Irregular period after coming off the pill: what really helped me

I made the big mistake of taking the birth control pill for about a year. I liked it because it was “convenient”; until I became passionate about women’s health and understood that the downsides of taking the pill clearly outgrow its benefits.

The pill is simply the introduction of artificial hormones to substitute the natural ones. Therefore, the period we get on the pill is not actual menstruation. The natural hormones are “put to sleep”, leading to multiple side effects during and after therapy. Some side effects include alopecia (hair loss), acne appearance, irregular or missing menstrual cycle (amenorrhea), and other severe hormonal dysfunctions. Unfortunately, we are rarely given the whole story and once we decide to stop, it’s a real struggle.

And that was me after the pill: acne and irregular period! It took me approximately six months to get it back to normal.

Here is what I did:

1. ACUPUNCTURE 

Acupuncture is one of my favorite forms of self-love. Science has demonstrated the several benefits of this ancient practice, including improved digestion, increased energy, reduced stress and anxiety, reduced pain, better immunity, and balanced hormones. 

Acupuncture helps improve fertility and is a science-backed kick to get the period back to regular. It can also help with PCOS or painful PMS. Indeed, acupuncture has been shown to increase estrogen, especially estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin, helping restore the entire hormonal profile. 

I try to do it once a week to keep my hormones balanced, my blood flow going and my chakra aligned.

2. WEEKLY INTAKE OF PHYTOESTROGEN-RICH FOODS 

Phytoestrogens are substances in certain foods that mimic the action of natural estrogens, increasing uterine contractions and, thus, can help improve menstrual cycle flow and period regularity.

Some of the foods packed with phytoestrogen are:

• Sage (try the Hormone Balancing Pesto)
• Papaya
• Mango (try the Millet Pancakes Filled With Sugar-Free Mango Chia Jam)
• Chicken

Phytoestrogen-rich foods are an essential part of my diet, along with specific nourishing foods for the ovaries (Read Wellness Post “Functional Foods For Irregular Menstrual Cycle”)

3. ASHWAGANDHA

This plant is an adaptogen, a substance that naturally regulates the body’s response to stress. 

Stress has a major influence on hormonal balance, and because it’s impossible to stay stress-free, I like to have a little natural help from the outside to help my HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis stay balanced. 

I take ashwagandha as a pill, but you can also find it as a powder to put into your coffee or tea or as a gummy. 

If you’re experiencing irregular or missing period, I recommend you also read the Wellness Post “How to maximize hormonal health with herbal medicine” and don’t hesitate to reach out via email!