85: THIS Is What Birth Control Is Doing To Your Body…

Let’s be real—how often do you stop to think about how hormonal birth control affects your body, metabolism, and overall health? It’s something many women take without fully understanding the long-term impact. In today’s episode, Lara Briden joins me to dive into the technical side of hormonal birth control and its effects on muscle growth, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic function. We’ll explore how synthetic hormones interfere with ovarian function, why they might be hindering your fitness progress, and the connection between birth control and conditions like insulin resistance and gut health. We’ll also break down how the hormonal IUD and other methods can disrupt your natural cycle and what alternatives you can consider for better hormone balance and overall well-being. Plus, Lara shares insights on how to transition off birth control safely and what to expect when your body resets. Lara Briden is a Naturopathic doctor and leading expert in women’s hormone health. She’s the author of Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual and has spent over 20 years working with women to optimize their hormonal health. We Also Discuss: (00:16) Birth Control and Muscle Growth Study (06:40) Benefits of Non-Hormonal Birth Control (19:00) Copper IUD and Hormonal Birth Control (33:16) Understanding Body Literacy and Exercise (42:28) Optimizing Training Based on Menstrual Cycle (46:33) Metabolism and Cycle Synchronization (58:18) Metabolic Flexibility and Muscle Growth (01:10:27) Women's Health and Metabolism Repair Thank You to Our Sponsors: Broads: Broads gives you structured, progressive training and a powerhouse community to keep you strong, consistent, and unstoppable. Join today at broads.app and use code PODCAST for 20% off your first month! Legion: Use code Tara20 for 20% off your first order and double loyalty cash back any order after that when you shop at LegionAthletics.com Find more from Tara:   Website: https://www.taralaferrara.com/ Instagram: @taralaferrara @broads.podcast @broads.app Youtube: Tara LaFerrara Tiktok: @taralaferrara   Find more from Lara Briden: Website: https://www.larabriden.com/ Instagram: @larabriden