
07/31/2025
Kate Ferguson: Birth control is not the devil. It can actually be a really helpful tool for PCOS treatment to ensure you get a monthly period (which protects you from uterine lining overgrowth), and reduce acne and unwanted hair growth.
The issue with birth control is when it’s prescribed as a silver bullet approach “here take this and come back when you want to get pregnant”. There are so many risk factors and symptoms left unaddressed:
•cardiovascular risk
•insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk
•mood disorders
•Weight challenges
•Energy concerns
This is where lifestyle medicine can shine. You can still tackle all these factors WHILE your take birth control, or you can choose to tackle them without birth control, either way you need to be doing things other than relying solely on the pill.
If you plan to get pregnant in the future taking birth control doesn’t negatively impact your fertility, HOWEVER it can mask signs of infertility if you’re taking the pill and not implementing lifestyle medicine to address your PCOS. If you are able to work on your hormonal health while taking the pill, you can set yourself up for success when you choose to come off of it.
Give me a 🙋🏻♀️ in the comments if you’ve been prescribed the pill and nothing else.
Follow along for more real life hormonal health information and strategies