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The Period Party Podcast · EP. 78 · September 27, 2021

Hormonal Birth Control & Blood Clots

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podcast guest

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

David Rowan is a retired Engineer in Houston, Texas, who, along with his wife, co-founded the Alexandra L. Rowan Foundation in honor of his daughter, Alex, who died from a Massive Pulmonary Embolism (MPE) caused by her birth control pill. Through his foundation, he raises awareness about MPE and recently published a biography of Alex called My Beautiful Memory that uses much of her journal entries and addresses the death and injury rates from hormonal birth control usage with proposals for reducing the losses.

In this episode, we talk about Alex’s life before her MPE, the obstacles which prevent many women from making informed decisions about hormonal birth control, the shocking death rate associated with side effects of hormonal birth control, what parents can do to help their daughters make informed decisions, the simple test that every woman should take before starting hormonal birth control, and so much more!

Episode Highlights

Resources Mentioned

Fix Your Period

How Fix Your Period Supports Women Coming Off Hormonal Birth Control

Nicole's work has always centred on helping women understand what hormonal birth control does to the body — and how to support your hormonal health after stopping. Here's how the app helps.

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Post-Pill Cycle Tracking

Track your cycle as it returns after stopping hormonal contraception — monitoring regularity, blood quality, and symptoms to understand what your natural cycle looks like.

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Hormone Health Assessment

Take Nicole's free Hormone Health Assessment and get personalised results that reflect your current cycle picture — a useful baseline as your natural hormones reassert themselves.

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Post-Pill Support Protocol

Fix Your Period Premium includes Nicole's Birth Control Pill Support protocol — covering nutrient repletion, gut healing, and hormonal rebalancing after stopping hormonal contraception.

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Hormone Education

Nicole's signature Period Pillars cover what hormonal birth control does to the body and how to support your natural hormonal function as it returns.

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Nicole.AI

Fix Your Period Premium includes Nicole.AI — trained on Nicole's methodology — giving you personalised guidance as you navigate the post-pill recovery process.

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Personalised Protocol

Fix Your Period Premium unlocks your personalised protocol from your assessment results — giving you a targeted starting point for your post-pill hormonal recovery.

Explore the App — It's Free to Start

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from this episode — and how Fix Your Period can help.

What happens to your hormones when you stop the pill?
When you stop hormonal birth control, your body needs time to reactivate its own hormonal feedback loop. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, and some women experience a 'post-pill syndrome' involving acne, hair loss, irregular cycles, or mood changes as their natural hormones reassert themselves.
What nutrients does hormonal birth control deplete?
Hormonal birth control is associated with depletion of B vitamins (particularly B6, B12, and folate), zinc, magnesium, selenium, and CoQ10. Replenishing these after stopping the pill is an important part of hormonal recovery.
How long does it take for cycles to return after stopping the pill?
Most women see their cycle return within 1–3 months of stopping hormonal contraception. However, some women — particularly those with underlying hormonal imbalances like PMOS (formerly PCOS) or low progesterone — may experience a longer recovery period.
Is there an app to help women coming off birth control?
Yes. Fix Your Period's free Hormone Health Assessment gives you a personalised picture of your current hormonal health. Fix Your Period Premium unlocks Nicole's Birth Control Pill Support protocol, Period Pillars education on what to expect, and Nicole.AI for ongoing guidance.
Can I use Fix Your Period while still on hormonal birth control?
Yes. The cycle tracking and assessment features are available at any stage. Fix Your Period Premium — including the Period Pillars and protocols — is valuable whether you're still on contraception or planning to stop.
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