Birth Control, Your Brain, and What You Haven’t Been Told
Sometimes I share my own insights, and other times I feel called to spotlight powerful voices in the health and wellness space. Today is one of those days.
I want to introduce you to a TED Talk by Dr. Sarah Hill, Ph.D. in evolutionary psychology and author of This Is Your Brain on Birth Control.
As grown women (or partners of grown women!), most of us have our own experiences with birth control. We’ve heard about the physical side effects — but few of us have heard how hormonal birth control can alter the brain.
I’ve studied the effects of birth control for years — how it impacts the body, mood, gut, bones, and heart. I work with many clients who are rebalancing their hormones after coming off of hormonal birth control, and I support them in creating nutrition, lifestyle, and movement practices that promote healthy hormone production and detoxification.
I’ve also had countless conversations with mothers who are considering birth control for their daughters — and I find it infuriating how casually it’s prescribed. Doctors often hand it out like candy, highlighting only the benefits while rarely (if ever) mentioning the well-documented risks. Some don’t acknowledge them at all.
They don’t tell you that taking birth control suppresses ovulation — and with it, all the natural, vital benefits of a cyclical rhythm. They don’t tell you that painful, heavy, or absent periods are a sign of an underlying imbalance — not just something to “shut off.” But that’s a conversation for another day.
While this isn’t about me anymore, I care deeply about my clients — and especially about the next generation. My daughters, their peers, and the young women I support all deserve to understand how hormonal birth control affects not just their bodies, but their brains — from the partners they’re drawn to, to their stress response, motivation, and mood.
Let me be clear: I’m not “anti” birth control. I believe medications have a time and place. Every person’s situation is unique, and reproductive choices deserve thoughtful, informed decision-making.
The problem is, informed decisions aren’t being made — because people aren’t being given the full story.
That’s why I highly recommend Dr. Hill’s TED Talk — especially to mothers of teens and college-aged women. She breaks down how a pill that prevents pregnancy can shape your relationships, your emotions, and your behavior in ways few people realize.
Dr. Hill also dives deeper into this conversation on several podcasts — including this one: Habits and Hustle with Jen Cohen. I encouraged my own daughter to listen.
If you’re navigating hormonal imbalances or curious about how to support your body naturally, I’d love to help. Book a session with me to explore your options and feel confident and empowered in your choices.