Coming off the pill, and getting to know your body
Maybe you’re thinking about stopping. Maybe you’ve already stopped, and your skin, your period or your mood hasn’t been the same since. Or maybe you’re off the pill and starting to think about a baby.
Wherever you are, I’d love to help. It really lights me up when a woman comes to me wanting to come off the pill, because I get to watch her get to know her body and her cycle, often for the very first time.
Rachael Jordan, nutritionist (BSc Hons) and registered herbalist. Online, across Ireland and beyond.
Where are you right now?
You’re thinking about coming off. The three months before you stop make such a difference. The pill uses up B vitamins, magnesium and zinc, so we start replenishing them, steadying your blood sugar and bringing your stress down before you stop. I feel this preparation is the key to easing the side effects so many women get.
You’ve come off, and things aren’t right. Your period hasn’t come back, or it’s all over the place. Your skin has broken out, your hair is shedding, or your moods are up and down. It isn’t in your head, and there’s so much we can do.
You’re off the pill and thinking about a baby. Coming off the pill is preparation for pregnancy too. I usually suggest getting to know your cycle first, then about three months of preparation before you start trying, for your partner as well as you.
Why coming off can feel so rough
I describe it like taking the lid off your hormones. The synthetic hormones in most pills act a lot like androgens, and when you stop, the first of your own hormones to rise are androgens too. That’s why so many women get acne, hair loss, facial hair or irregular periods in the months after stopping.
Once you’re ovulating again and making your own oestrogen and progesterone, those androgens naturally come back down. Our job is to support your body to get there, gently, and to replenish what the pill has used up along the way.
What I wish I’d been taught
I went on the pill in my twenties, mostly out of fear. Growing up in Ireland, everything I heard about sex was about the fear of getting pregnant. I thought you could get pregnant at any point in your cycle. Nobody ever told me about the fertile window.
When I was studying nutrition and herbal medicine, I started to question everything, the pill included. I came off it, and the change in my mood around my period was huge. I felt calmer and so much more like myself. Over the next few cycles I got to know my body in a way I never had before. It was an exciting time. I loved it.
I believe every woman deserves this information, and the right to be in control of her own body and her fertility. Your cycle is like a report card every month. Once you know how to read it, it tells you so much about your health.
How we’d work together
We start with your foundations and build from there. Depending on where you are, that means:
- Your whole story: your cycle before the pill, why you went on it, how long you’ve been on it, and how you feel now
- Your bloods, read properly: there’s no point testing your hormones while you’re on the pill, because the results only show the synthetic ones. Before you stop, I look at your vitamin D, B12, thyroid, iron and ferritin, and a full blood count. Once you’re off, we look at your own hormones too.
- Food and daily rhythm: steady blood sugar, less stress, and the nutrients the pill uses up
- Herbs made for you, if needed: a tonic I blend by hand for your body, and herbal teas if you enjoy them. They’re optional, but they can really help with symptoms.
- Getting to know your cycle: tracking your temperature, your cervical mucus and the rhythm of your cycle, so you know where you are and when you’ll ovulate
Which way of working suits you
- 1:1 consultation (€110): a clear plan for coming off, or for one specific symptom since you stopped
- 6-Week Reset (€595): structure and support through your preparation or your first weeks off, with three sessions and your herbs included
- 12-Week Transformation (€1,500): for symptoms that have dragged on since you stopped, or when you’re preparing your body for pregnancy
“I feel more in tune with my body and femininity than ever.”
Silvia
Your questions
How long after coming off the pill will my period come back?
For many women it’s within a month or two, but it can take longer, especially after years on the pill. If your period hasn’t come back within three months, it’s worth looking into, and it’s something I always check with clients.
Is acne or hair loss after stopping the pill normal?
It’s common, because of that rise in androgens, but it isn’t something you just have to put up with. Zinc is one of the first nutrients I look at, because the pill can leave you low in it. And once you’re ovulating regularly, your own oestrogen and progesterone help bring those androgens back down.
I’ve been on the pill for over ten years. Is it too late?
Not at all. Lots of women have been on it since their teens. It can take your body a little longer to find its rhythm, which is exactly why the preparation matters.
Should I get my hormones tested before I come off?
Not while you’re still on the pill, because the results only reflect the synthetic hormones. Check your vitamin D, B12, thyroid, iron and ferritin, and a full blood count instead. We look at your own hormones once you’re off.
How long should I wait before trying for a baby?
I usually suggest coming off, getting to know your cycle, then about three months of preparation before you start trying, with your partner preparing too. Everybody is different, so we plan it around you.
Do I need to live near you?
No. I work online on Google Meet with women all over Ireland and beyond, and your herbs are posted to you.
Not ready to book yet?
Get my free guide to coming off the pill: the three-month preparation, the bloods worth asking for, what to expect, and a printable cycle tracker.
Ready when you are
A note on how I work: real change doesn’t happen overnight. We start with your foundations and build from there, and there’s always more we can do as your body responds. Anything hormonal takes at least three months to shift, so the real difference comes from consistency: sticking with the changes, giving your body time on the plan (your food, your lifestyle, and herbs or supplements where they’re needed), and being patient with yourself. There’s no magic pill that will fix everything at once.
Not sure which suits you? Book a free 15-minute call and we’ll chat about which way of working together suits you best.