It is estimated that the birth control industry profits around 20-25 billion dollars a year. I’m not demeaning the use of contraceptives, but I am concerned with the overuse and prescription of these synthetic medications when any lady has any issue with her cycle. Many times the cycle can be regulated just by strengthening the adrenals and thyroid.

Let’s make this simple:
Birth control pills can do a few things. There many ways it can create gut dysfunction but I will stick with a couple main ways.

1. It places excess levels of estrogen in the body
2. Can deplete the body of vital nutrients

• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B12
• Folic Acid
• Vitamin C
• Magnesium
• Zinc

When high levels of estrogen are constantly in the body, the liver has to work to break it down. This takes place with an enzyme called the COMT (check it out). Research is showing that the chronic use of the pill imbalances the gut flora/good bacteria. When the liver (your natural blood filter) is busy breaking down excess estrogen, it eventually can get overworked, which can allow other toxins and any excess estrogen to float in the blood and remain in the colon. Good bacteria and yeast are in the body to help clean up. But with excess toxicity you not only overwork the clean up crew but eventually can feed any bad microbes. This can eventually lead to overgrowth in the gut and Leaky Gut Syndrome.

Additionally the depletion of vital nutrients lead to one main thing = depletion of energy. All these nutrients help with production of ATP (energy molecule), SAMe, and Glutathione. The above mentioned nutrients are very important for energy, activation of the immune system, liver detoxification, and activation of the COMT enzyme. These all maintain healthy gut function, but if any of these system are deficient, pathogens can create an acidic pH, this is where Leaky Gut can thrive.

Even while taking birth control, I believe it is crucial to maintain a normal to alkaline environment. I have seen many patients on the pill and have a good pH because they additionally supplemented with good nutrients and herbs that kept them alkaline and excreting excess toxins. Investigate the COMT enzyme and it’s pathways, it will give you a good understanding of estrogen regulation.