A woman who used to be known as straight says her sexuality has changed since she came off the birth control pill.
Tessa Bona started taking this pill at a young age in order to regulate her period, and stayed on it for the next 15 years.
The now 30-year-old said she had never been sexually attracted to another man and had only recently dated men.
But after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend last year, Tessa, from Melbourne, thought it was a good time to take a break from taking the pill every day.
This is when he says “everything changed” – and within three weeks, he felt like “a completely different person”.
“I had never given women love, I never thought they belonged to me,” Tessa told news.com.au.
“In saying that, I always appreciated the beauty of a woman.
“But once I got off the pill, everything changed.”
Tessa said the change she felt within her was almost instantaneous. Within a month, he was dating girls – something he never imagined he would do.
“Within three weeks, I felt like a completely different person,” he explained.
“I had a lot of energy, I liked life. In addition to this, my sexual behavior was changing.
“For the first time in my life, I became a very attractive person. I told my friends that I thought I was ready to date girls.
“Suddenly, men didn’t like me.”
Tessa is not alone in her experience, with new research emerging that suggests the birth control pill – which has been around since the 1960s – may be influencing who women choose as their partners.
Naturopath and women’s health expert, Katherine Maslen, said that changes in behavior when coming off the pill can be caused by the role the drug plays in a person’s mental health.
“There is research to suggest that the pill can change your partner’s preferences, but it’s really fun to change your sex preferences,” the author and host of The Shift podcast said.
“Research has shown that women are attracted to the scent of men who don’t have the same personality as them, and that when we take these pills, they go to friends who are like us.”
He added that there could be several factors at play, including “how the pill affects mental health.,
“Now that this is up he can feel free to explore other things,” Katherine said.
The hormone expert also revealed that he has seen many of his patients change their behavior after going off the pill.
“I’ve seen a big change in behavior in some of my patients that stops the hormonal contraceptives, and many of them say that ‘they feel like a different person,'” he said.
“This is not surprising because there are millions of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the brain.
“Methods of oral contraceptives suppress the production of estrogen and progesterone by preventing ovulation, and when this hormone replacement is stopped women can experience a change in their mood, usually for the better.”
Tessa said she became interested in coming off the pill after watching a viral TikTok video about another woman’s experience.
“He felt really depressed, tired all the time, and he didn’t like life anymore. I really connected with what he was saying,” Tessa explained.
“I felt that way. I had no highs, no lows. I felt like I was desperate.
“I’m usually a very happy and fun person, but in the last three years until I turned 30, things have changed.
“So when I found myself single last year, it seemed like a really good opportunity to try life without the pill.”
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After dating a few women, he met his current partner Phoebe Chakar, 24, after they were introduced through a mutual friend.
Tessa said it felt like “love at first sight” – and now six months on, she says they are both “happier than ever”.
“Phoebe is the absolute love of my life, I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
“It’s completely different to have a husband. He is my best friend, and I love every second I spend with him.
“It hurts me to think that if I was still on the pills this would never have happened.
“I still consider myself young, but more attracted to women. I don’t look at men anymore.
“It’s really exciting. The interest in having sex with boys is gone.”
While Tessa always thought that getting married and having children with her husband was what she wanted, now she says that her wishes for the future have also changed.
“When I was on the pill, and in relationships with men, I thought I wanted to settle down, have children and get married,” she explained.
“But since I got off the pills, it’s like my mind is a lot clearer. It’s not what I want at all.
“I feel that the pill can make you dull, if you have been on it for a long time. I think every woman should take a break from it, if she wants to, and see how she feels.
“I believe that hormone levels can play a role in who we are attracted to.”
What are the benefits of getting off birth control?
10 Reasons to Consider Getting Off Birth Control and Getting Started on Fertility
- Eliminate the reason for your mood swings and feel better about yourself. …
- Learn more about your natural hormone levels. …
- Reduce the fear of an unplanned pregnancy by understanding when you are fertile or not.
Is it healthy not to be on birth control? For your overall health, it makes little difference when you stop taking the pill. When you stop the pill, you can expect bleeding, which can change the rhythm of your period. But you can stop at any time.
What does getting off birth control do to you?
When people stop using birth control methods, they can have side effects, including irregular periods, cramping, acne, and weight changes.
What happens to your body when you stop the pill?
It may take some time for your body to get used to not being on the pill. You may experience spotting, heavy periods, cramps or twinges, and the return of pre-menstrual tension (PMS) that you experienced before starting the pill. Other changes may include new hair growth, acne, and weight changes.
Can getting off birth control mess you up?
Stopping your birth control pills in the middle of the pack can cause symptoms such as irregular periods, spotting, and bloating as your body tries to return to a regular period. These problems are temporary and will not cause long-term risks to your health.
What can I drink to balance my hormones?
Lemon water and other infused water are the best natural hormone drinks. They improve your skin, control your appetite, control your blood sugar levels, and boost your overall immunity. Green tea and matcha latte are two of the best green drinks with hormone-balancing properties.
Can I balance my hormones myself? Natural ways to balance your hormones include eating anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated fats, reducing your exposure to endocrine disruptors, getting enough sleep, and using supplements to fill any healthy gaps related to gut health and vitamin D levels.
How long till hormones settle after stopping birth control?
Hormonal Changes Stopping hormonal birth control affects your hormone levels as you eliminate synthetic hormones and allow your natural hormones to rise. It may take up to six months for your hormones to stabilize again.
What happens if you stop taking birth cold turkey? After you stop taking birth control, your body and menstrual cycle need some time to adjust, just like they did when you started the pill. You may notice some spotting or bleeding between your periods, and your period may be irregular for a few months.
Are there withdrawal symptoms from birth control?
Estrogen levels decrease during the last half of the period of active hormones, which can cause estrogenic symptoms such as swelling or swelling and tenderness of the breast during the last week of active pills and during the period without hormones.
How long do withdrawal symptoms from birth control last?
How long does it take? Most people will notice symptoms within four to six months of stopping the pill or other hormonal birth control pills. Brighten notes that for some, these symptoms may disappear within a month. Others may need long-term support.
How long do withdrawal symptoms from birth control last?
How long does it take? Most people will notice symptoms within four to six months of stopping the pill or other hormonal birth control pills. Brighten notes that for some, these symptoms may disappear within a month. Others may need long-term support.
What happens after I stop taking birth control?
The pill prevents your body from making hormones involved in ovulation and menstruation. When you stop taking the pill, it may take some time for your body to start making these hormones again. Menstrual periods usually start again within three months after you stop taking the pill.
How long does birth control stay in your system after quitting?
For most, the drug should be out of the system within three to seven days. However, it may take a few months before a woman starts having regular periods. This is due to the regulation of hormone levels and ovulation begins to occur on the predicted cycle.
What will happen to my body after stopping birth control?
When a person stops taking birth control pills, the hormones in the pill quickly leave the body. Gradually, the body’s natural hormones will regain control of the menstrual cycle. Most people start menstruating 2-4 weeks after going off the pill.
How do you balance hormones after stopping birth control?
Eating plenty of calcium-rich foods is also strongly recommended, as the use of birth control can also weaken bones. Foods include spinach, broccoli, sesame seeds, seaweed, chia seeds and cottage cheese. The goal is to restore the ovulation process and improve hormonal balance.
Can stopping birth control cause hormonal imbalance? Acne and unwanted hair may return. The pill can correct the hormonal imbalance that causes your skin to break out and grow hair in unwanted areas. But the fix is temporary: Once you stop birth control, your hormones can go off-kilter again, bringing those issues back.
How long does it take for your hormones to balance after stopping birth control?
For most women, it only takes 2-3 days for hormone levels to return to normal after they stop taking most types of hormonal birth control (pill, patch, ring, IUD, implant). Oral contraceptives can take eight months to a year to wash out of your system if you’ve had three shots.
How long after stopping birth control are hormones normal?
When you stop taking the pill, it may take some time for your body to start making these hormones again. Menstrual periods usually start again within three months after you stop taking the pill. But if you took the pill to regulate your menstrual cycle, it may take several months before you return.
Can coming off the pill cause hormonal imbalance?
As soon as you stop taking birth control, your body starts relying on its natural hormone levels again. As Brighten explains, this is “the biggest hormonal change we can expect to see issues with.†Everything from skin to menstruation can be affected.
