Q&A on Birth Control with Dr. Chelsea Axe

Natural birth control. Is there really such a thing besides abstinence? The answer is a resounding “YES!” But first things first, let’s talk “the pill” (patch, IUD, shots, etc.), and why I’m not a fan. 

As a doctor, I often get asked questions about natural birth control and what methods Josh and I use as we practice a natural and holistic lifestyle. In this article, I’ll be sharing what method we use, as well as answering some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding natural birth control.

But before I dive in, know that this post is only my opinion and I am in no way telling you what to do. I strongly believe that each woman needs to make this decision for herself (and with her significant other). Every woman’s health history and current situation is different and needs to be addressed with your healthcare provider. 

What I am saying is that before any woman makes this decision, she should be clearly educated on the side effects and long-term repercussions that birth control can have on her body. Only then, is she empowered to make an educated decision regarding her health.

The Effects of Hormonal Birth Control

From here on out, when I reference “the pill,” I’m also including other hormonal methods used to avoid pregnancy (patch, IUD, shots, so forth). Birth control pills are a medication taken by women in order to prevent pregnancy. 

There is a large percentage of women who take them for other reasons, such as balancing hormones, controlling acne and reducing PMS/menstruation symptoms. And for the most part, it works.

So, why is that bad?

The Side Effects of Raised Estrogen Levels

Your hormone levels are naturally designed to flip-flop throughout the month. When the hormone estrogen rises, the hormone progesterone falls. Then, estrogen falls while progesterone rises. 

This yin and yang is how you’re signaled to release an egg and prep your body for a potential pregnancy. Birth control pills work to keep estrogen consistently elevated through the month, which fools the body into thinking it is pregnant and therefore doesn’t allow for pregnancy to occur “again.” 

Estrogen levels associated with birth control pills are significantly higher than your natural levels, which means taking them on a regular basis can result in many different hormone imbalances.

Women can experience negative side effects, such as:

• Potential increased risk of breast cancer
• Potential increased risk of blood clotting, heart attack and stroke
• Ovarian cysts
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Endometriosis
• Headaches or migraines
• Gallbladder or liver problems, including benign tumors
• Weight gain
• Mood changes
• Nausea, cramping, irregular bleeding or spotting
• Breast tenderness

In addition, the hormones in these pills are synthetic. The body is able to recognize this and can respond differently to it. An imbalance caused by prescription birth control can also alter other hormones in the body like an increase in globulin, a thyroid and sex hormone. Other changes include a decrease of testosterone and thyroid hormones, which can produce many other negative effects. 

Many argue the pill reduces your risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer, but they fail to mention its link to breast, cervical and liver cancers. Did you know the pill is actually classified as a carcinogen!? Which by definition is any substance that promotes the formation of cancer.

How’s that for a casual side effect? 

Estrogen dominance has been linked to nutrient deficiencies, candida and yeast overgrowth. It can also mess with your gut flora, but I think you get the point. For more details, visit Draxe.com.

So, what’s the solution?

Natural Birth Control Methods (That Actually Work)

Because so many of these side effects can affect women’s overall health, alternative methods such as charting, recording basal body temperature and observing vaginal secretions have become increasingly popular. 

On to natural birth control.

The Natural Birth Control I Use

What I personally use (and have used for the past seven years of my marriage with NO pregnancy scares) has been The Lady-Comp Baby! There are different versions of this machine available, but what it does is track your basal body temperature (BBT).

The Lady-Comp is a small device that has a temperature probe attached. In the morning, you put it in your mouth, it takes your temperature and logs all the data for you. Based on its readings and how it learns your body and cycles, it will give you a green light, red light or yellow light to indicate when to avoid time frames of pregnancy. 

If you struggle with unbalanced hormones or irregular cycles, there is a FAQ page that answers many of the questions regarding how/if The Lady-Comp is still an option for you.

You can also track your BBT at home without this device. Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler does a great job of explaining how to do this and educating women on how their cycles work. I recommend every woman read it at least once! The more we can understand our bodies and become aware of the cycles they flow in, the better. 

In addition to tracking my BBT, I also track my cervical mucus. I know—sounds gross—but it’s easy once you know what you’re looking for. Throughout your cycle, your cervical mucus or discharge will change consistency and will indicate your level of fertility at any given time. 

To avoid pregnancy, I couple this with the BBT method and use both to track my fertility. The book also goes through this method and gives examples of each.

How to Track Your Basal Body Temperature

This is a very simplified version of how two hormones work in tandem with BBT:

During your menstrual cycle, there are two main hormones that run the show. Estrogen is dominant during the first half of your cycle (from the first day of your period until ovulation). This hormone helps the ovaries produce and release the egg during ovulation. After this, progesterone takes over. This shift in hormones causes your basal body temperature to increase slightly.

Your basal body temperature should be taken everyday at the same time upon waking. This should be done before sitting up or getting out of bed, as movement can alter the temperature reading. Make sure to measure it to at least the hundredth degree, which accounts for small shifts. It sounds complicated, but it’s not! Or it doesn’t have to be.

Q&A With Dr. Chelsea Axe: Natural Birth Control

Here are some of the most common questions I hear. I hope I can answer a few of the ones you have, plus share some products I’ve personally found to be effective and easy to use!

Q: I have endometriosis, so for me taking pills helps my pain. What would you suggest instead?

A: According to the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis is defined as “an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus—the endometrium—grows outside your uterus” (Mayo Clinic, 2019). This can often lead to painful menstrual periods, excessive bleeding, development of ovarian cysts, and in some cases, infertility. 

Due to the inflammatory response caused by endometriosis, it’s important to incorporate a diet that is high in anti-inflammatory foods, green leafy vegetables and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as chia seeds. Another natural method I use is essential oils. Using a diffuser with specific essential oils can help decrease inflammation and promote a sense of calm and relaxation. Sage and clary are two essential oils that specifically help aid in the regulation of hormones. Plus, they make everything smell good!

Q: Have you and friends or family used natural family planning methods successfully, as well?

A: Absolutely! I’ve had lots of friends and family use natural family planning methods with great success, both in planning and preventing pregnancy. The natural family planning methods may even be more effective than the pill, as the pill has a failure rate of seven percent, while the fertility tracking method has a failure rate of two percent (when used charted correctly according to the Center for Disease Control). 

Josh and I have been using The Lady-Comp for more than seven years with no unplanned babies yet. I take my basal body temperature at the same time every day and The Lady-Comp does the rest. Once we decided we were ready to conceive, I used The Lady-Comp to help me plan my first pregnancy!

Q: When in your cycle are you more likely to conceive a boy or a girl?

A: While the actual science behind conceiving a specific gender is not 100% accurate, The Lady-Comp charts your fertility, which allows it to “predict” the days you are more likely to conceive a boy or a girl. 

The more you track, the more information The Lady-Comp Baby can make predictions based off of your cycle and the information it receives. The device includes a feature that can help determine which days you are more likely to conceive a boy or a girl. You can adjust it depending on your preference.

Q: What do you recommend doing for birth control while breastfeeding?

A: Checking your basal body temperature and discharge is an effective way to determine your fertility window. Again, I use The Lady-Comp to chart mine each month. When ovulating, a woman’s basal body temperature rises slightly, therefore increasing the chances of pregnancy. 

The Lady-Comp* also gives you a red, green or yellow light to indicate what day you are the most likely or least likely to conceive. Green means go, yellow means The Lady-Comp needs more information (if you are trying to avoid pregnancy, I would recommend not having intercourse or using protection such as condoms) and red means that you are fertile. I also recommend charting and tracking your discharge (see above).

*Get 5% off using my affiliate link here.

Q: How do I control hormonal acne naturally without taking birth control?

A: Many women take birth control to address a variety of symptoms, one of the most common being hormonal acne. Getting to the root of what is causing your hormonal acne can help you decide which method is best. 

First, take a look at your diet and exercise. Hormonal acne can often be caused by a diet high in saturated fats and too many carbohydrates. Try limiting greasy foods and increasing green leafy foods that are high in antioxidants such as celery, (the benefits of celery juice are incredible!) or broccoli. Healthy fats such as avocados, fish oil and chia seeds are good to incorporate, as well. 

I also use a Manuka honey mask with tea tree oil, which works wonders! It may take a while to see results, so please be patient with yourself and your skin.

I hope these answers have been insightful and helpful! I think it’s incredibly powerful when a woman can take charge of her fertility and truly get to know her body and how it functions.

Check out my Instagram page for more videos and product recommendations @drchelseaaxe. 

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