Birth Control and Ashwagandha

With all the hype, though, we had trouble finding a quick guide to the supplement that takes women’s and reproductive health into consideration. 

Here’s our low-down on Ashwagandha to save you that scrolling time. 

What Is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an herb that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine (an ancient medical system originating in India). Ashwaganda is known as an adaptogen, which means it helps your body manage stress. In some studies it has also been found to improve mood, sleep, and libido.

Birth Control Refresher

Whether it’s the pill, the patch, the ring, or a hormonal IUD, hormonal birth control prevents pregnancy by interrupting the fluctuations of hormones that make up the menstrual cycle by providing the body with consistent hormones. This stops ovulation, thickens mucus, and thins the uterine lining. 

Potential Interactions

Research on interactions between ashwagandha and hormonal birth control is pretty limited. No major studies have directly examined if or how ashwagandha could affect the effectiveness of birth control. 

However, because ashwagandha can impact hormone levels, it could theoretically impact how your birth control works. 

So…

Ashwagandha offers a lot of potential benefits, especially for stress and hormone management, but when it comes to mixing it with hormonal birth control, we’ve got limited information. If you’re curious about ashwagandha and how it might fit into your life, we recommend talking to your doctor.