87. Birth Control and Your Hormones: The Hidden Side Effects No One Talks About

Most of us were taught that hormonal birth control “regulates your cycle,” “balances your hormones,” and gives you freedom over your fertility. But what if the story you were handed about the pill was never the whole truth? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how hormonal birth control actually works, why the first pill was designed with a fake period built in, and what decades of hormone suppression really mean for your mood, libido, fertility, and long-term health. We’ll walk through the uncomfortable reality that the bleed you have on the pill is not a true period, but a pharmaceutical withdrawal bleed added to make women feel safer about taking a drug that shuts down a perfectly normal biological function. And that’s just the beginning. We’re digging into the history no one talks about, the side effects most women were never warned about, and the surprising ways hormonal contraceptives can shape everything from your mood and metabolism to your gut, your thyroid, and even your partner preferences. Then we get practical — because understanding the problem is only half the story. You’ll walk away with a clear, natural roadmap to support your body after stopping birth control, plus one powerful tool most women have never been told can dramatically support hormone recovery. If you’ve ever wondered whether the pill affected you more than you realized — or if you’re trying to heal, conceive, or simply feel like yourself again — this episode is going to connect dots you didn’t even know were missing. Next Steps: Start with phototherapy: susangladstein.com/phototherapy Go deeper with The Rooted Reset™: susangladstein.com/reset Join us in Costa Rica for the Rooted Reset Retreat 2026: susangladstein.com/retreat Join the Faith Over Pharma community: faithoverpharma.org Connect on Instagram: @susangladstein.co Get the Faithful in the Wait Devotional: faithfulinthewait.com