Geraldine Matus HRHP, BA, HRHP, Ph.D Candidate and Megan Varro-Lalonde BA, HT, HRHP, CPM

We see women everyday who have reproductive health problems after discontinuing hormonal contraceptives. They report finding few, if any, resources to help them negotiate the physiological upheaval these hormones create in their bodies. They also report finding little support on or information for using non-hormonal forms of birth control. Learn how we help women find these bits of information. Come for a signed copy of “Coming Off the Pill, the Patch, and Other Hormonal Contraceptives. The book explains the varied experiences women may have when they come off the pill and provides holistic and nutritional suggestions to support menstrual cycle health, including non-pharmaceutical approaches to managing difficult periods.

Hormonal contraception is a multibillion dollar industry that impacts the lives of hundreds of millions of women everyday. Marketing campaigns for hormonal contraception are aggressive. Birth control pills are portrayed as being fun, something strong and independent women use, a way to freedom, and safer to use than being pregnant. These portrayals diminish the profound physiological effects that hormonal contraception has on a woman’s body. These portrayals also belie some of the emotional impact hormonal birth control has on women. We have found that women have been poorly educated about the full truth of how birth control pills work and what that means for them. Commonly hormonal contraceptives are used “off label” for menstrual suppression, and to treat such health concerns as acne, and irregular, painful or heavy menstruation. Currently, there is a great deal of controversy about the use of hormonal contraceptives to suppress menstrual bleeding.