The Origins and Dangers of Hormonal Birth Control
For too long, women have been sold a lie: that hormonal contraceptives are perfectly safe and even beneficial for everything from acne to heavy periods to cancer prevention. The truth? These synthetic hormones come with risks and side effects that are often dismissed, ignored, or hidden altogether.
My goal in sharing this is not to scare you, but to empower you with feminine body independence — to help you understand the history of hormonal birth control, the very real risks associated with it, and the healthier, safer alternatives available to you.
My Story
After years of chronic pain and frequent migraines following my ballet career, I became a Pilates instructor, hoping movement would restore balance to my body. Still, I struggled with cystic acne, food sensitivities, low libido, and recurring yeast infections. Doctors handed me the same solution over and over: birth control.
But something inside me questioned this one-size-fits-all prescription. When I finally began studying holistic health, I was blown away by the concept of the menstrual cycle’s phases, cycle syncing, and how detrimental hormonal birth control really is for women’s health.
This led me to become a Holistic Hormone Health Coach, to start my brand Spring to Life Method, and eventually to train in the FEMM Fertility Awareness Method. Today, I guide women to embrace their natural cycles, balance hormones without drugs, and live cyclically with nutrition, Pilates, and low-tox choices.
The Truth Behind the Lie
Many women believe the Pill was invented to give them sexual freedom. The reality is far more complicated.
The Pill’s creator, Gregory Pincus, was not motivated by women’s liberation, but by the idea of controlling overpopulation. Even more disturbing, Pincus himself was openly against sexual freedom for both men and women.
The first human trials of synthetic hormones took place in Puerto Rico in 1956. Many of the women enrolled were low-income and never gave informed consent. Between 22–50% of participants dropped out due to severe side effects: nausea, dizziness, blood clots, and depression. Yet Pincus gaslit these women, insisting their symptoms were “psychogenic,” or “all in their heads.”
To make the Pill more palatable, doctors added a row of placebo pills to simulate a “withdrawal bleed” — not a true period, but a way to trick women into thinking they were still cycling normally.
By 1970, millions of women were on the Pill, and the Nelson Pill Hearings finally brought concerns of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and depression into the public eye. Still, despite these dangers, hormonal birth control was normalized as the default choice for women everywhere.\
The Pill's placebo doses trick you into thinking you're having a period
The Dangers of Hormonal Birth Control
While doctors often downplay side effects, the list of risks associated with hormonal contraceptives is long — and serious:
Increased risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart attack
Higher risk of breast, cervical, and liver cancers
Vision problems from retinal clots
Elevated blood pressure
Reduced bone mineral density
Glucose intolerance and insulin resistance
Ovarian cysts and risk of ectopic pregnancy
Nutrient deficiencies (zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C)
Mood disorders: anxiety, depression, and irritability
Headaches and migraines
Weight changes and excess hair growth
Loss of libido and painful sex
Difficulty achieving pregnancy after stopping
And yet — did your doctor ever ask about your mental health before writing a prescription? Did they explain that ovulation is essential not just for fertility, but for your overall health?
Ovulation is the main event of your cycle; without it a true period cannot occur
Why Ovulation Matters
The biggest problem with hormonal contraceptives is that they shut down ovulation. Without ovulation, there is no real period — only a withdrawal bleed.
But ovulation is not just about making babies. It’s how your body produces essential hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which support:
Bone density
Heart health
Mood regulation
Healthy libido
Clear skin
Stable energy
When you shut off ovulation with synthetic hormones, you interrupt this entire system. It’s not “harmless regulation” — it’s chemical suppression of your natural biology.
You Have Options
Women are often told they only have two choices:
Hormonal contraceptives
Risking unwanted pregnancy
But that is simply not true. You actually have three categories of options when it comes to managing fertility:
1. Shut Off Hormones (The Pill, Patch, Ring, Shot, IUDs)
Constant low-dose synthetic estrogen and/or progesterone prevent ovulation and alter your cervical mucus and uterine lining.
Highly effective but come with risks outlined above.
2. Block Sperm (Barriers)
Condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, sponges, spermicides.
No hormonal side effects, moderate effectiveness depending on use.
Barrier methods like condoms are a side-effect-free contraceptive option
3. Monitor Fertility (Fertility Awareness Methods)
Track cervical mucus and LH surges to identify fertile days.
WHO research confirms these are the most accurate predictors of fertility.
With correct use, fertility awareness methods (FAMs) are 92–98% effective — rivaling the Pill, but without side effects.
Unlike apps that rely on algorithms, fertility awareness puts you in the driver’s seat. You learn to read your body’s own signs instead of outsourcing your health to a pill pack.
Breaking Free from the Pill
Here’s the empowering truth: you deserve informed choice.
You deserve to understand your cycle, not suppress it.
You deserve contraception without sacrificing your mental health, libido, or long-term fertility.
You deserve a method that honors your body, instead of shutting it down.
For generations, women have been told to deny their biology in order to fit into a world designed for male hormonal rhythms. But you don’t have to live that way.
By learning fertility awareness, supporting your hormones naturally, and embracing your cycle, you can experience:
Regular, ovulatory cycles
Balanced moods
A healthy libido
True body autonomy
Tracking your natural cycle allows you to build a deeper relationship with your body
Final Thoughts
Hormonal birth control has shaped women’s health for over 70 years — but not always for the better. From its unethical origins to its long list of risks, it’s time to question whether “the Pill” really deserves its place as the gold standard of contraception.
You have options. You have power. And you can choose to live in harmony with your body instead of suppressing it.
If you’re ready to take that step, my e-book Ditch the Pill is the perfect place to begin. Inside, you’ll learn how to transition off hormonal contraceptives safely, restore balance, and reclaim your natural cycle.
👉 Grab your copy here and start your journey toward true hormonal freedom.
A supportive, step-by-step roadmap for transitioning off the pill—safely, gently, and with confidence.
Whether you’re thinking about stopping hormonal birth control or have already made the leap, this guide helps you navigate the physical, emotional, and hormonal shifts that can follow. Learn what to expect, how to support your body through the transition, and how to rebuild balance from the inside out.
Over 70 pages of education and helpful guides like identifying symptoms of hormonal imbalance and how ask your doctor to run labs.
Included with the e-book is a workbook with tools to empower you on your journey to Ditch the Pill: a symptom tracker, meal planner, and cycle tracking template.
