I’ll never forget the day I started birth control. I was 19, just out of high school, and felt like it was the natural next step. Birth control was supposed to be simple—just a pill, a little extra control over my body, and the peace of mind that came with not having to worry about getting pregnant. I wasn’t prepared for the side effects that would follow, and frankly, I wasn’t even aware of them until I started feeling... well, different.
It wasn’t a sudden shift, but over time, I began to notice a gradual change. Suddenly, I didn’t recognize myself. My moods were all over the place, I felt exhausted all the time, and I had bloating that made me feel like I was carrying around a balloon instead of a stomach. For someone who had been relatively energetic and happy-go-lucky before starting birth control, this new version of myself was confusing, frustrating, and downright draining.
Here’s a peek into my journey and how I’ve struggled with the mood swings, fatigue, and bloating after starting hormonal birth control. Maybe you can relate.
The Rollercoaster of Mood Swings
It’s so subtle at first, almost like a slow burn. One minute, I’d be fine, and the next, I’d feel like I was spiraling. It didn’t feel like me. I’m generally an even-keeled person, but my emotions started bouncing all over the place. I’d get irritated or upset over things that normally wouldn’t bother me, or I’d feel like I was on the verge of tears for no reason. I couldn’t explain it, but I began to feel like I was trapped in my own body, just waiting for the next emotional wave to crash over me.
I tried to push through it, thinking it was just stress or maybe something I was going through personally. But it wasn’t until I read about the potential mood side effects of birth control that a light bulb went off. Hormonal birth control, which uses synthetic estrogen and progesterone, can affect the neurotransmitters in your brain that regulate mood. The more I read about it, the more it started to make sense. It wasn’t just me. It was the hormones messing with my body in ways I couldn’t control.
A Constant State of Exhaustion
As if the mood swings weren’t enough, fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve always been someone who enjoys being active and staying busy, but suddenly, I found myself feeling perpetually tired. It was like I was walking around in a fog, no matter how much sleep I got. I’d sleep for 8 hours and wake up still feeling drained, like I hadn’t rested at all. By midday, I’d be yawning constantly, just trying to stay awake and power through the day.
I thought maybe I was just overworked, or perhaps I wasn’t eating the right things. I tried everything—more sleep, better nutrition, exercise—but nothing seemed to help. It took me a while to realize that this could be another side effect of my birth control. Hormonal contraceptives can deplete key nutrients in your body, like B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc—nutrients that are essential for energy production. That meant I was running on empty, even when I thought I was doing everything right.
The Never-Ending Bloating
Let’s talk about bloating—because it’s one of those side effects that really gets under your skin. I’ve always been someone who’s had a relatively flat stomach, but once I started birth control, I felt like I was constantly bloated. It was uncomfortable and frustrating. Some days, I would look in the mirror and barely recognize my own body. I was always self-conscious about it, wondering if other people could tell. I tried cutting back on certain foods, but the bloating just wouldn’t go away. It was a persistent issue that seemed to follow me everywhere.
It wasn’t until I started learning more about how birth control affects the gut microbiome that things clicked. Hormonal birth control can disrupt the delicate balance of bacteria in your gut, which plays a huge role in digestion. This imbalance can lead to bloating, gas, and other digestive discomforts. It felt like I was being punished for something I didn’t sign up for. All I wanted was to take control of my reproductive health, not my digestive system.
Finding My Way Back
For a while, I felt like I was at the mercy of these side effects, unsure of what to do. But eventually, I realized that I didn’t have to just accept it. I started making small changes to help my body feel like its old self again.
1. Acknowledging the Issue:
The first step for me was recognizing that birth control could be the cause of all these changes. Once I acknowledged that the hormonal shift could be responsible for my mood swings, fatigue, and bloating, I started taking a more proactive approach.
2. Taking Care of My Nutrition:
I started focusing on my diet, making sure I was getting the vitamins and minerals that hormonal birth control might deplete. I incorporated more magnesium-rich foods (like leafy greens and nuts) and B vitamins (like whole grains and lean protein) into my meals. I also began taking supplements to support my energy and overall well-being, which helped a lot.
3. Supporting My Gut Health:
I started adding more probiotics to my diet—things like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables. I wanted to rebuild the healthy bacteria in my gut, and I began to feel the difference in my digestion and the bloating started to subside. It wasn’t a quick fix, but over time, I felt more comfortable in my body again.
4. Taking a Step Back from the Pill:
After months of battling these side effects, I decided to talk to my healthcare provider about other contraceptive options. I wasn’t ready to give up birth control entirely, but I realized that I needed something that didn’t affect my mood, energy, or digestion so drastically. We explored non-hormonal options, and I’ve been much happier with my decision.
Being on birth control was supposed to be an empowering choice, but I never expected it to change who I was, or how I felt in my own body. The mood swings, fatigue, and bloating were all real, and they impacted my life in ways I didn’t anticipate. But through self-awareness, dietary changes, and conversations with my doctor, I was able to take back control.
If you’ve been feeling like a different version of yourself on birth control, know that you’re not alone. Your body is telling you something, and it’s important to listen. There are ways to manage the side effects and explore alternative options that work better for your health and well-being.
Remember, it’s your body, and you deserve to feel like you again.
