What we're talking about in this episode Exposing science’s dirty little secret and how to give women informed consent What you should consider when deciding to use or get off of hormonal birth control Learn the role birth control plays in your brain functioning, hormonal balances and more Dismissing the misconceptions around birth control and how it impacts every part of you Explore the way the pill influences the brain and the development of the person that you are   Episode Summary Usually, when we think about the birth control pill, we think about how it is impacting our reproductive hormones. But did you know that the pill also has a huge impact on your brain chemistry, behavior and ultimately how you experience the world? Dr. Sarah Hill is a leading researcher in evolutionary psychology who has become fascinated with the effects of birth control on our psychology and health.  After experiencing post-birth control syndrome first hand, Dr. Sarah realized that the pill had altered how her brain functioned and her experience as a human being. Since then Dr. Sarah has worked to understand the way the pill changes the brain and provide women context into what is going on with birth control so that they can make informed decisions about their health. On this episode we are digging into exactly how the birth control pill impacts your brain functioning, hormones, mood and outlook on life, examining why it has become commonplace for practitioners to prescribe birth control as a one-size-fits-all medical bandaid, and the potential harm that the birth control pill is having on women without them knowing it.  Hormonal birth control can influence everything from your zest and vibrancy for life, to who you are attracted to and your likelihood of depression or suicide. It is important for you to equip yourself with the knowledge you need to make a decision that is right for you and your health. Your brain, decisions, stress, and behavior are all impacted by the messages you are sending them, and birth control is a key message that you do not want to overlook.  Have you experienced a shift in your personality, motivation or overall outlook on life pre or post-birth control? Share your experience with the pill with us in the comments on the episode page.   Quotes “It just all of a sudden hit me like a lightning bolt. The pill changes everything because it changes what the brain does.” (12:43) “Something like the birth control pill doesn't seem like a big deal because we only think about hormones in terms of how they influence things like endometrial lining proliferation or something like that. Without thinking about this as something that plays a key role in what my brain is doing in creating the experience of being me.” (15:45) “We need to be given the full picture of what the pill does to our bodies from head to toe, and especially our brain if we are going to be making informed decisions about our health.” (24:42) “I wish doctors and medical research would understand how important fertility regulation is to us because we do these things even though it's not good for us because of the fear.” (37:02) “If we are going to be making informed decisions about our health, we need to know what it is that our body is going to be doing, and who we are going to be. Because it changes what our brain is doing, and it changes who we are.” (43:46)   Resources Mentioned Dr. Sarah Hill Website This Is Your Brain on Birth Control by Dr. Sarah Hill Follow Dr. Sarah on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter EY 60: Dr. Jolene Brighten EY 93: Dr. Lisa Hendrickson-Jack Register for the EO Hormone Summit Here   Other Resources: The Essential Oils Hormone Solution by Dr. Mariza Check out the full show notes page Keep up with everything Dr. Mariza Follow Dr. Mariza on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube