Hey there! Did you know that women who take birth control pills might be at risk of vitamin D deficiency if they stop? Yup, it’s true. Researchers have found a connection between the hormone estrogen in birth control pills (and some other contraceptives) and higher levels of vitamin D in the body.

Here’s the deal: popping those pills can actually bump up your vitamin D levels by 20%. But if you stop taking them, there’s a chance those levels could drop. And guess what? This could be a big deal for women who are trying to get pregnant. Before conception and during early pregnancy, having enough of this nutrient is super important.

Vitamin D does a lot for us—it helps keep our bones strong, it’s made when our skin soaks up sunlight, and you can get it from foods like fatty fish, red meat, eggs, and fortified cereals. For pregnant women, it’s crucial for the baby’s development and lowers the risk of pregnancy complications.

In a recent study, researchers looked at nearly 1,700 women aged 23 to 34. They checked their vitamin D levels and asked about birth control use, time spent outdoors, and whether they took vitamin supplements. What they found was pretty interesting.

Women using estrogen-based birth control had levels of vitamin D that were 20% higher compared to others. And when they stopped taking the pills, their vitamin D levels went back down to what’s considered normal—pretty low, actually.

This study was published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, shedding light on the importance of vitamin D for women’s health. So, if you’re considering stopping your birth control, it might be a good idea to chat with your doctor about your vitamin D levels too.