Basic Body Literacy

Some basic body literacy:

A proper period or menstrual bleed is a bleed at the end of a natural ovulatory cycle. Any other type of bleed is either a pill bleed (a withdrawal bleed from stopping contraceptive drugs) or an anovulatory cycle (a bleed when there has been no ovulation).

A menstrual cycle is, therefore, an “ovulatory cycle,” in which ovulation is the main event.

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Does Birth Control Cause Weight Gain?

birth control weight gain

Does hormonal birth control impair metabolic health or cause weight gain? If so, which types are the worst?

First of all, most types of hormonal birth control suppress ovulation and, therefore, switch off estradiol and progesterone. That means most types of hormonal birth control switch off the metabolism-enhancing benefits of those natural hormones. In that sense, any type of hormonal birth control could potentially impair metabolic health.

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The Pros and Cons of Hormonal IUDs (Mirena, Kyleena, and Skyla)

Mirena hormonal IUDHormonal IUDs are different from all types of hormonal birth control in that they do not suppress ovulation and can, therefore, permit natural cycling.

Other benefits of hormonal IUDs are that they are convenient and a highly effective method of birth control. They can also dramatically reduce menstrual flow and relieve pain and other symptoms of endometriosis.

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