When going off the pill, patients often have to deal with what brought them to birth control in the first place.
Most notice the symptoms they were experiencing before taking birth control return with a vengeance. But do not despair, healing is possible.
It takes an average of 3-6 months of acupuncture & herbs at taproot to restore healthier cycles.
How do birth control pills work and what can I expect after coming off the pill?
Depending on the individual, the type of pill, and the length of time you have been taking it, results will vary. Birth control pills stop your body from producing hormones that trigger ovulation and menstruation. When you stop the pill, it can take a while for your body to re-establish a natural balance and hormone production.
It may take anywhere from several weeks to several months for hormone levels to regulate & regular menstruation to resume.
If your period was ideal before you started the pill, you can expect it to return after about 6 weeks. If you were struggling with irregular, heavy or painful periods before the pill, those symptoms will likely reappear.
If you have not had a period after 3 months, you may have post-pill amenorrhea.
The body is just taking longer to produce the hormones necessary for ovulation and menstruation.
Conditions that we commonly treat in our post birth control patients
low libido
painful periods including endometriosis
irregular periods
hormonal acne
brain fog
headaches & migraines
sleep disturbances
hair loss
weight fluctuations
poor thyroid function.
How many sessions of Acupuncture are needed for regulating my period after coming off the pill?
Short answer: it depends !
The type and duration of Acupuncture treatment and the specific herbs will be determined based upon your unique signs and symptoms, the type of pill you were on, and the length of time you have been taking it, and how your cycles were before you started.
Acupuncture is given once a week for at least 3 cycles. A formula of Herbal medicine will be customized for each patient and taken daily.
If you were suffering from PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids or other conditions, then it will likely take longer to get the symptoms under control.
How can Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine help regulate my period after coming off the pill?
Acupuncture can help to:
regularize the menstrual cycle (number of days from period to the next period)
regulate the menstrual blood flow itself
ease PMS symptoms [1]
reduce period pain
In TCM, irregular periods are a result of an imbalance in the ‘Liver’ or the ‘Kidneys’. It is the easter equivalent of the HPO axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-ovaries). These two energetic systems are responsible for the biological clock that determines the menstrual cycle.
Acupuncture reduces pain
During your period, coming in for a session can be helpful in reducing menstrual pain, regulating digestion, and avoiding spotting.
After bleeding has stopped, we rebuild blood and qi, to support follicle growth, and to stimulate a pain free mid-cycle ovulation.
Later in the cycle, treatments focus on luteal support or embryo implantation (when the goal is pregnancy) or avoiding PMS signs
Acupuncture regulates mood
From a Chinese Medicine point of view, the emotions reside in the blood.
Each month during menstruating years, women are given the opportunity to literally shed some of their emotional baggage as they experience menstrual bleeding. What a fantastic way to quite literally let go of old, stagnant emotions (such as anxiety or depression) and to emerge with more clarity and ease.
Supplements
Long term birth control use has also been clinically shown to deplete the body of vital nutrients including
B Vitamins like B12, B2, B6
Selenium
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
When women come off the pill, correcting these deficiencies through nutrient-dense foods and supplements if needed is crucial, especially for women who are trying to conceive.
We are happy to guide you through this process and assist you in finding the best prenatal vitamin that works for you.
No matter where you are in your
woman's health, fertility, pregnancy & mothering journey,
if you need support, we can help.
In addition to our own team of fertility & women's health acupuncturists, we are well-connected within the Los Angeles- Pasadena area community to help you find the right integrative and holistic care for you.
On our website, you can learn more about our services, and book an appointment.
If you have more questions please call our front desk, at 626-841-2991, or email us.