For many women, the first line of treatment for painful or irregular periods, acne, heavy bleeding or other gynaecological symptoms is the combined oral contraceptive pill. While the pill can relieve symptoms quickly, too often it’s prescribed without a deeper investigation into why those symptoms started in the first place.
At Holistic Gynaecology Clinic London we ask different questions: what is the root cause, what does the patient’s lifestyle, nutrition and stress look like, and could targeted investigation offer a longer-term solution?
Why doctors don’t always investigate deeper — and strong possible explanations
If you’ve been offered “the pill” as the immediate fix, you’re not imagining it. There are several structural and clinical reasons why deeper diagnostic work sometimes doesn’t happen:
1. Time pressure in consultations. Many primary care appointments are short (often around 10 minutes), making it hard to explore complex menstrual or hormonal histories and lifestyle factors in depth.
2. Guideline-driven care. Clinical pathways and standardised protocols often list the pill as an acceptable first-line option for symptom control, so it becomes a routine response.
3. Diagnostic complexity. Menstrual and hormonal problems can have multiple overlapping causes (PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, endometriosis, nutrient deficiencies). Pinning down the root cause needs longer history-taking and targeted tests.
4. Limited training in holistic diagnostics. Medical training focuses on diagnosing and treating disease; less emphasis is given to diet, micronutrients, stress physiology or functional approaches that may explain symptoms.
5. Access and resource constraints. GPs and some clinics face limits on referrals, diagnostic tests, or specialist waiting times, so a pragmatic symptomatic treatment may be chosen first.
6. Patient preference and quick relief. Many patients want prompt symptom relief. The pill can provide fast improvement — which sometimes aligns with both clinician and patient priorities.
7. Continuity of care issues. Seeing different clinicians at each visit can prevent the accumulation of a long, nuanced picture that would prompt deeper investigation.
These are not excuses — just real, systemic factors that explain why prescribing the pill is often the fastest, simplest pathway. But “fast” is not always the best for long-term health.
The consequences of not investigating the root cause
When the pill masks symptoms, underlying conditions like PCOS, thyroid disease, endometriosis or nutritional deficiencies can go undetected. Women may later stop the pill and find symptoms return — sometimes worse — because the original drivers were never addressed.
A Different Way: What We Do
At Holistic Gynaecology Clinic London, we offer longer consultations, targeted blood tests, cycle-aware assessments, and personalised plans that address nutrition, stress, sleep, and underlying hormonal patterns.
Where the pill is appropriate, we explain why — and where it would simply hide the problem, we investigate further through comprehensive history-taking, blood analysis, and lifestyle assessments to uncover the real cause.
Conclusion
The pill has a valuable role, but it shouldn’t be the only answer offered. Women deserve a care pathway that seeks causes, not just symptom suppression. If you’ve been given the pill without questions about the “why”, we’re here to help you investigate and find lasting solutions.
Bibliography (UK sources)
– NHS — Contraception and the combined pill.
– NICE — Heavy menstrual bleeding: assessment and management.
– Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) — Contraception guidance.
– Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) — guidance on consultation times and primary care pressures.
