Beyond the Pill: A 30-Day Program to Balance Your Hormones, Reclaim Your Body, and Reverse the Dangerous Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill

I've had to put a lot of thought into reviewing this book; I pre-ordered it with a brand new endo diagnosis knowing that my gyn wanted me on the pill immediately after my first endometriosis surgery and I had to stop reading because I was making myself anxious. I've decided that protocols that indicate a slew of supplements to a reader are not responsible. For example, a lot of the naturopathic doctors will indicate DIM and calcium-d-glucarate to people, however, taking it gave me intense migraines and I researched that the "detox" effect on the liver actually makes some medications less effective. Hormones are difficult to test because they fluctuate throughout the hour, day, week, month, so I can't even objectively test the effect of show more DIM on my hormones. A lot of the quizzes that are to guide your protocol and requested testing from a provider can be a bit like a generic horoscope. Yes, I'm exhausted and grumpy because I have endometriosis, adenomyosis, hypothyroidism, etc., but that doesn't mean I should follow 4 protocols. If I hear the buzzword phrase "estrogen dominance" one more time I'm going to lose it as well. I would like to see more research and less anecdotal evidence; lack of healing or effectiveness of these protocols can often be blames on the patient/individual. I do believe that this book likely helps people *without* underlying disease and symptoms get off the pill. Some people do need the pill to treat their symptoms, largely because for women's reproductive disease and disorders they have few options. Scaring those people out of using their tools is unfair. I believe in informed consent, and I believe Dr. Brighten tries to balance her information. I will benefit from this book in that I have a list of complete thyroid panels I should ask my functional MD doctor to run, however, I've learned my lesson about taking supplements without someone knowing me and my case. show less

A cautious 4 stars.

I picked this one up because I wanted validation. I've battled a few issues that have seemed to stem from my time on BC. I say that because my bias should probably be taken into account.

That being said, articles or books that don't use Chicago-style citations bother me. I see your citations but I want them linked to the specific information that you have cited because sometimes the number of cited facts and citations don't match up and it could be double-cited but do I know??? No, I don't, because you didn't use the best style. :)

Anyway, it was an insightful book. I feel like I know tons of people on the pill that don't have these side-effects. But, at the same time, I can't really negate my own experience. My own show more depression, years of thyroid, skin, weight, and gall bladder problems all seemed to happen after my battle with the pill. Don't get me wrong, though. I'm pretty sure that the pill saved my life. But I don't think I should have taken it for as long as I did.

And, while you might not agree with me on all accounts, I think we should all agree that we have a right to demand better. And, perhaps, make men care/create men that care?

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Amazing. We need to think more about the things we're putting into our bodies, so we understand what effects they might have. I'd recommend this book to any ovulating woman and any woman who's taken or planning to take birth control.