
Show Notes
It’s one of the most revolutionary – and controversial – medical inventions in history: the birth control pill. The pill gave women control over their bodies and their futures, but came with a price few of us were ever told about. This episode explains how the pill actually works, what it does to your natural hormonal rhythm, and why it’s frequently overprescribed.
What you’ll learn:
• How the pill shuts down natural ovulation and hormone rhythms
• Why mood symptoms often show up in the first months
• How birth control can affect libido and vaginal health
• The connection between the pill, PCOS, acne, and blood sugar
• Progesterone vs progestin (important difference)
• Breast cancer risk vs ovarian/endometrial protection
• What to consider if coming off the pill
• How to talk to a teen about informed consent and contraception
Featured Guests:
• Dr. Jolene Brighten – Naturopathic endocrinologist, author of Is This Normal? and Beyond the Pill
• Dr. Mariza Snyder – Functional wellness expert, author of The Perimenopause Revolution
• Rosie Acosta – Host of Radically Loved, yoga and meditation teacher
Try Schuyler's new personalized yoga app: https://schuylergrant.com/app
More from The Luminescence Podcast with Schuyler Grant
Metabolic health isn't really about weight, Schuyler Grant, Dr. Robin Berzin, and Dr. Mary Pardee argue — it's the single biggest lever available for healthspan, driving everything from brain function to bone health to the "four horsemen" of heart disease, cancer, and dementia.
Viagra was approved in 1998. It took another two decades before women's sexual health started being treated as a physiological issue instead of a mood problem — and most women still don't know there are three real prescription options for low desire.
Estrogen receptors are in nearly every organ in your body, so when estrogen drops, your whole body feels it. OB/GYN and menopause expert Dr. Mary Claire Haver explains what that means for your bones, muscle, heart, brain, and belly fat. Recorded live at the Luminescence event in Texas.
Women lose up to 20% of their bone density during perimenopause, often silently, until a fracture makes it impossible to ignore.
55% of women say they've felt gaslit by a doctor. 80% delay care rather than walk into an appointment where they know they won't be heard.