Experiencing Unusual Fatigue? Potentially Related to Your Birth Control Method

Potential exhaustion might stem from your birth control method.

Chronic fatigue, characterized by severe fatigue lasting for four months or longer, can be a confusing and debilitating condition. There are several potential causes, ranging from medical conditions to lifestyle factors and medications. Here's a look at some of the most common causes of chronic fatigue.

Medical Conditions

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis): This condition is marked by severe and persistent fatigue that doesn't improve with rest.
Underactive Thyroid (Hypothyroidism): This condition can cause fatigue, along with weight gain, muscle aches, dry skin, and other symptoms.
Celiac Disease: This autoimmune disorder can cause fatigue, diarrhea, bloating, anemia, and weight loss.
Glandular Fever or Mononucleosis: This viral infection causes fever, sore throat, swollen glands, and fatigue.
Depression: Depression can cause fatigue and disrupt sleep, leading to feelings of exhaustion.
Restless Legs: This condition can cause an ache or unpleasant sensation in the legs that disrupts sleep, leading to fatigue.
Diabetes: This condition can cause fatigue, along with extreme thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss.
Sleep Apnea: This condition can cause fatigue due to disrupted sleep, with signs including snoring, dropping blood oxygen levels, and less restful sleep.

Lifestyle Factors and Medications

If your fatigue lasts longer than two weeks, it's time to talk to your doctor. It could be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
Hormonal contraceptives are associated with a diagnosis of depression. They can also affect levels of micronutrients like folate, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12.
Anxiety can cause fatigue due to disrupted sleep.
Switching to a different birth control method may cause changes in your mood, your period, or your libido. Combined oral contraceptives lower testosterone levels.
If the birth control you're using has intolerable side effects, your doctor can prescribe a different formulation, such as a contraceptive method with a lower dose of hormones or a non-hormonal method like an intrauterine-device (IUD).
Stopping birth control abruptly can have consequences, so it's important to talk to your doctor about how to safely stop or transition between birth control methods.
Iron-deficient anemia can cause fatigue, often due to heavy periods, pregnancy, or stomach ulcer.

If you experience certain symptoms along with fatigue, seek emergency treatment. These can include chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling faint, irregular or fast heartbeat, abnormal bleeding, bleeding from your rectum, or vomiting blood, severe abdominal, pelvic, or back pain, severe headache, or any other symptoms that concern you.

Always consult with a healthcare professional if you're experiencing persistent fatigue, as it could be a sign of an underlying medical condition.