65% of women use contraception.

Many of us are not informed about the actual side effects of taking birth control - here's what I wish I'd known:

I started taking the pill as a teenager and stayed on it for a decade. At the time, I was a competitive athlete with aspirations of playing professional volleyball. What I didn't realize then was how the pill significantly changed my body. Studies suggest that birth control can reduce athletic performance by around 11%—a statistic that would've made a huge difference for me.

The pill's primary function is to prevent ovulation, which means your body doesn't produce progesterone naturally. Instead, it relies on synthetic hormones, effectively placing your ovaries into "hibernation." While this prevents pregnancy, it also disrupts the natural hormonal rhythms of the body.

Many people mistake the withdrawal bleed during the pill-free week for a period—it's not. It's a reaction to the lack of hormones, not a sign that things are healthy.

Here are some other side effects:

• Weight gain or resistance to weight loss

• Mood swings, anxiety, or depression

• Gut disruption and bloating

• Headaches and inflammation

One common misconception is that the pill can "balance" hormones.

It actually has the opposite effect: masking underlying issues rather than addressing them.

Birth control is deeply personal. While I wouldn't put my daughters on the pill knowing what I know now, I believe in empowering women to make the best choices for their unique circumstances.

Whether you're seeking to prevent pregnancy or address hormonal concerns, education and self-advocacy are your best tools.

If you're curious about your own hormonal health or want to explore alternatives, let's talk. A DUTCH test can be an excellent starting point to uncover what your hormone levels are doing and give you roadmap for your health and hormones.