Unpacking The Pill: Masking Symptoms vs. Addressing the Root Cause

Let me start by saying that the oral contraceptive pill, commonly referred to as simply ‘the pill’, is a wonderful and highly effective form of contraception. And while the pill has its place in the overall landscape of birth control and health, it’s often touted as a wonder drug, magic bullet for all women’s health issues, from endometriosis to acne to anxiety to PCOS. It’s becoming increasingly clear that there is a huge amount of misconception and misunderstanding surrounding the pill, how it works, and its limitations. Today, we’re going to explore all of the above and more so that you can make informed decisions for your health!

Let’s begin with how the pill actually works. There are various types of pills available, all of which contain synthetic forms of hormones - typically a combination of oestrogen and progestin (or just progestin in the case of the mini-pill). These synthetic hormones work to prevent pregnancy by shutting down ovulation. They also thin the uterine lining and alter cervical mucus, making it harder and less likely for pregnancy to occur. 

Now, here’s where the misconceptions start. Because the pill contains these synthetic hormones, we’re led to believe that it’s regulating the menstrual cycle. Which isn’t true. Instead, what it’s actually doing is mimicking a regular menstrual cycle - remembering that the pill works by suppressing ovulation. When you shut down ovulation, you also shut down the production of your own hormones. So in actuality, it doesn’t regulate or restore your natural hormonal functions, it overrides them entirely with synthetic hormones.

But if it’s mimicking a regular menstrual cycle, what’s the issue?

Well for starters, real hormones and synthetic hormones are not the same. And when you replace real hormones for their synthetic counterparts, you miss out on all of the benefits. Real hormones including oestrogen and progesterone are largely associated with just reproduction, but they actually play essential roles in so many areas of health including mood regulation, bone density, cardiovascular health, skin health, immune health, and even brain function. 

Additionally, suppressing these natural hormones and replacing them with synthetic hormones may alleviate symptoms, but it doesn’t actually resolve the underlying issues causing your symptoms. For example, we know that when we’re addressing PCOS, we need to be addressing insulin resistance, androgen excess, inflammation, stress, and gut health. This also means that when you choose to come off the pill that you were originally prescribed to ‘treat’ your condition, your symptoms are likely to come back with a vengeance because the root-cause was never actually addressed, it was suppressed. 

And while symptoms like heavy periods, acne, or mood swings can be problematic and even debilitating, they’re signals of underlying imbalances that need attention. This is where working with a qualified naturopath comes into the picture! 

Let’s use acne as an example - one of the most common conditions we see the pill being prescribed for in the clinic. The underlying drives of acne are different for everyone, and sometimes hormones aren’t even involved. As part of our naturopathic approach, we assess all of the contributing factors - hormones, gut health, stress, nutrition, inflammation, skin barrier issues and more. Once we’ve found the root-cause, we can address it by employing evidence-based, effective treatment approaches to actually fix the issue. This might look like healing the gut, correcting gut microbiome imbalances, balancing your real hormones, correcting nutrient deficiencies, and strengthening and supporting the skin barrier.

The pill can be a valuable tool for managing severe symptoms or providing contraception for those who need it. However, it’s essential to actually know what the pill does, and to weigh the benefits and risks and consider it as one part of a broader health strategy. If you choose to use the pill, working with a naturopath is still beneficial mitigate side effects of the pills, such as nutrient depletion or gut microbiome disruption.

Women deserve better than band-aid solutions for their health. Naturopathic care offers personalised, evidence-based strategies to help you feel empowered in your journey to wellness. By addressing the root causes of your symptoms, and supporting your body’s natural rhythms, you can achieve sustainable health and vitality.

If you’re experiencing symptoms that have you considering the pill, or you’ve tried to pill to no avail, reach out to our team today and let’s explore your options!