Women who are suffering from fibroids and want to stop using birth control can find it difficult to make the transition safely. There is an increase in estrogen levels when stopping birth control that may further exacerbate symptoms of fibroid tumors, so it’s important to consider all factors before making the decision. Here are three tips for safely discontinuing birth control if you have fibroids.
Introduction
Fibroids are benign tumors that grow on the wall of the uterus, commonly caused by elevated levels of estrogen. Women taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills) often experience a decrease in size or elimination of fibroids due to the suppression of ovulation which reduces estrogen levels. However, when these women choose to stop using birth control they must take extra precautions to ensure their hormones don’t become imbalanced, as this could cause their fibroids to grow or worsen existing symptoms.
Step 1: Consult Your Doctor
The first step to safely stopping your birth control is consulting with your doctor. They will be able to provide advice based on your individual situation and medical history, including alternative treatments that may be available to reduce the risk of worsening symptoms associated with fibroids while also preventing unwanted pregnancy. If you decide to discontinue use of hormonal birth control, then your doctor should help you come up with a plan for monitoring any changes to your condition following the change in medication.
Step 2: Review All Alternatives & Considerations Before Stopping Birth Control
Before completely stopping your birth control, you should review all alternatives and considerations carefully. Depending on your situation, other forms of contraception such as non-hormonal IUDs or barrier methods like condoms may be preferable to continuing use of hormonal birth control. It’s also important to consider lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise that could influence hormone balance and potentially impact fibroid growth.
Step 3: Make Adjustments As Needed & Monitor Your Progress Over Time
Once you’ve decided to stop using birth control, you should make necessary adjustments in order to keep your hormone levels balanced and minimize potential exacerbation of symptoms related to fibroids. This may include dietary changes or supplementing with vitamins and minerals known to support healthy hormone levels. It’s also important to monitor your progress over time to ensure there aren’t any unexpected increases in symptoms or negative impacts on your overall health.
Conclusion
Stopping birth control can be complicated for women who suffer from fibroids due to an increased risk of symptom exacerbation associated with higher levels of estrogen. With careful consideration and consultation with your doctor, however, you can make the transition safely by reviewing all alternatives and considerations beforehand, making necessary adjustments, and closely monitoring your progress over time.