretty young because my period dissapeared for a year and whenever I get off the pill it never comes back. There are people that need that option because not taking it is actually worse for them. But I think all this information must be told to the patient.
I recently came off nexplanon because it made me have the worst anxiety I have ever had. The doctor said I had trapped stress and anxiety and its birth control that was making it worse. Its been 2 days since removal and I am starting to feel like myself again.
My freshman year at Humboldt State the psychology department was doing a research study on birth control and women’s feelings particularly jealousy. According to the study the women on birth control were a lot less jealous than the ones that were not. They also were found to be not as sensitive and didn’t fuser and things as cheating whereas the ones off birth control. Just thought it would be something interesting to add. Also waking is not a direct side effect of birth control but increase of appetite is. I can’t wait till they make male birth control.
I wonder if being less jealous on bc is due to the emotional dulling some women have while taking bc? Either way, I'd rather be able to handle stress better than be less jealous, seeing that there's more in life that stresses me out than makes me jealous
So being cheated on and being less fussy is a good or bad thing? Not sure what you're trying to say there. Having self respect and leaving a cheater and having the confidence to do so is a good thing in my opinion...
curious to know if her points only apply the the standard “the pill” which is both estrogen and progesterone or if this applies to the mini pill which is only progesterone. the various pills types make this an interesting topic, and i wonder if there are different things to consider depending on hormone levels per pill
I use to work as a medical assistant at a OB/GYN office. I had so many women come in to get the IDU. I had a patient come in cursing like crazy because her IUD went missing inside of her. She was so upset as she should have been. The doctor had to remove the IUD using a ultrasound in the hospital. It was not a procedure that was able to be done in the office. All of the forms of birth control have bad side effects.
In terms of the mental health aspect, I can confirm this applies to both. I was on the mini pill (Cerelle) for just over a year and mood swings and anxiety were both heightened, especially around my period. So, although I had no bleeding, I was still getting the emotional symptoms except they were even more heightened than before. In my experience, this wasn't very noticeable to begin with, but gradually got worse over time. I've now been off Cerelle for nearly two months and I'm already seeing a difference. That being said, the mini pill does have less side effects compared to the combined pill, especially as I believe it's estrogen that has been linked to high blood pressure, blood clots etc. Like the combined though, it does affect each woman differently.
Came here to say that. I've been on the progesterone only one and my period stays relatively the same so I wonder what it's doing to my brain. But I do notice slightly more anxiety on the pill also.
Birth control literally blocks your body’s ability to ovulate which is a natural body function that indicates health. So it doesn’t matter what type of hormonal contraceptive you use, it leads to the same thing. Blocked natural ovulation
I am taking the mini pill and my anxiety has been heightened. My stress level heightened too and I suffer with mood swings and become upset over the smallest thing. The pill changed my control with emotions. I sometimes feel bad that my boyfriend has to deal with my mood swings. I am just glad that he understands me. I am definitely going to get off the pill and try a different method to see if it will help me
I wanted to get off the pill but when I did I experienced the horrible side effects of PCOS for the first time. My naturally beautiful thick hair thinned significantly, acne, excess hair growth, my first ovarian cyst, etc. It was devastating. This is important information, but let’s not forget there are women like me who cannot get off the pill as much as we may want to. The potential side effects of the pill outweigh struggling with a chronic condition. I severely regret ever stopping the pill because of all the symptoms of PCOS that I had to deal with for the first time. Birth control has been preventing me from dealing with the harsh reality that is PCOS. I will always have to rely on it to keep my hormones regular unfortunately. I can’t go through that again.
Metformin can help with PCOS it balances blood sugar and reduces cysts..I learned dealing with infertility- My IVF doctors had me on it and since I was doing accupuncture and watching diet my cysts stayed gone even after I stopped Metformin [I took it for 3-6 months]
This is what they don’t tell you. The body can take up to several months to return to a normal menstrual cycle after stopping the pill. Common side effects of your body readjusting can be benign cysts on the ovaries (they will go away once everything has settles) It can also be known to cause thinning of the hair, slower wound healing and temporary hormonal fluctuations in mood/libido. Stopping the pill can also cause several months of heavier and more painful/heavy periods. I stopped the pill a couple of years ago for 3 months, I was in pain, I developed a benign cyst (I’ve never had these before) and my periods were a bit abnormal. I visited the gyno and she said “the pill puts your ovaries to sleep..” so I went back on it. I now understand that doctors are encouraged to push the contraceptive pill, despite the heavily researched, horrid and common side effects. I did not know at the time that all these symptoms were most likely very temporary, and these were actually a normal withdrawal-like reaction my body was having. My body had to learn to have a proper menstrual period again, and the ability to ovulate. The effects these hormones have on a woman’s body is astounding, and very scary to say the least. Please do more research, my skin has cleared almost 50%, my excessive head/upper body sweating has stopped, I’m slowly returning to a normal weight range, my bipolar disorder has finally become completely manageable, I can sleep properly, I don’t crave unhealthy food, no more night sweats, I have hardly any inflammation and water retention anymore. The list goes on. Just my 2c Best of luck ❤️
@@bambirose7336You’re correct! I completely changed my stance on this after reading multiple books. I quit the pill for good in 2020 but unfortunately my body is still recovering and I’ve developed some new, undiagnosed chronic conditions. I’ve been struggling with severe fatigue, gut issues, sleep issues, etc. Oddly enough, my periods are the one thing that seem normal because I get one consistently every month. I’ve been tested for so many things but I’m still working with doctors to figure out what is going on. Thyroid is normal, no celiac disease, no cushings, and my blood work seems normal. I strongly believe that I wouldn’t be dealing with this if I didn’t sabotage my body by being on the pill for 10 years. It has been heartbreaking to deal with this with no end in sight. I realized I never even met the criteria for a PCOS diagnosis at 13, yet my 4:51 OB/GYN pushed the pill. My only symptom was irregular periods, but I learned that this is normal to experience during puberty. Hormone levels were normal and no sign of cysts on ultrasound. I encourage every woman to avoid the pill and utilize natural family planning instead. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
I told my doctor that something was wrong with me after getting it ( brain fog, anxiety, and increase blood pressure at 26 year old with normal BMI and healthy lifestyle). They try refer me as a psych patient for anxiety. I remove the contraceptive against his advice and it solve my problem. Sometimes doctor do not know how hormones contraceptive can alter physiology of body and we know our body best.
I’ve been off the pill since 2017. I was on it from 15 years old to 19 years. I’m autoimmune and western medicine failed me since I was diagnosed in 4th grade. My chiropractor actually suggested going off the pill, if I was comfortable with it. I went off and almost 2 weeks later I noticed an increase in libido, which remains to this day. My autoimmune disorder is also easier to manage, relative to hormones.
I was taking the pill for two weeks in my life and I stopped, it made me feel so suicidal. I'm not even interested in trying any other pill. One thing is, even though pill is supposed to be liberating, in a way it's the other way round, because all the guys almost EXPECT girls to take it. Every guy I've been with was pushing me to take it even if I explained I can't. I heard stories when refusal to take the pill was a cause of a breakup. I mean, it should be my choice whether I want to do this to my body (and mind) or not. And I hate the social pressure.
anabellik I have a boyfriend and he tells me its my decision if I take it or not. I also know many girls who were not pressured to take it. Not all guys expect girls to take it.
Right! Also, how is taking a pill every single day liberating for a girl. It’s like they have even more worries that men now. Men should be the ones taking precautions
When this causes a breakup, I honestly don't think that's the right partner then. This should be a negotiable subject, right? Because in the it is indeed your body and your right to choose what you want to do
I’m just terrified of blood clots and heart attacks and strokes. I know of two girls, one eighteen and one early twenties who both got anurisms. I’m terrified of it enough already.
I'm not on birth control pills, I still have blood clots I've been off off of them for about 10 years now, it still clots, but not like it used to. I actually have been transitioning to a cup, and have had less problems of clots. If the clots happen, because of blocked release, that's different than the blood being thicker during the process. Do your own research and experiments.
Zyelhsak you probably have a blood clotting disorder, I have one called MTHFR. I also miscarried a lot before having my daughters due to it. I was put on blood thinners in order to be able to carry full term. But blood clotting disorders can also cause random clots, varicose veins, clots in the umbilical cord or placenta during pregnancy.. it’s no joke. And it’s only worse if you have this and you’re on birth control, that’s why I had to get off of it too.
Kinda related: there's a ted talk called How to Make Stress Your Friend and it gives you mindblowing info to help reduce heart attacks! It's so easy it's crazy. She explains it better, but in a very quick explanation: seeing stress feelings as your body's solution and preparation for you to better handle that stress, versus as a negative that can kill you, allows your vessels to remain relaxed and literally prevent heart attacks. She sites studies! She also gives other life saving info, and it's genuinely entertaining 😄
I have been on birthcontrol since I was 15. Mainly changing from Dutch birth control to American birth control made my symptoms grow noticeable. Unfortunately, all websites and articles I read, mentioned that my specific bad symptoms would worsen getting off the pill. I finally found a doctor who told me otherwise. I have been off the pill for almost 4 months now and feel like a different person. The part in this video about cortisol really struck me, because I was going insane because of little stressors. Please do your research and also know there are so many kinds of birth control. The main components might be the same, but the way the pill is build up, will affect how your body absorbs it and how you react to it.
I’ve been on the birth control pill for almost 3 years. It helped significantly with my acne (though it got worse in the first 3 months before it got better), and I no longer experience painful periods. I’m more emotional in the sense that I cry over little things, but my mental health has stayed consistent and I see more benefits for myself on the pill than off at this stage in my life.
I feel WAY more emotionally unstable ON THE PILL. I even had Nexplanon* (the arm implant) and it made me cry and feel suspicious for the whole 6 weeks it was in my body. I had nightmares every night, and I bled constantly. When I went to the doctor to have it removed, they were furious that I hadnt "given it a chance", and recommended I leave it in AND take the pill. I refused, and when they cut it out, they found out it was wrapped in lots of scar tissue. My body was trying to block it off and protect myself. Since then I started BBT charting, cervical mucus charting, and using other natural birth control methods.
Desire Day by Day I am sorry you had to go through that. They should learn doctors on medical school that: every human body is unique and can respons differently ánd that a patient knows his/her own body best and gutfeeling is very important!
Yes! I had to stop taking the pill because all of a sudden I had high blood pressure& pressure in my head that I thought for sure was a stroke coming. But I have horrible eczema too & I found out that my allergies were playing a role. Hormone diet, allergy diet, & auto immune protocol diet are... basically the same diet. Everything in our bodies is connected like a fine tuned motor
Before i was put on the pill i had terrible acne which made me more depressed and mood swingy than the pill ever did. Plus, im still madly in love with my boyfriend but now i dont get panic attacks about being pregnant whenever my period is late. I have a 4 day period instead of a 9 days one. Yeah i get mood swings and maybe my libido took a small hit although it always has been higher than the average person so i think i just got balanced out. Id rather have a weird hormonal level than bowl my eyes out whenever i take a glimpse at the mirror because of how bad my acne was
Same I didn’t get my bleeding until like 3 days left of the placebo week because I missed a dose because I got sick on the second week of the active pill and took the pill while I was still feeling sick from the virus I had but took my pills in the pack every day after that I think it threw off my hormones. Bc I didn’t know that if you get something like the stomach bug and miss a dose that you were supposed to double up. Bc I’ve never had that happen before I’ve never gotten a servere sickness since I started taking the pill in 2017. I’m on the combination pills and that freaked me out because I take my pill every day at the exact same time. I bled irregular the last pack I’m hoping everything returns to normal the next cycle
I almost called my wedding off because of the wrong birth control pill. As soon as I went off it we feel deeply back in love - I'm so glad I figured it out before destroying our happy life together. Would like to reconnect the diaphragm or the copper coil as good alternatives
Some of y'all are unnecessarily rude over her use of the word "right." I'm sure you have quirks in your speech patterns that others find off-putting. It costs $0 to be nice.
I think what shes saying is true...I stopped taking two months ago. I've had crazy anxiety and low emotional responses for two years now and for the past two months, I have been slowly getting better...I don't think I'm taking birth control again after this. I already was leaning in that direction but now that I've seen this video I think that makes it official for me.
I hope this research leads to new pill formulas that mitigate these side effects. The pill is vital treatment for people with PCOS, PMDD, anemia, gender dysphoria, and even mental health conditions (I haven't seen a lot of research on it, but it certainly helped mine). And of course, it helps people who want to avoid pregnancy. Just like any medication, it can help or hurt people depending on their needs.
I would love to see what we can do with more non-hormonal options! The only long term option right now is the copper IUD and its a love or hate type of experience.
I got off the pill because it made me feel weird and "dulled" and when I told my doctors they all told me it was all in my head... Funny thing is, if you ask other women they would usually have the same experiences
Omg yes that was the reason I quit too! Definitely not in your head
Yep!
It’s warped that people trust governments and media more than themselves and their community. Good on you
Same situation here, felt like i was cut from my emotions, couldn't feel anything but sadness ( also constant nausea)
thes0mething same. I rely on Sensiplan now, because th pill just made me feel off
I'm on the birth control pill, and the fact I didn't know nearly any of this info 100% terrifies me
Let that be a lesson to you. Why would you put powerful chemicals into your body that you knew nothing about?
@@hacunamatata6802 my doctor talked with me about different things with the birth control pill I'm taking. However, this video gave more information. I didn't just blindly take these pills, I just feel like my doctor didn't give me all the information she should be obligated to tell me about the script she wrote me (especially because I was a minor when she first wrote it. It was for a bad hormonal imbalance which was affecting my social life and mental health)
@@flame_emerald Like the risk of stroke, or more along the lines of it changing what kind of man you're interested in?
@@Coid I was told about the weight gain and increased depression risk but she didn't tell me much else. I was a kid when the script was written for me initially so I didn't know what questions I needed to ask
@@Coid I'm interested in the same type of man I was prior to taking the pill. This is a case to case basis.
I need a video discussing why the side effects of the men's birth control were so terrible, but the horrible side effects of birth control in women are accepted, normalized, and standard. I hate needing to have menstrual regulation due to ovarian cysts. Otherwise I'd stay away completely from external hormones.
One of the big drawbacks to mens birth control is that while women birth control simulates a portion of their naturally occurring cycle to prevent ovulation mens birth control cannot do that. It is an entirely unnatural state for their hormones. Due to that they will likely have far more side effects than even women do.
@@plaidzebra13 The side effects on women are numerous, intense, and truly unbearable enough as it is. Mine ruined my life, and 6 years on I still have long term side effects.
There was one pill they made for men that was in testing; a few men in the test sample had..... Headaches, so they pulled it, just because of headaches.... Headaches are far from the worst side effects women have to suffer among the plethora of side effects. Yet it's normal for women to suffer these side effects.
Mi O have you looked into inositol supplements?
Keto diet. Regulate your hormones and get healthy, get rid of the cysts. Just try it , you won’t regret it
You should read beyond the pill by jolene brighten. Hormonal contraceptives do not "regulate" your cycle. They shut down your natural hormones and replace them with synthetic ones. There are some natural supplements that can help you fix your ovarian cyst problem. If I were you I would see a functional medicine doctor.
She wrote a book about this! It's called This is your Brain on Birth Control. It's super awesome and goes more into detail from her talk here! Truly worth reading.
Lauren Baker Cool! Thanks!
The talk was super awesome so I would have to assume that the book will have to be as well.
One the best talks, and the best speakers I've encountered lately.
Yes thanks!!
Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to check that out.
I have the book it’s definitely worth the read!!
Best thing a doctor told me: “ hormones don’t affect anything” and after a lot of push back when I asked for a hormone panel to be done he finally replied “I can order one for you but I don’t know how to read it”
Man. I wonder what awesome med school he went to!
Whoa!!
It’s sad that Women’s health really isn’t studied by the medical community.
I hope you got a new doctor. That's ridiculous!
hormones don't affect anything? I guess anti depressants don't work then. Doctors are not trained to make you healthy. They are government drug dealers. I don't know if you are Canadian but in Canada, unless you know you want a certain drug its pointless to go to the doctors. Their only answer to anything is pills or go see a paid specialist.
GP: Hormones don't affect anything.
Endocrinologist: 🤦♀️
I was on the pill for 3 years I wasn’t myself and had extremely high anxiety, to the point where I had horrible anxiety attacks daily. I had no self confidence and got monthly UTIs and yeast infections. Almost all my doctors told me that it’s all in my head. I stopped taking the pill last summer because I was extremely suicidal and at a breaking point. It’s been 7 months now and I almost feel like myself again. I wish scientists/doctors would listen to us and wouldn’t dismiss all our symptoms like we are just “crazy women”. I love the idea if birth control but A LOT has to change.
okay so... i also have recurrent UTIs... with no known origin... can you tell me about that? how are you linking that to the pill?
Katie Millikin I don’t know I’m neither a doctor or researcher but I would constantly get yeast infections and UTI’s while on the pill. I have been on and off birth control often enough to definitely pin point it to the pill. Have you tried D-mannose supplements? Life saver!!
I stopped taking BC back in June and haven’t had a single UTI since even though I had them almost every month before that. One progressed into a kidney infection in May which was very fun.....
How are you feeling now?
I take the pill because of endometriosis, it’s a need for me. The thing is that I have the same symptoms as you and I one year I had UTI like 5 times. Looked for it on the internet if it had anything to do with the pill and everywhere I looked it said that it was linked. When I went to the gynecologist that prescribed the pill to me and asked him he said that the pill has nothing to do with UTI. Also, I’ve never had it before the pill.
I was crazy off the pill and had horrible PMS symptoms and emotional changes. Now that I've been taking the combination pill for three years in a row, I have much more level headed thinking and not nearly as emotional. I know it can have the opposite effect on others though.
It scares me that I've been on hormones for 11 years, and don't truly know my unmedicated self.
Same. I started at 12 and am now 18, so I've been taking them for most of my developmental years. I am quite worried now
Started at 16 and took it til 28. My body still struggles to regulate the hormones properly after three years without it. A couple of friends have had blood clogs, one even in the lung. I think, the long-term negative effects of the pill are underestimated and down-played.
Get off it, i was on it for 11 years as well and i feel better being off it for 3 years now. Get a non hormonal kind like a diaphragm
Same. Had been on the pill for 5 years, then mirena for 5 years. Now I’ve been of birth control for 2 months, because I wanted to know how my unmedicated self was. And so far, it has been a lot better, less stress, less angry, way less depressed and more emotionally stable. Still waiting for my hormones to regulate themselves more, but so far it’s so worth it.
Mi O I was on for 9 years. Just got off in May. You will feel a huge shift in your self
I’m happy this is being addressed, my mental health disimproved dramatically when I took the pill. I was extremely anxious every day and I would cry constantly. I’m so happy I’m off of it now, I wish I would have been warned about the effects
worsened?
For some people it improves mood, which is why the pill is also used for PMS/PMD.
I had a negative reaction to the pill too. I already had mental health issues and was under a lot of stress at the time. I don't recommend it if you already suffer from mental illness unless you absolutely need it.
I was suicidal on it. I dont suffer with this anymore and never had before
When I was on estrogen and progesterone pills I ended up on anti depressants. I realized this and change to a progesterone only pill, and now im off anti depressants, and my period completely stopped. Which is great because I take it for periods so bad that get sick and have to stay home.
She's not pro or anti bcp, just informative.
yeah... we cant ignore the side effects: they're many. MANY.
I’ve been looking for more of this type of research for awhile now and am so happy this is being made more public. I’ve been off the pill for almost a year now (after being on it for about a decade) and my mental health has improved so much because of it. My anxiety has become bearable again and my panic attacks almost nonexistent now. Funny part is that awhile ago I spoke with two separate doctors about the possibility of the pill making my anxiety worse and they both said they had never heard anything in regards to that. Then 6 months ago at a bachelorette party weekend the group I was with got onto the same subject, and guess what? Two of the women I spoke with had to also discontinue the pill for mental health reasons after also having been on the pill for years.
Harmony Alexandria HBC usually lessens the severity of PMS or PMDD (the only mood disorder reported to benefit from HBC) symptoms for obvious reasons. In fact, new research and case studies have shown that HBC can worsen or even trigger anxiety and mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.
@@lauren23160 Can you tell me which kind of hormones your pill contained? There are some differences and apparently I am on a "mild" version of the pill. Just interested in what your kind was.
Harmony Alexandria Don’t be throwing out opinions like they are facts, please. Bipolar disorder mixed with birth control is not fun.
Same story here
I’m so relieved someone else said this because I went to my physician assistant several times within a year saying something was wrong with my hormones. We did several tests for my thryroid but nothing came up. Instead she convinced the doctor in the office that I was just depressed so they sent me to a guy to talk to about issues (not a real licensed psychologist) and he diagnosed me with seasonal depression. It didn’t go away and I used to be so happy when I was younger my friends and classmates thought I was crazy with joy. Anyway, I realized that taking the bcp inconsistently really messes up my body and brain.
I wanted to watch this this video because I never had prolonged anxiety or depression. It wasn’t like me. Only until a month ago when I stopped taking the pill did I feel joy for a fleeting 2 minutes. The first time in 3 years. I just want to know how long it’ll be until I can feel like myself again.
I got off the pill 4 months ago after being on it for almost 7 years. It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made! I didn’t realize how different the pill made me feel mentally and emotionally until I stopped taking it. I feel like a whole new person, and even people close to me say the same thing. Please ladies, do your research ❤️ I recommend Dr. Jolene Brightens book Beyond the Pill.
Girl same, I have immense anxiety and I STILL feel so much better and more vibrant off the pill. It’s great that it works for some women but a lot of people at risk for negative side effects are being completely ignored by medical professionals! imo
Same for me, I just came off microgynon this month after 11 years and I already feel like a brighter, more steady version of myself!
Exactly. I got off the pill after taking it for 6 years. I had bouts of panic attacks and anxiety during the years I was taking it. It was the best decision I had this pandemic. I believe that the pill has something to do with my sanity😅
Congrats! I too just recently got off the pill after being on it for 6 years. If you don't mind me asking, did you experience any symptoms like acne or irregular periods for a bit after stopping the pill?
Well who would expect, that messing with hormones will change people. Great talk, I am happy the subject is being studied.
I appreciate her not being biased at all and just giving out straight data and fact. I like that she mentioned that although it has side effects it’s still good for certain people who have certain conditions and that she talked about using it herself.
The pill gave me migraines. Thought i would be living with the headaches forever, but as soon as i went off the pill they stopped.
mintsaturn I had a similar experience. Turns out it was the estrogen that was effecting me. I ended up having to go in progesterone only type bc
While i was on the pill i was getting migraines at the same time every month, seemingly lining up with a certain color of pill in the pack. These migraines were the worst migraines I've ever experienced, complete with vomiting and shaking uncontrollably. I stopped taking birth control and i haven't had one of those migraines since!
I got a seafood allergy after starting the pill lmao
@@isabellasims1346 you know for a while i got sick whenever i ate shellfish but i ate a bunch of shrimp over the holiday and i was fine... Wonder if it was related
Same. I was told by my practitioner to take magnesium supplements during the placebo pills to help with the headaches 🤷🏼♀️
I want to see a conversation about the dangers of giving birth control to teenage girls. How come no one is talking about this?
I have to take the pill so I won't have another cyst. I lost one of my ovaries. I do not want to loose my other one.
@@HeyHello-nq4nb you don't HAVE to. There are safer alternatives. You don't have to take fake hormones. Not good
There's is no danger of birth control pills on teenagers
@Hey. Hello okay??? No one's talking about YOU specifically 🙄
@@xxromanovaxx6682 her point is valid though. Some girls benefit more from taking the pill. There are a ton of reasons a girl or woman may need to be on birth control
I've never took the pill until I was 20. It works wonders on my depression and anxiety, my confidence grows, my brain fog fades. I'm less of a mess in general. Everyone is different, but yes. There is no way anyone can say that there isn't a link between the pill and the brain.
Amy Ivany I’m experiencing the same effects. I love how I don’t feel anxious and I have more confidence in my self. I feel more put together mentally.
Same here, some people have different reactions but for me it was only helpful, I had 0libido for a year after I left my partner and only the pill helped me with anxiety and libido
I'm in the same case but the exact oposit effect, I was doing great and now I'm a mess. I think every woman have to find the right amount of hormones for her 🤷♀️
That's so crazy, im experiencing the exact opposite. :( Ive become forgetful, depressed and more anxious.
@Amy , which birth control pill did you take?
FINALLY THIS INFORMATION!!!! My doctor wants me to go on the pill to help control my mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, but I asked her to do a blood test on me to see if my progesterone level is infact too low, which from my own research I think it is, but she refused as they only “test progesterone levels of women that want to get pregnant” because my daily life as a single woman is LESS IMPORTANT than producing MORE HUMANS on a planet already bursting at the seams with humans. Then she continues to push the pill on me saying it will help but was unable to tell me exactly what it does to my brain and body. I would rather “be crazy” every 6 weeks rather than loose the function to know I should run away from a lion.
Though if your progesterone levels are low they are just going to prescribe the pill anyway because that’s what’s in it
Hey hun there are progesterone pills!
@@eglantinelicorne9535 that’s literally the same thing and insurance probably want cover it while BC is covered
@@christenmclaughlin8476 completely untrue. Coming off birth control my body has been struggling to regulate my hormones and I have low progesterone. My doc is having me take vitex and if that doesn't work, we will add/try a progesterone cream. At no point has going on another pill been suggested to me as she knows I'm furious how much damage it already did to me.
I had a lazy doc who wouldn't do a hormone test too. That is absolutely untrue......I have been struggling since coming off the pill and I found a better provider who ordered the DUTCH test for me. I found out I'm too low in progesterone compared to estrogen.
This is my third day being off my combination birth control pills after 6 years. I got off of them due to migraines, and these past few days have been a real eye opener to all the symptoms I faced during those 6 years
What was your symptoms?
As someone who is struggling very much with anxiety and sadness since starting the pill, this was incredibly interesting to hear. I feel validated. Going to talk to my doctor about coming off of it for now.
this is the type of info they need to teach in schools. not to scare girls, but to inform them of risks with each birth control option
I'm 27 and I've been taking the generic form of Yaz for about 4 months now and my doctor said it would clear my acne. Well it hasn't. But it has drastically reduced my anxiety and depression. I deal with complex PTSD and ocd because of childhood trauma and since I've been on the pill I function way better. The body is complicated and strange
rainepanda I also take a generic form of Yaz (Nikki). It’s the only BCP that doesn’t make me crazy.
Same, Yaz exactly helped my anxiety and depression.
For me it was the other way around: I became sooo down while taking the pill I really had to quit it.
Man I wish that’s what taking yaz did for me!
@@brittanycsoke everyone has different needs
Sara Hill was a guest speaker in my class and talked a lot more about birth control than what's said in this ted talk. She explained how these hormones are shown to decrease the size of the hippocampus and reduce memory and learning ability. She said we don't know if that changes once the person comes off the pill, but in clinical tests women were shown to score lower on memory and learning skills than their non birth control counter parts!
I became depressed and felt very little emotion, no highs or lows. It took me a year to figure out that my switch in birth control pill was the reason.
Claire Johnston what was the switch from and to?
@@xcodebeex I was on tri-cyclen LO and switched to an IUD. I have had a much better experience with my IUD. I don't think I could go back to the pill.
As a woman,and a medical student,I admit I was only aware of the most obvious consequences of hormonal changes,this talk opened my eyes to a lot more,thank you.
We need to talk about this more! I was on the pill for a few months and it drastically deteriorated my mental health. I was crying all the time, was upset and anxious. I had a large suspicion it was the pill despite there being events in my life that were making me upset at the time so I decided to stop taking it. After I stopped I felt so much better and more stable. Almost all women I speak to have experiences like this, so why do doctors not mention this to you?
cheeseristical I agree! I’ve tried a few methods of birth control. One made me anxious and my skin erupted in tiny bumps. Another one gave me serious migraines, and another one made me feel as if I was constantly pms’ing. I stopped all of them. The copper IUD is the only one I kept for a few years.
cheeseristical they'd rather you mentally unstable so they can charge you more money for psychotropic drugs
Hormonal birth control made my life so difficult from age 16-23. It was like PMS 24/7/365. Always on edge. When I stopped taking it, it was like a veil lifted. I could suddenly control anger impulsively and was just down right not nearly as angry period, and my sec drive came much more naturally. No one. NO ONE, can tell me that birth control can't alter your brain.
My (female) Doctor was so great. When I went to her with complaints of increased anxiety from the pill she listened, explained and validated this to me. Then I switched to an IUD and have been doing great since. Sad to see so many woman are ignored when they ask about the negative side effects of the pill.
I've been on the pill for a bit over a month now and I've had anxiety attacks almost every day for the last couple weeks. I haven't had these attacks since high school, which was 3 years ago. I'm stopping taking the pill because I can only see this issue becoming more drastic in the future. I just hope others do their research before starting birth control.
To share: my body did not do well on birth control. Different types of birth control made my body react in different ways. I just want to encourage everyone to listen to their bodies and minds to make the safest decision for themselves. Please continue to do research.
I had psychological issues in the past and needed medication for it. My psychiatrist was very good at asking about which birth control method I was using, telling me which interactions / side effects the medications could have and asking me to discuss my psychopharmacology choices with my obgyn as well. Was very interesting that he had such insight into how everything works together. Wound up coming off the pill in the end.
Hope more people can have the luck of consulting such a good doctor
When she said “if anyone has capricious hormones, it’s men” all the men in the audience be sitting there mad because she really just preached the truth.
Not all of the men in the audience looked or felt mad - a lot of them were smiling or snickering! Check it out at 5:30.
it’s just kinda a funny fact, who’d be mad
the capricious hormones are what made them mad
Women have T too.
@@pheonixrises11 It's also incredibly misleading. Swings in testosterone in men are miniscule compared to estrogen swings in women. Just because it happens more frequently doesn't make it have the same effect.
I was aware that the pill changes my libido, but I've never heard of the pill possibly surpressing the release of cortisol. I've had a really stressfull year. And this news about cortisol and the pill really gets me thinking. Would I have been able to deal with this in a better way, had I not been on the pill?
I mean, I really enjoy the benefits the pill brings me. And I still would choose it over any other contraceptive. But still...
At the same time, long term elevated cortisol levels itself has so many negative effects on the body. (Suppressed immune system, increased risk of diabetes, can contribute to unhealthy weight gain, impede wound healing, weaken bones and connective tissues... People I work w/ who have had to take cortisol-analogue meds for a long time have paperthin skin that rips easily and takes ages of careful wound care to heal...)
What does it really mean then for your health to have a blunted cortisol response, long term, then? Confusing to say the least.
@@Suzanne4415 Yeah, you're right. Confusing is the best way to put it.
How Does this make sense if i have lower cortisol when im on the pol?
U decrease
D Ur libido?
I'd been on pills for 11 years, with short breaks in between. I've experienced each symptom that she mentions here, also significant worsening of depression symptoms in my case. Only after many years I associated my condition with taking pills. I wish it hadn't taken that much time, but no doctor ever mentioned those brain-related side effects. On one hand I'm glad that I had this protection and control, while at the same time, probably it was the worst thing I ever did to my mind and body. This is so important to talk about this and keep searching for better solutions!
I chose to look after contraception and not have my wife take the pill. I'm very glad I decided to do that!
Birth control improved my life so much. It's wild how every human is different.
The fact that I didn't know any of this despite researching the pill before going on it. This is my second day being off the pill after only a month and a half of being on it and I immediately felt better. I was in such a good mood when it was not a good day, my emotions were stable, I wasn't getting random panic attacks. While on the pill I wanted to cry all the time for no apparent reason and didn't make the connection it was the pill until couple of my friends said it did the same thing to her, yet none of these side effects were listed on any med site.
I do regret birth control. I felt like a completely different person. I really wish i knew more at the time
K C same girl
Me too! I stopped it 7 years ago, I’m a different and better person! Now I can feel things I couldn’t before
Same. I took them for 2 years for my endometriosis.
I do feel different. I wonder if it made me not be able to feel love towards anything? Idk if that was something other women felt
@@nq3526 that’s sort of what I’m feeling now, on the pill. How long until you felt better off of them?
So good! Yes! Wish I'd avoided the pill altogether. So much damage to my body.
Can we all please appreciate most of the men's faces at 5:30 when they are told that they are the ones with unpredictable hormones compared to all the women cheering 😂
Appreciated
😂😂😂
Omg lol how did I miss that 😂
I love it.
She needed to have a dig at men before she unloaded what she had to say.
Got off the pill. Now have an IUD. It’s made an absolute world of difference. I seriously feel like I lost the years between 19 and 25 because of the hormones. I was so foggy and anxious.
I'm so grateful for this! I've spend more than over a decade to try and convince several male and female doctors my mental health was severely influenced by the birth control pill (in my puberty) and my IUD later on in life. After my second IUD my hormones got so out of balance, that it triggered my first "depression" I don't like to call it that, however. I call this: hormonal unbalanced.
I felt with my whole body, mind and soul this was linked directly to hormonal birth control but like I said, nobody listened to me or took it seriously because I'm just a woman right? oh and without a phd or whatsoever to back me up. Just common sense.
But I listened to my body and this is exactly what my body told me. And finally I have the 'evidence' to back up my theories about hormonal influence on the brain and our emotions. This is great.
It’s not because you’re “just a woman”….it’s because there is a vested and industrial scale interest in keeping people depressed, anxious, medicated, sterile, and just in general mentally stressed. My daughter wants to get on this stuff and hates me because I don’t think it will be good for her hormones…she says “what do you know, your just a white male!”
Sorry that happened. But you opted to pump your body with fake hormones, so of course your body will be out of wack. You live and you learn
How long after the depression started did it go away? I developed depression out of the blue after quitting the pill
I've been on the pill for about 19 years. Always felt normal and it cured my acne. I'll edit this post after i've watched the video.
Edit: Still loved the pill.
Which pill did you take? Was it combination?
@@drikusconradie2758 yes
If you were on it for 19 years... was it just 2 decades of time, or the drug that cleared your acne?
As much as this is rather concerning, the hormone shifts that happen to some women can be detrimental to their mental health. I suffer from PMS so horrible it is full scale depressive episodes, an emotional roller coaster that always leaves me despairing and debilitated. The birth control offers you the opportunity to skip periods altogether, ultimately saving many women from full on mental crises ever single month. As much as this information is valuable, I'm never going to stop taking it.
Really interesting POV thank you for sharing!
I support you and understand you. What you are discribing is not PMS, it’s called pre menstrual dysphoric disorder, PMDD, and it is debilitating indeed. Please take care of yourself. Not sure which of the 2 necessary evils is better though: ssri’s or bcp? What do you think?
Just curious, have you tried anything natural to help with those symptoms? Seen a naturopath? Tried yoga or meditation? I used to have bad pms and I lost weight, since losing weight I haven’t had it bad at all. Also, maybe diet change in general could help? Pharmaceuticals scare me, it’s all corrupt! Just some thoughts, I am not judging at all. I get worried for anyone who takes pharmaceuticals :(
I had the same issues with pms and some other hormonal issues as well, then my doctor told me about some new research that had connected some of these issues to insulin resistance. I had my blood work done, and it turns out i was pre diabetic and had pcos. I wasnt even overweight or anything, but i did have a lot of sugar, especially from sodas and coffee. Ive since followed the american heart Associations recommended 25g or less of added sugar per day and switched to using splenda in my coffee, and all of my symptoms have been gone for a year now. Im no longer insulin resistant, my periods are normal, and i havent had depression. Plus the best part, i lost 15lbs. Im not saying go off bc by any means, but try cutting sugar out for a month and see how you feel.
Elaine Always I agree. The pill stopped me from getting full-fledged endometriosis and I can actually function for the week of my period. Currently, I use it for “birth control” but I have been on it since I was 17 and won’t go off until I want to have a baby. I have had nothing but good come out of taking the pills.
I am also a Registered Nurse and have done the research. This woman isn’t out to lunch, but there’s a lot of reasons why people take the pill. I haven’t personally experienced anything negative from it and have been on it for like 14 years
Got to admit if I was a woman I wouldn't be comfortable with the idea of taking the pill.
Most women aren't thrilled to go on the pill. It's a necessary step to take unless you want to be a stay-at-home mum and start having kids young. Or to manage other symptoms like heavy and/or painful periods etc
@@jfb919 Agree.
@liz t yeah my bio teacher in highschool told me that 2 years ago. He said the industry was very sexist
@@jfb919 amen. Like why bother with this study. I know if don't want babies, I need the pill. Men never take the burden of pregnancy. Also, pill had benefits me of stopping bleeding for half the month. The bc pill still greatest invention to me. Never want babies & men make a fuss once in committed relationship about condoms. I'll take the pill. Not being pregnant more important than side effects. Doc told me it decreases cervical cancer. Some just making stuff up on here about side effects.
birch tree I was excited to go on the pill. It has given me almost complete control over my reproductive organs including if and when I want my period to come. No more 9+ day periods with at least half those days being heavy days. I have intentionally not had a period in over 6 months and until I start having kids, it will remain that way and once I’m done having kids I will go back on the pill 24/7/365 unless I can eventually get all my reproductive organs taken out. I HATE PERIODS!!!
She looks like an older version of Taylor Swift
I was just about to say!
THIS!! The pill is so important to a lot of women at certain points in our lives, but it's extremely important that we talk about the negative sides to it as well and what it's doing to our bodies & brains. I felt like I was going crazy with all the symptoms I had as I reached being on it for 6 years. In my experience, doctors aren't completely open about it either, and I wasn't aware that the pill could cause this much "damage". I was always able to handle stress well, but while on the pill I found myself extremely short circuited and wasn't able to handle stress at all and had a hard time regulating my emotions. I also felt extreme anxiety over situations that I couldn't shake, and had a low self esteem. I felt very unmotivated a lot of the time, and EXTREMELY ravenously hungry, to the point where I thought I was possibly pregnant multiple times. I won't even get into the physical symptoms I was having but after watching many videos on it and listening to other women's experiences, I feel so seen and so heard. I've been off of it for only 2 weeks now and have seen major improvements already. The constant hunger diminished immediately and I can't wait to finally feel like myself again.
I loved this talk. It provided a new perspective on the effects of birth control. I took some form of birth control almost non-stop from the time I was 14 until I was 27. I thought it would help my acne and mood, but now I'm guessing all it really did was hold me back in life, because it didn't improve anything. At least it helped me stay child-free, but now I worry it's done irreversible damage. I'm now 31, so I've been off it for 4 years, but now I wonder if I would be someone different, someone better, if I'd never taken it in the first place.
What kind of permanent damage?
The pill made me horribly depressed and anxious. I tired 3 different kinds (took one for about a week, the next for 3 years, the next for 2 years). Struggled with a deep, deep depression the whole time unaware of what was causing it since a lot of life changing things had been happening as well. I had an insurance lapse and was unable to pick up my prescription for 2 weeks and suddenly I was cured. It was such a relief to not feel that depression anymore. I will never use it again. My anxiety levels are better too.
So you’d say it took about 2 weeks to feel better? I’m experiencing the same
As a man i can say we get just as emotional as women. whether we are man or woman we are all emotional beings. The goal should always be mastery over one's self be that man or woman
Careful might get got by the left-ted. Lol you are very right though.
She recognizes it, just watch
@@MrItachi114 ha yea i hear you. but like the quote goes "all values must be fought for" we won't all agree everytime
We just express them and deal with them differently than women, on average. Something humans have known for a few millennia.
I used to think like that too, but then the emotions would just come out in weird random ways. There has to be a healthy outlet. Most people use exercise, but it's also important to just let people know how you're feeling every once in a while.
So what I learned is that I have naturally low estrogen levels because I’ve always been more attracted to pretty boys lol
Ah Lee Nah same lol..
Me too. But I couldn't have been too bad as I feel pregnant very easily.
Pretty boys can be masculine too.
OK that came out a bit pervy.
@@wildhrushka no it's not pervy and I don't think accusing women who like "pretty boys" as having low estrogen is right. Id like to see research on it. And even if there is, that doesn't make more feminine-looking men undeserving of a woman's love, or the right to their own "masculinity"
@@gracefry9637 It was a joke but I see your point - I could have put it in better words. I assume the speaker did the research before she said it on the ted-talk, and to be accurate she said low estrogen leads to certain preference (and not that liking gentle men points to low estrogen), It wasn't an accusation tough. And NO ONE said "pretty-boys" are "faminine-looking" or undeserving (and anyone who does say that should be shot - everyone deserve to be loved). If anything, I can happily say that these day, no one can really say who's looking more "femenine" and which are more attractive - because it's so fluid and individual - to each his own.
PS: I'm not on the pill and I loove pretty boys. So there, everyone's happy.
My rule is: every form of medication has side effects so take them only if your life depends on it, or if it improves symptoms of a condition you may have.
This
My sister and I both figured out the attraction element on our own. We both found ourselves more attracted to kinder men, who may have seemed like they would be good dads, on the pill. And off the pill attracted to more fit and larger men. And actually, being in relationships while on the pill, finding ourselves no longer attracted to our boyfriends once going off the pill.
I was wondering about this sort of thing.
So in other words you weren’t attracted to your nice, reliable partners while off the pill? You were then attracted to masculine assholes🤔
warren n/a why do fit and larger men have to be assholes?
Kristina Generally because it relates to higher levels of testosterone 🤷🏼♀️
Codie Thompson According to some blood-analysis, I have an unhealthy amount of testosterone in my body, but I’ll be damned if I don’t bawl my eyes out at the movie Coco. Not all big dudes are douchebags
The saddest question I have: How many divorces have been caused by women being on the pill, being attracted to someone, then going off the pill after getting married and no longer finding their partner attractive?
Wow good question
I’ve wondered this too because i got married while on the pill, been married almost 2 years and been off of the pill for about a month. I still find him attractive though but hopefully that won’t change!
I’m going to go with 0, I find it almost offensive to imply women are so weak minded we don’t even know what men we are attracted too/can’t pick life partners. Met my husband on the pill, changed BCs multiple times and am now on nothing, no change
The pill doesn't result in divorces
@@toomanysandwiches8665 It surely can if weaponized in a similar manner that OP described. You’d be surprised in this day and age.
she reminds me of Toni Colette
I'm about to start taking the pill & this is the video YT recommends me. Should I mention my doctor didn't even feel like discussing any negative effects the pill might give me? She didn't even ask me about the state of my mental health, just prescribed it.
What she said was completely true for me. I went off birth control for a couple years and I didnt realize how much I had changed while on it. On birth control everything was muted and felt like grayscale. Off birth control life felt vibrant and colorful. For me birth control pushed my emotions into a little box and I felt like I was watching life happen to me. That being said I went back on it because my cramps stopped responding to pain medicine :(
If you're struggling with painful or intense periods, have a look at Alissa Vitti's work and her book "In the Flo." Lifestyle and diet choices can have an impact on your cramps, for example, caffeine from coffee is bad for women.
I’ve listened to over 100 Ted Talks and this is top 5 for sure
I take birth control, I haven't had any negative side effects. I also had a great doctor that informed me about all side effects. It's sad that this out of the norm. The pill can influence so much in the body it's insane.
I had the WORST mood swings on birth control.
They were so extreme I’d have these huge rage fits and be calm next minute, it also made me so depressed, I had absolutely no libido. After a year of being on birth control I started throwing up every day in the morning like clock work. I talked to 3 doctors about it and they all told me that it had nothing to do with the birth control. I stopped taking birth control just to experiment and see if it truly was the birth control making me sick like I thought. As soon as I stopped the birth control I stopped uncontrollably vomiting. Getting off of Birth control was the best decision I ever made.
I'm now a year on Yazz plus and something weirdly is happening to me..not good at all
It tricks your brain to think that you are pregnant so no eggs are released. No wonder yoy had morning sickness...
Is it weird that when I got on the pill 3 years ago I lost weight, started taking control of my mental health by going to therapy (and have since ceased going), and got a very masculine boyfriend?
Same!
It's not weird. All bodies are different
Not all pills are the same 🤷♀️ but happy to hear your doing well 😊
No not weird you could have had a mild form of PMDD. The pill will reverse that.
What pill are you on? I have only tried three out n the past 6 yrs
I've been dealing with irregular periods, horrible pain, acne and depression since I first started menstruating. Tests revealed that at 21 I had the estrogen and progesteron levels of a premenopausal woman. Been on the pill 3 months, no pain, more self confidence, quit smoking.
Sometimes birth control just masks our symptoms and doesn't help us in the long term. That was my issue and have finally been diagnosed with PCOS, something that I can reverse naturally and improve my symptoms with supporting my body to produce the hormones I need.
Never been able to take it. it's so frustrating. Has effected my life greatly. Thank you for bringing up this.
I used to be on the pill but I stopped taking it 2 years ago because I suspected that it negatively impacted my emotional state. Not sure how much it really did impact me (because to truly know i'd have to control for a lot of other factors) but I'm glad that I decided to stop taking it
I wish she gave an alternative at the end aside from just saying “here’s all the bad things about birth control, um keep taking it if you don’t want to get pregnant, bye.”
Natural Cycles. FDA approved 98% effective if used properly & it just requires you to take your temperature everyday & record it.
@@jessicaschwerdtfeger9115 actually the CDC states that fertility awareness based methods, ie natural cycles, are only 24% effective
@@kathyd_413 it's simply cause they also count the "methods" which are not methods - just guessing :) with observation/ temperature it's 97 or 98% :)
It makes sense that you won't get pregnant when your not ovulating. It's not possible. Knowing your body is a good thing.
Also, planned parenthood has a pretty informative page about different methods of birth control, with the ability to sort by less/no hormone methods. Their data for natural cycles method has it around 76-88% effective
I find that i have the complete opposite experience with the birth control pill here. I started taking it for irregular periods at 16 but I soon found that my acne cleared and I wasn’t a sobbing hormonal mess around that time of the month. Not only this but I wasn’t soaking through maxi-pads every two hours or dealing with excruciating cramps. Earlier this year I was unable to get my pills on time & couldn’t get them until a month later. Worst pain of my life, I couldn’t believe I dealt with that for so long before getting on the pill.
Lex ClemityClemClemmersons I had almost the exact same experience! It worked wonders for me.
It has the same effects on me, but all her points still stand. It also disappears your libido and makes you choose partners you later regret, and it mentally feels a lot like an anti-depressant- which for me is a bad thing :/
same! i love my pill. i had very debilitating periods before and taking the pill made my period lighter, shorter, and i get a lot less cramps. i used to have cystic acne which went away as well
You have endometriosis.
@@lillipearse5579 no it doesn't. The pill doesn't affect your choice in mates
“Women shouldn’t be able to hold important jobs.. because our cyclicly changing hormones made us completely irrational.”
As if men are rational. 😀😉
I laughed out loud when she said that testosterone is the real issue here. If that ain’t the truth!
My only issue with this and a few other things she said in the beginning is that I have NEVER heard anyone actually say that unless they were mocking the idea of it. Ever. Not an actual person I know or anything. And I'm 50.
Christine Kitson I haven’t either - directly. What I have heard is women’s emotions being blamed by others on ‘that time of the month,’ people saying they prefer male bosses because they are less emotional, and the term ‘hysterical’ only applied to women.
Rubyet Stirling men don’t have to deal with estrogen. Men think logically and not emotionally like woman whether you deny it or not.
Yes you are irrational and emotional
This talk is so great! Finally, someone is talking and researching about this topic!
Getting off the pill and switching to condoms is the best thing my bf and I did. Condoms are really not bad as they are made up to be
AND they've found that a shot of cortisol (stress hormone) after something traumatic can actually lessen the odds of getting PTSD.
The human brain is very odd. But cool!
That's very interesting.
Short bursts of cortisol = good, but prolonged increased cortisol levels = bad
It’s like a vaccine
Do people inject cortisol or are you only referring to the brain?
I believe in saving myself til marriage, but I’ve been taking the pill since I was 14 so that I can function again the horrible pain I have from endometriosis. It’s awful. If there are side effects to the pill then there’s literally nothing I can do about it, cuz having a period regularly will ruin my reproductive system and cover it with scars so that it’d be hard to have children in the future, so ironically, I need to take the pill in order to get pregnant one day... I only have a period like once or twice a year usually
I’m in the same boat but have been thinking about the marina iud instead, which also helps the symptoms but send hormones straight to your uterus instead of your entire body
what actually are you saving? It sounds really ridicilouse, sorry.
Evi Ozyra when a woman has endometriosis every period she has causes scaring on her reproductive organs that it isn’t supposed to. If you skip a certain row of the pills and take it all the way through you can stop having a period for as long as you do that. That prevents the scaring and fertility issues.
I believe what she is saying doesn't apply to women with irregular periods ..she is talking about women with regular cycles ..when they take the pill the normal cycle is disrupted..on the other side women with irregular period when they take the pill..their cycle becomes more natural
You may look into the book Woman Code, it's super interesting and has helped me get my hormones leveled out so much. The author cured her own Endo by studying the endocrine system and the book teaches how you can do the same by holistically balance your hormones.
Also, kudos for waiting til marriage - it's not easy but it's worth it! :)
I've always been terrified of birth control, since I track my hormones and cycle, and knew it would be like that. Here I am, 29 years old, 4 weeks into the depo shot (first time on birth control) and it was everything I thought it would be. Thank you for affirming me. My estrogen is very low right now.
I hope you are not on it anymore! Frankly I'm not clear why it's still on the market with all of its side effects.
I've never taken the pill. Ever. Just used condoms. Never got pregnant. I knew intuitively the pill was bad news. This talk confirmed it, but many women gave me anecdotal evidence throughout the years.
Listen to your intuition. I'm glad I did.
Whenever I mentioned that birth control was affecting me I was blown off. My mood changed, weight was more difficult to control, my skin changed to the point where I'm still embarrassed of my face to this day. I use older photos for profile pictures or put nothing at all. I thought I was crazy, but I'm not. I'm trying to get back to a healthy place. It is difficult.
And we give this to girls/woman who’s brains are still growing?? Madness
Calleen kent I didn’t even think about that. There are girls who get on the pill as soon as their period comes and don’t even give their body a chance to regulate itself or give themselves a chance to understand what normal for their body feels like.
i started “young,” but it was in an attempt to help regulate my terrible acne. not sure which decision is the best, and i think it varies from person to person/situation, but there has to be tweakage or other alternatives to introducing these hormones/chemicals to young women.
S P that definitely makes sense especially when birth control is seen as kind of a ”catch all” for women’s body issues. There needs to be some more alternatives brought out to the market for that kind of thing. I know things like acutane may not be for everyone with bad acne as well so it’s definitely understandable to use what is best available to us.
Hiccups this is not the video or thread to become defensive. This is a bunch of women speaking on their experiences and yours is valid but it’s no reason to make the conversation hostile. With kindness you may be able to change someone’s mind or bring a new perspective to the table, it’s hard for others to be receptive when that’s not present.
I started pretty young because my period dissapeared for a year and whenever I get off the pill it never comes back. There are people that need that option because not taking it is actually worse for them. But I think all this information must be told to the patient.
I recently came off nexplanon because it made me have the worst anxiety I have ever had. The doctor said I had trapped stress and anxiety and its birth control that was making it worse. Its been 2 days since removal and I am starting to feel like myself again.
My freshman year at Humboldt State the psychology department was doing a research study on birth control and women’s feelings particularly jealousy. According to the study the women on birth control were a lot less jealous than the ones that were not. They also were found to be not as sensitive and didn’t fuser and things as cheating whereas the ones off birth control. Just thought it would be something interesting to add. Also waking is not a direct side effect of birth control but increase of appetite is. I can’t wait till they make male birth control.
That’ll be interesting.
I wonder if being less jealous on bc is due to the emotional dulling some women have while taking bc?
Either way, I'd rather be able to handle stress better than be less jealous, seeing that there's more in life that stresses me out than makes me jealous
I found it the exact opposite for myself
So being cheated on and being less fussy is a good or bad thing? Not sure what you're trying to say there. Having self respect and leaving a cheater and having the confidence to do so is a good thing in my opinion...
Erica Goff it’s literally just a study. Had nothing to do with opinions, not even mine :D good day
curious to know if her points only apply the the standard “the pill” which is both estrogen and progesterone or if this applies to the mini pill which is only progesterone. the various pills types make this an interesting topic, and i wonder if there are different things to consider depending on hormone levels per pill
I use to work as a medical assistant at a OB/GYN office. I had so many women come in to get the IDU. I had a patient come in cursing like crazy because her IUD went missing inside of her. She was so upset as she should have been. The doctor had to remove the IUD using a ultrasound in the hospital. It was not a procedure that was able to be done in the office. All of the forms of birth control have bad side effects.
In terms of the mental health aspect, I can confirm this applies to both. I was on the mini pill (Cerelle) for just over a year and mood swings and anxiety were both heightened, especially around my period. So, although I had no bleeding, I was still getting the emotional symptoms except they were even more heightened than before. In my experience, this wasn't very noticeable to begin with, but gradually got worse over time. I've now been off Cerelle for nearly two months and I'm already seeing a difference.
That being said, the mini pill does have less side effects compared to the combined pill, especially as I believe it's estrogen that has been linked to high blood pressure, blood clots etc. Like the combined though, it does affect each woman differently.
Came here to say that. I've been on the progesterone only one and my period stays relatively the same so I wonder what it's doing to my brain. But I do notice slightly more anxiety on the pill also.
Birth control literally blocks your body’s ability to ovulate which is a natural body function that indicates health. So it doesn’t matter what type of hormonal contraceptive you use, it leads to the same thing. Blocked natural ovulation
I am taking the mini pill and my anxiety has been heightened. My stress level heightened too and I suffer with mood swings and become upset over the smallest thing. The pill changed my control with emotions. I sometimes feel bad that my boyfriend has to deal with my mood swings. I am just glad that he understands me. I am definitely going to get off the pill and try a different method to see if it will help me
I wanted to get off the pill but when I did I experienced the horrible side effects of PCOS for the first time. My naturally beautiful thick hair thinned significantly, acne, excess hair growth, my first ovarian cyst, etc. It was devastating. This is important information, but let’s not forget there are women like me who cannot get off the pill as much as we may want to. The potential side effects of the pill outweigh struggling with a chronic condition. I severely regret ever stopping the pill because of all the symptoms of PCOS that I had to deal with for the first time. Birth control has been preventing me from dealing with the harsh reality that is PCOS. I will always have to rely on it to keep my hormones regular unfortunately. I can’t go through that again.
Metformin can help with PCOS it balances blood sugar and reduces cysts..I learned dealing with infertility- My IVF doctors had me on it and since I was doing accupuncture and watching diet my cysts stayed gone even after I stopped Metformin [I took it for 3-6 months]
This is what they don’t tell you. The body can take up to several months to return to a normal menstrual cycle after stopping the pill. Common side effects of your body readjusting can be benign cysts on the ovaries (they will go away once everything has settles) It can also be known to cause thinning of the hair, slower wound healing and temporary hormonal fluctuations in mood/libido. Stopping the pill can also cause several months of heavier and more painful/heavy periods. I stopped the pill a couple of years ago for 3 months, I was in pain, I developed a benign cyst (I’ve never had these before) and my periods were a bit abnormal. I visited the gyno and she said “the pill puts your ovaries to sleep..” so I went back on it. I now understand that doctors are encouraged to push the contraceptive pill, despite the heavily researched, horrid and common side effects. I did not know at the time that all these symptoms were most likely very temporary, and these were actually a normal withdrawal-like reaction my body was having. My body had to learn to have a proper menstrual period again, and the ability to ovulate. The effects these hormones have on a woman’s body is astounding, and very scary to say the least. Please do more research, my skin has cleared almost 50%, my excessive head/upper body sweating has stopped, I’m slowly returning to a normal weight range, my bipolar disorder has finally become completely manageable, I can sleep properly, I don’t crave unhealthy food, no more night sweats, I have hardly any inflammation and water retention anymore. The list goes on.
Just my 2c
Best of luck ❤️
@@bambirose7336You’re correct! I completely changed my stance on this after reading multiple books. I quit the pill for good in 2020 but unfortunately my body is still recovering and I’ve developed some new, undiagnosed chronic conditions. I’ve been struggling with severe fatigue, gut issues, sleep issues, etc. Oddly enough, my periods are the one thing that seem normal because I get one consistently every month. I’ve been tested for so many things but I’m still working with doctors to figure out what is going on. Thyroid is normal, no celiac disease, no cushings, and my blood work seems normal. I strongly believe that I wouldn’t be dealing with this if I didn’t sabotage my body by being on the pill for 10 years. It has been heartbreaking to deal with this with no end in sight. I realized I never even met the criteria for a PCOS diagnosis at 13, yet my 4:51 OB/GYN pushed the pill. My only symptom was irregular periods, but I learned that this is normal to experience during puberty. Hormone levels were normal and no sign of cysts on ultrasound. I encourage every woman to avoid the pill and utilize natural family planning instead. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
I have never been on birth control... it always scared me :(
Pregnancy not scared you?
Awesome one No
@@awesomeone465 birth control is not the only way to prevent pregnancy, and not everyone wants to prevent it anyway.
I told my doctor that something was wrong with me after getting it ( brain fog, anxiety, and increase blood pressure at 26 year old with normal BMI and healthy lifestyle). They try refer me as a psych patient for anxiety. I remove the contraceptive against his advice and it solve my problem. Sometimes doctor do not know how hormones contraceptive can alter physiology of body and we know our body best.
Oh they know! But do you think they're going to tell you that? Absolutely not
This explains so much of how I feel to me. It’s almost sickening. I feel silenced by this medication.
I’ve been off the pill since 2017. I was on it from 15 years old to 19 years. I’m autoimmune and western medicine failed me since I was diagnosed in 4th grade. My chiropractor actually suggested going off the pill, if I was comfortable with it. I went off and almost 2 weeks later I noticed an increase in libido, which remains to this day. My autoimmune disorder is also easier to manage, relative to hormones.
I'd love to see research like this about other forms of hormonal birth control.
I was taking the pill for two weeks in my life and I stopped, it made me feel so suicidal. I'm not even interested in trying any other pill.
One thing is, even though pill is supposed to be liberating, in a way it's the other way round, because all the guys almost EXPECT girls to take it. Every guy I've been with was pushing me to take it even if I explained I can't. I heard stories when refusal to take the pill was a cause of a breakup. I mean, it should be my choice whether I want to do this to my body (and mind) or not. And I hate the social pressure.
anabellik I have a boyfriend and he tells me its my decision if I take it or not. I also know many girls who were not pressured to take it. Not all guys expect girls to take it.
Right! Also, how is taking a pill every single day liberating for a girl. It’s like they have even more worries that men now. Men should be the ones taking precautions
When this causes a breakup, I honestly don't think that's the right partner then. This should be a negotiable subject, right? Because in the it is indeed your body and your right to choose what you want to do
@@adibahalim2472 Nobody is forcing you to take it!
I’m just terrified of blood clots and heart attacks and strokes. I know of two girls, one eighteen and one early twenties who both got anurisms. I’m terrified of it enough already.
NinjaOutfitInTheWash girl same. That’s why I got off the pill. Turns out it was thickening my blood.
I'm not on birth control pills, I still have blood clots I've been off off of them for about 10 years now, it still clots, but not like it used to. I actually have been transitioning to a cup, and have had less problems of clots. If the clots happen, because of blocked release, that's different than the blood being thicker during the process. Do your own research and experiments.
Zyelhsak you probably have a blood clotting disorder, I have one called MTHFR. I also miscarried a lot before having my daughters due to it. I was put on blood thinners in order to be able to carry full term. But blood clotting disorders can also cause random clots, varicose veins, clots in the umbilical cord or placenta during pregnancy.. it’s no joke. And it’s only worse if you have this and you’re on birth control, that’s why I had to get off of it too.
@@msilip it's not alot of clotting, and I carried to term twice. No other problems.
Kinda related: there's a ted talk called How to Make Stress Your Friend and it gives you mindblowing info to help reduce heart attacks! It's so easy it's crazy. She explains it better, but in a very quick explanation: seeing stress feelings as your body's solution and preparation for you to better handle that stress, versus as a negative that can kill you, allows your vessels to remain relaxed and literally prevent heart attacks. She sites studies! She also gives other life saving info, and it's genuinely entertaining 😄
I have been on birthcontrol since I was 15. Mainly changing from Dutch birth control to American birth control made my symptoms grow noticeable. Unfortunately, all websites and articles I read, mentioned that my specific bad symptoms would worsen getting off the pill.
I finally found a doctor who told me otherwise. I have been off the pill for almost 4 months now and feel like a different person. The part in this video about cortisol really struck me, because I was going insane because of little stressors.
Please do your research and also know there are so many kinds of birth control. The main components might be the same, but the way the pill is build up, will affect how your body absorbs it and how you react to it.
I’ve been on the birth control pill for almost 3 years. It helped significantly with my acne (though it got worse in the first 3 months before it got better), and I no longer experience painful periods. I’m more emotional in the sense that I cry over little things, but my mental health has stayed consistent and I see more benefits for myself on the pill than off at this stage in my life.
This was one of the most surprisingly informative Ted talks that I have ever watched.
I’m in finals week. Is this why it hasn’t set in that I need to freak out about grades?
Lauren Stark Omg sameeeeee . I’ve been so chill this whole semester and I started the Bill control early this semester!
I’m on the pill & I’ve actually gotten test back that said I had extremely high levels of cortisol.
I feel WAY more emotionally unstable ON THE PILL. I even had Nexplanon* (the arm implant) and it made me cry and feel suspicious for the whole 6 weeks it was in my body. I had nightmares every night, and I bled constantly. When I went to the doctor to have it removed, they were furious that I hadnt "given it a chance", and recommended I leave it in AND take the pill. I refused, and when they cut it out, they found out it was wrapped in lots of scar tissue. My body was trying to block it off and protect myself. Since then I started BBT charting, cervical mucus charting, and using other natural birth control methods.
Desire Day by Day I just remembered I had horrible nightmares on my birth control pills too
Desire Day by Day
I am sorry you had to go through that. They should learn doctors on medical school that: every human body is unique and can respons differently ánd that a patient knows his/her own body best and gutfeeling is very important!
i’d love to go off pill but it’s the only thing that keeps my skin at ease i tried going off of it last year and it broke out like crazy
Perhaps there is something inflammatory in your diet like processed meat
Yes! I had to stop taking the pill because all of a sudden I had high blood pressure& pressure in my head that I thought for sure was a stroke coming. But I have horrible eczema too & I found out that my allergies were playing a role. Hormone diet, allergy diet, & auto immune protocol diet are... basically the same diet. Everything in our bodies is connected like a fine tuned motor
This happened to me too!! I struggled for years with acne once off the pill but as soon as I cut dairy out it disappeared??
@@bold_n_brash yup Dairy is inflammatory
The pill got rid of My acne too i'm SO thankful for it!
Welp, time to get my tubes tied
Did it last week, can recommend it. (male version)
Did it 11 years ago, best decision I ever made, wasn’t excepting the horrible cramping after procedure, other than that, it was a breeze.
Yup, that's what I did 13yrs ago. No kids, no regrets.
EverHillsRanch same!! Maybe get the whole kit and caboodle removed! Who needs periods when we can remove that ish?
Olivia Vogel exactly!😂
Before i was put on the pill i had terrible acne which made me more depressed and mood swingy than the pill ever did. Plus, im still madly in love with my boyfriend but now i dont get panic attacks about being pregnant whenever my period is late. I have a 4 day period instead of a 9 days one. Yeah i get mood swings and maybe my libido took a small hit although it always has been higher than the average person so i think i just got balanced out.
Id rather have a weird hormonal level than bowl my eyes out whenever i take a glimpse at the mirror because of how bad my acne was
Same I didn’t get my bleeding until like 3 days left of the placebo week because I missed a dose because I got sick on the second week of the active pill and took the pill while I was still feeling sick from the virus I had but took my pills in the pack every day after that I think it threw off my hormones. Bc I didn’t know that if you get something like the stomach bug and miss a dose that you were supposed to double up. Bc I’ve never had that happen before I’ve never gotten a servere sickness since I started taking the pill in 2017. I’m on the combination pills and that freaked me out because I take my pill every day at the exact same time. I bled irregular the last pack I’m hoping everything returns to normal the next cycle
Highly highly recommend the documentary “the business of birth control”.
Thank you so much for this talk. It's so important for women to know what the pill does to their bodies. ❤
This is so interesting. I’m excited to see what happens as my body gets back to normal. I’ve been off for a week
Good for you! It can take up to a year for your body to get back to its natural state completely, just so you know.
I almost called my wedding off because of the wrong birth control pill. As soon as I went off it we feel deeply back in love - I'm so glad I figured it out before destroying our happy life together. Would like to reconnect the diaphragm or the copper coil as good alternatives
Thanks for the info, that's crazy!!
♥️
Rose O. most diaphragms are not supported by insurance unfortunately but the do work and no chemical issues either
Wow!! How long did it take when you went off of it to fall back in love?
@@ED-cy8ss I noticed a difference within 5 days and was back to normal in 2 weeks 😳
Some of y'all are unnecessarily rude over her use of the word "right." I'm sure you have quirks in your speech patterns that others find off-putting. It costs $0 to be nice.
I think what shes saying is true...I stopped taking two months ago. I've had crazy anxiety and low emotional responses for two years now and for the past two months, I have been slowly getting better...I don't think I'm taking birth control again after this. I already was leaning in that direction but now that I've seen this video I think that makes it official for me.
I hope this research leads to new pill formulas that mitigate these side effects. The pill is vital treatment for people with PCOS, PMDD, anemia, gender dysphoria, and even mental health conditions (I haven't seen a lot of research on it, but it certainly helped mine). And of course, it helps people who want to avoid pregnancy. Just like any medication, it can help or hurt people depending on their needs.
totally, they should definitely work on a new formula. I take it for anemia and pms and it really helps
I would love to see what we can do with more non-hormonal options! The only long term option right now is the copper IUD and its a love or hate type of experience.