Latest / hol+ with Dr. Taz MD | The Future of Medicine is Holistic / Birth Control Side Effects No One Warned You About: Attraction, Hormones and Fertility | Dr. Taz
Transcript
- [00:00:00] Dr. Taz: The birth control pill can change who we're attracted to, who we'll choose as a mate, [00:00:05] and folks on the pill will choose a different person than off the pill. The birth control pill [00:00:10] can actually change your brain. It can change how you think, how you [00:00:15] feel, what choices you'll make. We do see a link between [00:00:20] inflammation and cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular [00:00:25] disease, along with mental health issues. [00:00:27] Dr. Taz: Ovarian aging is accelerating [00:00:30] at a faster rate than what we are really comfortable with. Today, we're diving into a [00:00:35] topic that has become near and dear to my heart. We're gonna be talking about birth [00:00:40] control, and is it safe? Is it not safe? And what are the [00:00:45] long-term risk of being on birth control for long periods of time?[00:00:50] [00:00:50] Dr. Taz: This episode is sponsored by HolPlus, a holistic health platform built around [00:00:55] education, personalization, and integrative care. HolPlus blends [00:01:00] holistic, integrative, and functional medicine clinics with learning resources like [00:01:05] blogs, YouTube videos, and of course, this podcast, so you're not just treated, you're [00:01:10] informed. [00:01:10] Dr. Taz: The platform also includes holistic health quizzes and a curated wellness shop, helping [00:01:15] you make choices that support your body at the root level. HolPlus is [00:01:20] holistic healthcare designed for real life. Visit us at [00:01:25] HolPlus.co to learn more about the [00:01:26] Dr. Taz: platform. Again, that's H-O-L-P-L-U-S [00:01:30] dot C-O. [00:01:30] Dr. Taz: I continue to meet women over and over again who've been on the birth control pill for 10 years, [00:01:35] 15 years. [00:01:36] Dr. Taz: In fact, they use the birth control pill from the time they were [00:01:40] teenagers to regulate their hormones and regulate their cycles, and they've never had an [00:01:45] opportunity to dig deep and understand what's going on with their different hormone levels. [00:01:50] Part of why I'm so interested in this, selfishly, is of course, we've had [00:01:55] patients over the years ask us these questions about the birth control pill and what I think and [00:02:00] what we need to do, but I do have an 18-year-old headed off to college, and I wanna be [00:02:05] prepared for her and for her friends to really talk in a [00:02:10] holistic manner about what it means to be on birth control, because we know you need birth [00:02:15] control, but there's gotta be an in-depth look at what it really [00:02:20] means for our bodies. [00:02:21] Dr. Taz: Now, the research coming out around the birth control pill [00:02:25] and the impact on our health is evolving, and [00:02:30] daily, I'm seeing a new study, something new talking about how we need to be thinking about [00:02:35] birth control and birth control usage a little bit differently. But I think one of the things we've [00:02:40] known for a very long period of time, this is not new research, this has been there, we're just not [00:02:45] talking about it, is the connection between birth control and [00:02:50] inflammation. [00:02:50] Dr. Taz: And let me talk to you a little bit about what I mean here. What we are [00:02:55] finding in research over and over again is that there is a link between low-grade [00:03:00] chronic inflammation and being on the birth control pill or even an [00:03:05] IUD. Now, somebody listening to this may push back a little bit and say, "Well, women have [00:03:10] inflammation at varying points of their cycle anyways," and you are [00:03:15] absolutely correct. [00:03:16] Dr. Taz: The nature of our hormone and our hormone rhythms really [00:03:20] lends itself to having issues with inflammation, and here's why. Any time [00:03:25] we shift our hormone cycle, when progesterone levels go down as they do towards the latter [00:03:30] half of the cycle, or if we have higher than average levels of estrogen, [00:03:35] that ratio, that estrogen to progesterone ratio, when it's not in the right place, [00:03:40] can be a trigger for chronic inflammation. [00:03:43] Dr. Taz: But here's what's [00:03:45] different when we bring the birth control pill into the picture When we go to [00:03:50] measure inflammation in women at varying points of their cycle, and in our young girls, by the [00:03:55] way, yes, we can find elevated levels of maybe a CRP, which is a [00:04:00] marker of inflammation, a sed rate, or something called IL-6, interleukin-6. [00:04:04] Dr. Taz: [00:04:05] Interleukin-6 is an inflammatory marker that we don't use [00:04:10] frequently, but it is a better in-depth look at low-grade chronic [00:04:15] inflammation, as is your white count. Just looking at your, uh, W, uh, [00:04:20] WBC or your white blood cell count can be very helpful in understanding where you are with inflammation. [00:04:25] So we've got these issues with inflammation when it comes to women and hormones, which is also [00:04:30] why women are more susceptible to autoimmune disease. [00:04:33] Dr. Taz: But when we add [00:04:35] in the birth control pill or an IUD, that inflammation [00:04:40] picture changes a little bit. Instead of just being elevated CRPs or a [00:04:45] high IL-6, we actually see elevations in a different kind of [00:04:50] inflammation marker. That one is called TNF alpha, or tumor necrosis factor [00:04:55] alpha, and that one is tied more to mood and to [00:05:00] weight than a traditional IL-6. [00:05:02] Dr. Taz: So what does this mean for young women and [00:05:05] girls and even women in perimenopause who are managing their symptoms with birth control, [00:05:10] maybe birth control pills or an IUD? Well, it means that we do need to be [00:05:15] tracking inflammation in a more strategic and a consistent way. [00:05:20] Because the downside of this, or sort of if we fast-forward, is that we do [00:05:25] see a link between inflammation and [00:05:30] cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular disease, and definitely [00:05:35] inflammation meta- and metabolic disorders along with mental health issues. [00:05:39] Dr. Taz: So [00:05:40] if women are already vulnerable on the front end of this before a birth [00:05:45] control option even enters the picture, then we become even more vulnerable [00:05:50] when we start engaging in different forms of birth control. Now, I know a lot of you are [00:05:55] gonna push back and say, "Oh my gosh, the birth control pill stops my pain. [00:05:59] Dr. Taz: It controlled [00:06:00] my endometriosis, you know, it helped with my bloating," or so many other things that the birth [00:06:05] control pill or birth control in general can actually do. I know that [00:06:10] something like an IUD has stopped super heavy bleeding. Those things are the [00:06:15] benefits, right, of understanding or being able to use some of these different, uh, [00:06:20] methods of contraception. [00:06:22] Dr. Taz: However, what we have to look at [00:06:25] is weighing the pros against the cons, right? So if you do have horrific [00:06:30] periods and they aren't being controlled by some of the things we're gonna talk about later in the show, [00:06:35] then yes, a birth control pill or an IUD is absolutely an option. [00:06:40] Or if you really need contraception, then yes, these are options. [00:06:44] Dr. Taz: But what we're [00:06:45] asking for, or what I'm asking for from a holistic standpoint or a whole [00:06:50] body standpoint, is that we actually monitor some of the downside [00:06:55] or some of the side effects that we know of birth control. So inflammation is one of them, and [00:07:00] looking at something like a TNF alpha, your white blood cell count, looking at [00:07:05] IL-6, and then the more traditional sort of, uh, ways of checking inflammation, [00:07:10] which include a CRP And a sed rate are helpful as well. [00:07:14] Dr. Taz: [00:07:15] Now, the IUD, some of you may say, "Okay, I'm not gonna do the birth control pill. I'm gonna do [00:07:20] like an IUD, a copper IUD, or a non-hormonal IUD." Th- that actually [00:07:25] contributes to inflammation in a slightly different way. What studies are telling us, I'm looking [00:07:30] at this right now as we speak, is that copper IUD, uh, folks [00:07:35] actually experience more issues with bacterial diversity, meaning [00:07:40] their microbiome d- isn't as balanced as someone not on the IUD.[00:07:45] [00:07:45] Dr. Taz: And the reason for this is because it causes an inflammatory reaction [00:07:50] resulting in a shift towards an anaerobic profile of bacteria [00:07:55] versus having the right amount of Lactobacillus bacteria and Bifidobacteria in your gut that [00:08:00] you need to help mitigate inflammation. So again, whether it's birth control pill or [00:08:05] whether it's your IUD, both of them may be contributing to this inflammatory [00:08:10] response. [00:08:11] Dr. Taz: So again, screening, checking, [00:08:15] understanding where your gut health fits into the conversation around birth control, understanding the [00:08:20] link between the gut inflammation and birth control, and then making a choice is [00:08:25] probably your best bet. Now, when it comes to [00:08:30] choosing an actual birth control option, let's go through some of what are the [00:08:35] current options are, you know, as we speak. [00:08:38] Dr. Taz: So we definitely have the pills. So we have the [00:08:40] monophasic pills, which means there's just a fixed amount of hormone coming into your [00:08:45] system, right? These, like all the other pills, suppress ovulation. They thicken your cervical [00:08:50] mucus and your uterine lining. They affect the liver, something called [00:08:55] the sex hormone binding globulin, which impacts how much hormone is circulating [00:09:00] around, bound or unbound, your nutrient loads, and then of course, the [00:09:05] inflammation markers that we just talked about. [00:09:07] Dr. Taz: So the monophasic pills mean [00:09:10] same dose all throughout the month. These are things like Yaz, Yasmin, Sprintec is one, [00:09:15] Junel, uh, Loestrin, Loloestrin, Microgestin. Those are examples of your [00:09:20] monophasic pills. Your multiphasic pills will vary throughout the month. [00:09:25] There's some variability in the dosing. So orthotricyclene is one that's [00:09:30] very common. [00:09:30] Dr. Taz: Npress is another one. And then you have your extended continuous [00:09:35] cycle pills, which means that they're sort of maybe going over the course of three [00:09:40] cycles or four cycles. Those are things like Seasonique, um, Amethyst, Ravessa is [00:09:45] another one. We have our patches, which are Xulane. Uh, Twirla is another [00:09:50] example of that. [00:09:50] Dr. Taz: And then of course, we have our vaginal rings like the NuvaRing Or, [00:09:55] um, a newer one called like Annovera, which is actually a one-year ring. So when we [00:10:00] have these combined, and by the way, these are all estrogen and progesterone [00:10:05] combined options, right? They're not progesterone alone or progestin alone, [00:10:10] but they're combined. [00:10:11] Dr. Taz: So when we've got some of these combined hormones, some of the [00:10:15] concerns are we see an elevation, again, as we talked about in TNF alpha and [00:10:20] CRP, your inflammation markers. We see an increase in something called [00:10:25] SHBG, which is your sex hormone binding globulin. We check these routinely at HolPlus. [00:10:30] But that in turn is impacting testosterone levels and can in turn [00:10:35] bring your free testosterone down, which is gonna affect your mood, your libido, and your overall [00:10:40] metabolic health. [00:10:41] Dr. Taz: In addition to that, these combined sort of hormone [00:10:45] regimens will impact nutrient and nutrient loading. If you're listening to this [00:10:50] and thinking, "I know something is off in my body, but I don't know where to [00:10:55] start," this is for you That's why I created the Circle. The [00:11:00] Circle is my private community where I and my team focus on understanding your body [00:11:05] from hormones and stress to metabolic health and longevity with real-life [00:11:10] guidance that you can actually use. [00:11:11] Dr. Taz: This is about clarity and consistency and [00:11:15] support beyond the exam room, and maybe outside of all the different appointments and [00:11:20] experts that you've been running around to. You can try the Circle with a one-month trial [00:11:25] using the promo code podcast at [00:11:30] HolPlus.co/circle. Again, that's HolPlus, [00:11:35] HolPlus.co/circle. [00:11:35] Dr. Taz: All right, let's jump back into the episode. We know and we see this in [00:11:40] research that the birth control pill and some of these, uh, uh, hormonal [00:11:45] options will impact your load of B vitamins, magnesium, [00:11:50] zinc, and selenium, which if we tie all those nutrients to so many different other [00:11:55] processes in the body, we understand that that in turn is affecting your thyroid, your [00:12:00] insulin, you know, uh, your ability to build muscle, your energy, your focus and [00:12:05] concentration, and so much more. [00:12:07] Dr. Taz: We also know that this impacts [00:12:10] glucose and the way your body uses blood sugar and glucose, uh, and insulin. And [00:12:15] then lastly, it suppresses something called the AMH, which is a very important [00:12:20] marker to talk about. But when you test an AMH for somebody that is [00:12:25] on birth control of some kind, it's going to test out low because you're [00:12:30] artificially suppressing their ovarian reserve. [00:12:33] Dr. Taz: So again, these are [00:12:35] some of the, some of the things we need to be thinking about. I'm not trying to pin birth control as being bad, [00:12:40] but just saying we need to be thinking about some of this stuff as we move forward. Now, there [00:12:45] are progestin-only options for birth control. These thicken up the [00:12:50] cervical mucus, and they suppress ovulation depending on the formulation. [00:12:54] Dr. Taz: [00:12:55] Now, some folks don't metabolize progestin very well, so these are the [00:13:00] patients that I see that will often have a lot of breast tenderness with the progestin-only [00:13:05] sort of, uh, option, or they'll start to gain a lot of weight. Your hormonal IUDs are an [00:13:10] example of this, like the Mirena, uh, Kyleena. These are some that... [00:13:14] Dr. Taz: Skyla is [00:13:15] another one, that are progestin only. Your subdermal implants, like your [00:13:20] Nexplanon is another one. And then of course, we have the injectable options, which are a little bit older, [00:13:25] like Depo-Provera or Depo-SubQ, which again are progesterone [00:13:30] Only. So the issue with progestin only is there are some concerns around [00:13:35] bone loss, again, around lowering testosterone, and remember, progestin is an [00:13:40] androgen. [00:13:40] Dr. Taz: So if you're someone already dealing with high androgen [00:13:45] symptoms like hair loss and acne and oily skin and some of those type of [00:13:50] things, then a progestin-only solution may not be right for you 'cause there is an androgenic [00:13:55] component to that. So again, we have to think through, if you're somebody [00:14:00] with PCOS, or now called PMOS, and you're having those particular issues, [00:14:05] and you start, you know, a progestin-only form of [00:14:10] contraception, well then we may be increasing your androgenic load, and you may... [00:14:14] Dr. Taz: There's the [00:14:15] potential to have more issues with some of those high androgen symptoms. So what's [00:14:20] the answer? The answer is if that is the option you choose, then we need to track, and we need [00:14:25] to test what's going on there. All right. Aside from the combination of [00:14:30] estrogen and progesterone to progestin only, there are also non-hormonal [00:14:35] versions of contraception. [00:14:37] Dr. Taz: These include, again, the copper IUD, which is the [00:14:40] Paragard, barrier devices like the condom, um, spermicide gels, [00:14:45] diaphragmatic caps, and again, natural cycles, right? Where you are aware of your [00:14:50] fertility window. You are tracking it. You know when ovulation occurs. On [00:14:55] a traditional 28-day cycle, most, for most, and everyone's different, this is why you have [00:15:00] to check, ovulation is usually somewhere between days 12 to 14 or [00:15:05] so, and that way you can track and see sort of what's going on there. [00:15:09] Dr. Taz: And of course, there's the [00:15:10] permanent options like tubal ligation and of course, you know, having your partner [00:15:15] get a vasectomy. So bottom line, we've got many different [00:15:20] options on the menu when it comes to contraception, but the nuances [00:15:25] there are understanding what your body may need and what it may do better [00:15:30] with and then what needs to be tracked as we move forward, everything from inflammation to [00:15:35] nutrient load to your androgen index to testosterone [00:15:40] to even the markers of your mental health Now let's revisit the nutrient [00:15:45] component for just a minute, and this is where I think we really get women [00:15:50] into trouble, because we put them on any of these things, but we don't do [00:15:55] nutrient testing. [00:15:56] Dr. Taz: We don't talk about or do any kind of nutrition counseling with [00:16:00] them, right? Where- whereas we know or we have the evidence, so to speak, [00:16:05] that many of these forms of contraception, like I said, drop B vitamin loads, um, [00:16:10] magnesium loads, zinc, selenium, and even CoQ10. So what does this [00:16:15] mean for you? So when B vitamins are falling, and, you know, if you've been [00:16:20] listening or following me for a while, you know I talk a lot about, like, these bookends, right, [00:16:25] of hormone and hormone health that are B- B vitamins sort of in the morning [00:16:30] and magnesium at night. [00:16:31] Dr. Taz: B is, of course, helping with the mitochondria, helping with energy, [00:16:35] magnesium helping with cortisol and sleep and even hormones like progesterone and [00:16:40] thyroid. But as we deplete these hormones, women and girls [00:16:45] start to experience more issues with anxiety, with, uh, focus and [00:16:50] concentration, sleep disruption for sure, and then a lot of issues with their stress [00:16:55] response. [00:16:55] Dr. Taz: So this is why we say that the birth control pill can actually [00:17:00] change your brain. It can change how you think, how you feel, what [00:17:05] choices you'll make, you know, and even your ability and bandwidth to [00:17:10] take on risk and to try new challenges. Now, that's pretty [00:17:15] profound, because if you're a young woman, maybe anywhere from 16 to [00:17:20] 25 or even 30, and you're on a form of contraception, and [00:17:25] you're stuck at a place in your life where you're not sure what the next step is, [00:17:30] just realize that your contraception could be influencing your decision-making.[00:17:35] [00:17:35] Dr. Taz: And I had on a researcher, uh, I think it was about a [00:17:40] season or two ago, Dr. Sarah Hill, you guys could probably look that episode back up, [00:17:45] but she talked very clearly about how, you know, the birth control pill [00:17:50] can change who we're attracted to, who we'll choose as a mate. And folks on the [00:17:55] pill would choose a different person than off the pill. [00:17:57] Dr. Taz: And it was very fascinating [00:18:00] research, but at the end of the day, I think the take-home message and what we know even from the nutrient component of [00:18:05] this is that the birth control pill can indeed change your brain. [00:18:10] So it's important to do nutrient testing alongside [00:18:15] whatever you're choosing from a contraception standpoint So let's get [00:18:20] into what we can do, right? [00:18:21] Dr. Taz: I don't wanna be all doom and gloom. Gotta tell my daughter something, [00:18:25] gotta tell her friends something. What can you do to s- kinda take advantage [00:18:30] of choosing the right contraception and understanding that the [00:18:35] emerging research is advising you to do two things in particular? One, to choose [00:18:40] wisely, and two, to not assume you should be on birth control, A, for [00:18:45] control of your hormones, and B, just to be on it for extended periods of time without really digging [00:18:50] in to how it's impacting your overall health. [00:18:54] Dr. Taz: So first things [00:18:55] first, here's what I wanna do We can't get away from this. Please don't roll your eyes, [00:19:00] but you cannot get away from the importance of a healthy diet, even [00:19:05] when you're choosing a birth control pill, especially if you understand [00:19:10] and adhere to the premise that as a young girl or a woman, we are more prone to inflammation [00:19:15] anyways. [00:19:16] Dr. Taz: So an anti-inflammatory diet, minimizing processed [00:19:20] foods and junk foods, minimizing alcohol, high sugar, and high yeast [00:19:25] foods is critical. We wanna keep alcohol maybe under about four to [00:19:30] six drinks a week, and if you are going to drink more than that, college [00:19:35] kids, high school kids that should not be drinking, and everybody else older than that, then [00:19:40] you do need to have a plan to minimize inflammation [00:19:45] post one of those episodes, whether that is going on a three-day cleanup, doing things [00:19:50] like glutathione or NAD to help mitigate that inflammation, but you have to be [00:19:55] thinking about this. [00:19:56] Dr. Taz: So an anti-inflammatory diet, reducing processed foods, [00:20:00] critical even as a starting step to contraception. Next, [00:20:05] start to support your nutrients. You can do this in two ways. You can nutrient test, where you [00:20:10] can come into one of our clinics and start to understand what the levels are of [00:20:15] B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, selenium, CoQ10, or you can [00:20:20] start to do some supplementation, at least with a B and magnesium, to help [00:20:25] those bookends of healthy hormones and healthy hormone balance that in turn [00:20:30] help your brain, help your mood, help your energy, and help your metabolism as well. [00:20:34] Dr. Taz: [00:20:35] So those are some of the ways to get started in this conversation. If you are ready for deeper [00:20:40] testing, here are the things, if you wanna write them down, that I would recommend that [00:20:45] you check before you choose a method of contraception. Look at your [00:20:50] pre-birth control, pre-contraception AMH levels. [00:20:54] Dr. Taz: [00:20:55] Understand where your ovarian reserve is before we start to tamper with it. [00:21:00] Understand where all the B vitamins are, magnesium, zinc, copper, vitamin D, your [00:21:05] inflammation markers like a CRP, TNF alpha, and even an [00:21:10] IL-6, and a free testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin, along with a fasting [00:21:15] glucose and fasting insulin level. [00:21:17] Dr. Taz: These are all critical to [00:21:20] understanding where you are versus your best friend, versus somebody else you know in your family, in terms [00:21:25] of where you need to land with your overall nutrient profile. [00:21:30] Next, I would say really start to look at sleep and stress because those will directly impact [00:21:35] what your levels of hormones are, what your ovarian reserve will do, and [00:21:40] where you will land in this conversation. [00:21:42] Dr. Taz: Chinese medicine talks a lot about chi, or [00:21:45] energy that we're gifted with, right? And one of the things they talk about is when [00:21:50] you apply that concept of qi to even something like ovarian reserve, [00:21:55] right, which is a, a sign they say of your kidney qi, then it is your [00:22:00] responsibility to preserve and protect it, or are you gonna drain it rapidly and [00:22:05] in turn accelerate something like ovarian aging, impacting your [00:22:10] fertility in the years to come? [00:22:11] Dr. Taz: So again, these are things that you have to be [00:22:15] conscious of. You know, if you have a rough week or exams [00:22:20] or something that has kept you up and prevented you from sleeping, well, then we have to [00:22:25] do the recovery work, which is where your self-care doubles or even triples, whether [00:22:30] that is acupuncture or massage or getting out in nature or getting morning sunlight. [00:22:34] Dr. Taz: All [00:22:35] of these things are resetting that cortisol axis so that you in turn won't [00:22:40] fall victim to cortisol and hormone disruption and inflammation down the [00:22:45] road. We can't have a conversation around birth control without bringing in kind of the [00:22:50] east-west Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine perspective. [00:22:53] Dr. Taz: They approach this [00:22:55] concept or this topic by saying women needed to supplement their qi or their [00:23:00] energy or their life force, and their toolbox usually turned [00:23:05] to herbal medicine and herbal remedies. These were in Chinese medicine rooted in something called [00:23:10] kidney jing. That's how they talked about it, which was directly tied to reproductive [00:23:15] vitality. [00:23:15] Dr. Taz: Jing, they said, could be depleted by stress, by overwork, by [00:23:20] years of suppressing the natural cycle. Downstream is what we call [00:23:25] ovarian aging in Western medicine. So here are some of the herbs. Again, I don't want you just to [00:23:30] run out and start these. You have to ideally, you know, do it with some advice, but dong quai is one [00:23:35] that we talk about all the time. [00:23:36] Dr. Taz: It supports estrogen balance. It's an anti-inflammatory [00:23:40] herb. Bai shao is another one, again, nourishes the blood, helps with the LH and [00:23:45] FSH ratios, really does help to reduce PCOS symptoms. There's [00:23:50] rehmannia, which is again a kidney tonic. It improves AMH as well. Uh, dang [00:23:55] shen is one that we've used before. [00:23:56] Dr. Taz: It's a qi tonic. It supports the gut. So all of these are some [00:24:00] of the traditional Chinese medicine herbs that were in their formulary to improve this [00:24:05] idea of kidney jing because again, it was about providing energy and then [00:24:10] moving energy. So you provide energy with food and rest and herbs, and you [00:24:15] move energy with acupuncture, moxibustion, or cupping Now in [00:24:20] Ayurvedic medicine, very similar idea, very similar concept, except they used [00:24:25] different words. [00:24:25] Dr. Taz: They talked more about something called ojas and [00:24:30] pranas, prana being your energy, ojas being sort of your dosha or where you landed. [00:24:35] They also turned to herbs, although the herbs were a little bit different. They talked about shatavari, [00:24:40] which was sort of the queen of herb for... or the queen bee herb, I should say, for reproduction [00:24:45] and for vitality. [00:24:46] Dr. Taz: It was a reproductive tonic. It helped the hypothalamic [00:24:50] pituitary axis and helped follicular maturation. So that was a big one. The other one was [00:24:55] ashwagandha, which you guys have all heard before, but helps with stress resilience, helps the HPA [00:25:00] axis for sure, helps with cortisol, and then amla, which I personally love and is in a [00:25:05] lot of my formulas, which is an antioxidant, supports the immune system, [00:25:10] nourishes the tissue, really high in vitamin C, and supports, um, kinda egg [00:25:15] quality and oxidative stress. [00:25:17] Dr. Taz: So shatavari, ashwagandha, amla, [00:25:20] uh, another one called tribulus, these were all herbs used in the Ayurvedic [00:25:25] toolbox when it came to protecting reproductive health. So long story [00:25:30] short, what do you do when you're thinking about birth control, and what do you [00:25:35] do when you're thinking about how to use contraception effectively? [00:25:39] Dr. Taz: The pill [00:25:40] should be a helper. It shouldn't be something that's sabotaging your overall [00:25:45] health, and the way to move forward and do this is to, of course, put the fundamental pillars [00:25:50] of holistic health into place, right? Diet, sleep, stress management, [00:25:55] herbal remedies. But more importantly, understand where your starting point [00:26:00] may be. [00:26:00] Dr. Taz: Where's your nutrient load? Where's your gut health? Where's inflammation? Where's [00:26:05] your AMH? Where are you in the conversation around ovarian [00:26:10] aging? And I'm actually reaching out to everyone 12 years old [00:26:15] and above because in the environment that we live in today, we understand that [00:26:20] ovarian aging is accelerating at a faster rate than what we are [00:26:25] really comfortable with. [00:26:26] Dr. Taz: And women, when they hit 25, 26, and [00:26:30] 27, are having to make choices and decisions not just about their hormone health, but also about [00:26:35] fertility that may not serve them well as they move into their 40s, 50s, [00:26:40] and beyond. So this is a conversation for all women, for moms like me with young [00:26:45] daughters, for teenagers that wanna get educated, and to understand [00:26:50] that birth control exists and may be necessary for a season of your life, [00:26:55] but it should be short-term, well thought through, with a full understanding [00:27:00] of your personal chemistry and your overall health All right, that is the [00:27:05] holistic approach to birth control and thinking through it. [00:27:07] Dr. Taz: I could probably go on forever and [00:27:10] talk more about Ayurveda and Chinese medicine and so many other thoughts there. But I [00:27:15] wanted you guys to at least have a starting point, or at least start to stir something in your brain if [00:27:20] you have never thought about this before. Remember, the future of your health is [00:27:25] holistic, where you put all the pieces together. [00:27:27] Dr. Taz: You take the time and energy to wind [00:27:30] your story into a beautiful sort of roadmap that you can follow no [00:27:35] matter how old you are, and no matter the twists and turns that your life has to [00:27:40] offer you. All right, I hope you enjoyed this episode of the show. Don't forget, we post [00:27:45] new episodes every week. Please subscribe and share this with a woman [00:27:50] who needs to hear this if they are thinking about a birth control or hormone [00:27:55] journey in their future. [00:27:56] Dr. Taz: I'll see you guys next time. Before you go, take a second to [00:28:00] reflect on what stood out for you today. Then if you can, leave a quick review [00:28:05] wherever you're listening. It really helps other people discover HolPlus and start [00:28:10] their own healing journey. And don't forget to follow me on Instagram @drtazmd. [00:28:15] I love hearing how these episodes are supporting you