Birth Control & Nutrients
Quick Take
Birth Control and Nutrient Depletion: What Your Multivitamin Wishes You Knew
If you have ever been on hormonal birth control, especially oral contraceptives, you might already know about the potential side effects. But what you might not know is that your daily pill could also be quietly raiding your nutrient stash! Over time, hormonal birth control has been shown to deplete several key nutrients, including:
B vitamins (especially B2, B6, B12, and folate)
Magnesium
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Zinc
Selenium
These nutrients do a lot of heavy lifting for your body. We are talking about mood regulation, energy production, immune support, and antioxidant defense. So when they start to drop, your body may respond with fatigue, mood swings, brain fog, or the frustrating mystery illness we like to call "feeling off but not sure why."
Why This Happens
The liver and gut work overtime to process synthetic hormones. That takes resources. It also increases your need for the very nutrients birth control can deplete.
So What Can You Do?
If you are on birth control, I highly recommend a solid supplement routine to support your body. (You will find my recommendations below.) But here is the part most people skip: some supplements can actually interfere with birth control (see below).
Birth control can be a helpful tool, but it does not come without a nutritional cost. Supporting your body with the right nutrients and steering clear of those that interfere can make a huge difference in how you feel.
You deserve to feel good, not just “not pregnant.”
Supplement Links/Dosing
Amazon Supplement Recommendations
Preferred supplement store with 10% discount for all clients!
| Product Name | Dosing | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Trace Minerals | Follow Directions | 3 months/reassess |
| Magnesium Plus w/ B6 | Follow Directions | 3 months/reassess |
| Vitamin D3/K2 5,000 | Follow directions | 3 months/reassess |
Registration Code: SN5708
While I don’t always recommend purchasing supplements through Amazon, I understand many people prefer the convenience. I’ve done my best to link directly to listings from the manufacturer, though it’s not always guaranteed.
For trusted, high-quality options, I’ve partnered with a professional-grade supplement store that offers fast, free shipping and exclusive discounts for my community.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through one of them. I only share products I truly trust and use myself.
In-Depth Insights
Supplements That Do Not Mix Well With Birth Control
St. John’s Wort
Why it matters: It is known for mood support, but it is also notorious for reducing the effectiveness of birth control by speeding up how your liver metabolizes hormones. This is not just wellness gossip—this one is well documented.
Activated Charcoal, Binders, or High-Dose Fiber Supplements
Why it matters: These are great for detox support, but not great for medication absorption. If taken too close to your birth control pill, they can reduce how much your body absorbs. That means your birth control might not be doing its job.
High-Dose Vitamin C
Why it matters: Vitamin C is essential, but in very high doses, it may increase estrogen levels slightly. While the actual impact is still unclear, more is not always better here. A moderate daily dose is fine, but megadosing should be done with medical guidance.
Dong Quai, Vitex (Chaste Tree), and Other Hormone-Modulating Herbs
Why it matters: These herbs are often used for hormone balance, but when you are taking birth control to regulate hormones, throwing extra hormone influencers into the mix can confuse your body.
Licorice Root (in supplement form)
Why it matters: While it has some cool traditional uses, licorice root can impact hormone metabolism and raise blood pressure. It may also mess with the hormonal regulation that birth control is designed to support.