How Hormonal Birth Control Impacts Energy Levels
Many women who start taking hormonal birth control, such as combination birth control pills, implants, patches, rings, or injectables, report feeling more tired than usual. Feeling drained, fatigued, or sleepy throughout the day is one of the most common side effects of hormonal contraception.
Why Birth Control May Cause Fatigue
All hormonal birth control methods contain either a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestin, or just progestin alone. These synthetic hormones work to prevent pregnancy in a few key ways:
- Stopping ovulation
- Thickening cervical mucus to block sperm
- Thinning the uterine lining to prevent implantation
But in altering natural hormone levels and disrupting normal menstrual cycles, these synthetic hormones can also inadvertently throw off other biological processes that impact energy levels, causing tiredness and fatigue.
Estrogen's Role in Fatigue
Estrogen is essential for regulating not only reproductive health, but also metabolic and vascular functioning that gives the body energy. When synthetic estrogen floods the system from birth control, it tricks the body into thinking it already has enough estrogen. Estrogen production from the ovaries then slows down.
With natural estrogen levels lowered, this can change how efficiently the body converts food into cellular energy. Blood sugar imbalances, inflammation, and thyroid dysfunction can also occur from low estrogen, further contributing to fatigue.
Progestin's Role in Fatigue
The synthetic progestin contained in most forms of hormonal birth control can also exacerbate fatigue in some women. Progestin works to thin the uterine lining, which can increase the duration and heaviness of monthly bleeding for some women. More substantial blood loss leads to lower iron levels, which reduces oxygen circulation and causes exhaustion.
Progestin also obstructs normal testosterone production. Since testosterone plays a key role in supplying muscles with energy, when testosterone is lowered from progestin there can be a dramatic drop in vigor, stamina, and wakefulness.
Other Factors that Increase Birth Control Fatigue
While interrupted estrogen and testosterone production play a big part, other mechanisms related to hormonal contraception may contribute to tiredness as well, such as:
- Altered electrolyte and mineral balances
- Impaired nutrient absorption
- Gut microbiome disruption
- Changes in circadian rhythms
- Fluctuating progesterone sensitivity
Additionally, the demands hormonal birth control places on the liver to metabolize synthetic hormones may result in fatigue. Emotional and psychological responses to contraception can factor in too.
Which Birth Control Methods Most Commonly Cause Fatigue?
Any birth control method that contains lab-made estrogen and progestin can potentially instigate exhaustion or low energy. However, certain kinds appear more likely to cause tiredness than others.
Combination Birth Control Pills
One study found over 25 percent of women taking combination birth control pills reported fatigue. The longer women take the pill continuously without an inactive break, the more prolonged feelings of tiredness seem to become.
Hormonal IUDs
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) that emit progestin also seem prone to provoking weariness. In a 2018 study, nearly 20 percent of women who received a hormonal IUD experienced diminished energy and vitality.
The Contraceptive Ring
Like combination pills and IUDs, contraceptive rings also supply steady hormones straight into the bloodstream. Research indicates around 25 percent of vaginal ring users struggle with low energy as a frequent side effect.
The Contraceptive Implant
Fatigue ranks among the most common complaints from women using progestin implants like Nexplanon. Given that the implant prevents all ovarian estrogen production, substantial hormonal fluctuations and deficiencies often occur that sap energy reserves.
The Contraceptive Shot
Finally, medroxyprogesterone acetate injections like the Depo-Provera shot may also commonly trigger sensations of sleepiness, sluggishness, and fatigue in users through their potent progestin effects of suppressing estrogen and testosterone.
When Does Birth Control Fatigue Appear and How Long Does It Last?
Most women notice birth control related exhaustion set in within the first three to six months of starting hormonal contraception. Some experience low energy right away within the first month. Fatigue usually comes and goes in waves, rather than presenting as constant.
Provided other medical issues get ruled out, tiredness due to birth control often resolves on its own within six months to a year as hormone levels regulate. But for some women, fatigue lasts indefinitely until discontinuing birth control or switching methods.
Short-Term Adjustment Phase
When first starting hormonal birth control, substantial shifts in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and other hormones create an adjustment period. The body needs time adapting to different hormonal cues before side effects like fatigue improve.
Long-Term Adaptation Issues
In certain women though, ongoing birth control use continues straining the endocrine system. Persistent fatigue while on birth control may signal suboptimal hormonal adaptation. This indicates a need to change contraceptive methods.
Lifestyle Changes to Counteract Birth Control Fatigue
While some tiredness stems directly from hormonal birth control’s biological impact, certain lifestyle factors also play a role. Implementing healthy sleep, diet, exercise and stress reducing habits can help alleviate fatigue, whether or not you stop taking hormonal birth control.
Prioritize High Quality Sleep
Make adopting consistent sleep routines a top priority, aiming for around 8 hours nightly. Turn off screens before bed, eliminate caffeine after noon, establish soothing pre-bedtime rituals, and create an ultra-dark, cool, quiet sleeping environment to encourage deep refreshing sleep.
Exercise and Move Daily
Incorporate exercise that gets your heart rate elevated most days of the week. This could include brisk walking, jogging, cycling, aerobics classes, swimming, dancing, kick-boxing, or whatever activities you enjoy that make you break a sweat. Even 10 minute mini-workouts temporarily boost energy.
Eat Energizing Nutrient-Dense Foods
Emphasize eating plenty of fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts/seeds, beans/legumes, eggs, fatty fish, yogurt, and quality proteins while minimizing sugar, refined carbs, fried foods, and alcohol. Stay hydrated by drinking water consistently throughout the day as well.
Explore Stress-Busting Techniques
Carve out time for relaxing hobbies like reading, crafting, or gardening. Practice mind-body therapies like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, journaling, or massage to decompress. Say no to obligation overload and seek support if feeling overwhelmed.
Get Your Iron and Thyroid Levels Checked
Since heavy bleeding from birth control can deplete iron stores causing fatigue, ask your doctor to test your ferritin levels. Lagging thyroid function also commonly contributes to exhaustion, so request TSH, free T4 and T3 testing too if energy nosedives.
Take Supplements That Support Energy
Discuss supplementing with iron if bloodwork reveals low ferritin. Vitamin D, B complex, magnesium, zinc, omega 3s, vitamin C, ginseng, CoQ10 and NAC also help combat fatigue when lacking.
When to Consider Switching Birth Control Methods
If healthy lifestyle measures don’t lift birth control related fatigue after 6-12 months, reassessing contraceptive options may offer relief. Confer with your healthcare provider about alternative birth control methods less likely to drag down energy levels.
Progestin-Only Options
Switching from combined estrogen-progestin birth control to progestin-only methods like the mini-pill, Kyleena IUD, or Depo shot might help. Since progestin-only options don’t suppress natural estrogen production like combination hormones, energy improves more easily.
Non-Hormonal Options
Ditching hormonal birth control altogether in favor of non-hormonal Paragard copper IUDs, condoms, diaphragms, natural family planning or permanent sterilization procedures represents the surest way to stop birth control fatigue in its tracks.
Continuous Use
For those experiencing profound fatigue around period time due to hormonal shifts, moving to continuous birth control use can help stabilize energy. This involves taking active combination pills, patches or rings back-to-back without any breaks.
When to See Your Doctor
Occasional tiredness while adjusting to new birth control often resolves independently within several months. But unremitting exhaustion, sudden severe fatigue, or energy drain accompanied by other issues like weakness, palpitations, menstrual problems, or depression warrant medical evaluation to assess for underlying conditions exacerbated by hormonal birth control.
Connecting with your healthcare provider allows you to pinpoint the root cause of fatigue, whether it stems from hormonal factors, iron depletion, thyroid dysfunction, nutrition issues, insomnia, infection, or other illnesses. Your doctor can then help guide appropriate treatment to restore normal energy levels so you feel your best, while also addressing contraception.
FAQs
Why does birth control make you tired?
Birth control fatigue is often caused by synthetic hormones like estrogen and progestin altering natural hormone production. This can disrupt normal metabolic, vascular, and endocrine system functioning that gives the body normal energy levels. Nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, circadian rhythm changes, liver demand, and emotional factors may also play a role.
How long does birth control fatigue last?
Some tiredness is normal for the first 3-6 months when adjusting to new birth control. But fatigue typically resolves within 6-12 months as hormones regulate. For some women though, birth control fatigue persists indefinitely unless they switch methods or discontinue hormonal contraception.
What birth control is least likely to cause fatigue?
Progestin-only options like the mini-pill, Depo shot, and hormonal IUDs seem less likely to cause fatigue than combination birth control. Complete non-hormonal methods like copper IUDs, condoms, natural family planning and sterilization carry the lowest fatigue risk since they don't alter natural hormones at all.
How can you reduce birth control fatigue?
Get checked for nutrient deficiencies, anemia, and thyroid issues. Prioritize sleep, nutrition, exercise and stress management. Take targeted supplements if deficient. Consider switching to a progestin-only or non-hormonal birth control method if fatigue persists beyond 6-12 months and lifestyle measures don't help.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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