Birth Control & Poly Pharmacy- The Series: Part 2 Metformin and Statins
In case you missed it yesterday-I’ll start again by saying I am all for the use of Birth Control, it is empowering. I am also all for the use of adequate Informed consent about the use of the birth control and I love empowering women through education surrounding the use of the birth control. This week I will be sharing a series about the reality of the Pill and PolyPharm (;the use of multiple medications to address side effects of previously prescribed medications.)
Women on the birth control are SIGNIFICANTLY more likely to be prescribed multiple drugs after starting Hormonal Birth Control:
PART 2:
Metformin and Statins
Used to manage
Statins: Used to manage Bad and/or high Cholesterol
Metformin: Used to manage insulin resistance, type two diabetes, weight gain, acne, abnormal hair growth
The Facts
By 2050, it is estimated that 1 in 3 individuals will suffer from type 2 diabetes
If you have ever taken birth control for 6months or longer you are at a 36% increased risk of developing type II diabetes post menopause
Birth Control can contribute to Insulin Resistance
Both Birth Control and Metformin Deplete Vitamin B12 which can contribute to brain fog and fatigue and is often misdiagnosed as Dementia
Statins: The connection
Simply explained, progestins raise LDL levels and lower HDL levels. This means it increases your bad cholesterol and decreases your good cholesterol. The oral contraceptives which are only progestins are much more likely to have a negative effect on your cholesterol levels than combination pills (with synthetic estrogen and progestin) This is because estrogen can actually have a protective effect on our cholesterol so can balance out the negative effects of progestin.
This conversation is EXTRA applicable to those who have known elevated cholesterol and/or family history of Cardio Vascular Disease. Extra discussion and care should be taken in these cases to evaluate risk and manage follow up care.
The Liver also is a huge part of this connection! Your liver is critical in both clearance of hormones and cholesterol management. Birth Control can overwork your liver, and when your liver is overworked it’s less efficient at doing its jobs. In this case, less efficient at managing your cholesterol.
So you may be asking- why has no ones ever told you about this before starting the birth control? One, your doctor is likely already aware of your cholesterol and if this is a concern for you they have likely chosen one that is a good fit and not going to have a negative effect on your lipids. However, I share this because many women get birth control from various sources wether they are walk in clinics, online, free clinics etc. These doctors do not have your medical history and thus that size pt. 3 font piece of paper that is folded up with your prescription is all the informed consent you are getting. I also share this because in science there is something called “not significant enough” in the literature. While I love research and I understand the value of significance and/or non significance I still value awareness. I would like to decide if elevating my cholesterol, even just a “non significant” amount is worth it to me. So open this conversation up with your healthcare providers, the power is in your hands. You are advocates for your own health. If you have been on the birth control for years and never checked in on your cholesterol, ask to have some labs done. Risk factors aside, you don’t know unless you test.
Metformin: The Connection
I can over complicate this really quickly so I’ll keep it short and sweet. Our hormones play huge roles in our insulin sensitivity and vice versa. For example, post menopause women’s risks of developing type two diabetes drastically increases. This is because Estrogen has a positive effect on our insulin sensitivity while progesterone has somewhat more negative effect. This is why often women may experience episodes of hypoglycemia prior to the onset of bleeding through their reproductive years if they are struggling with blood glucose regulation. The synthetic forms of these hormones found in birth control can contribute to causing havoc on this system for some. Again, being aware of symptoms of blood sugar dysregulation can help women be empowered on their journey of navigating the affects birth control could be having on their body. Awareness can help us catch this before having to rely on a medication to manage this.
*While birth control can be great at managing PCOS in some instances, there is also an increased number of women getting diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) after coming off the Birth Control. This is often medicated with Metformin. If this is your case, I encourage you to reach out for a second opinion on your diagnosis and treatment. Other than that, we will leave that discussion for another day.
Final thoughts:
Does this mean you need to come off the birth control? Again, maybe but probably not, it is your choice. I am writing this to create a space where women can educate themselves and empower them to know what side effects there are, what it can lead to, and how awareness can help them avoid falling into the cycle of poly pharm.
some resources
https://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ccnm.idm.oclc.org/pubmed/30923014
https://www.gynob.com/raised-cholesterol-levels-from-using-the-pill.htm
https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/menopause-and-diabetes-does-menopause-cause-diabetes/