At the time I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I knew that I was not yet ready to start a family. With my health being less than optimal, it was obvious to me that an unplanned pregnancy would wreak havoc on my health, and that I would need to postpone any plans to have children.
At the same time, I was a pharmacist and knew through both training and my first-hand experience, that taking artificial hormones in the form of birth control pills was contributing to my poor health.
Have you heard about the many ways that birth control pills can impact your health?
In this article, you’ll discover:
- The 14 ways birth control pills rob us of our health
- Alternative birth control methods
- Strategies to consider beyond the pill
14 Ways Birth Control Pills Rob Us of Our Health
- Birth control pills deplete selenium, zinc, and the amino acid tyrosine, from our bodies. These are all vitamins and minerals that are necessary for proper thyroid function!
- The hormones in birth control pills suppress our own body’s production of estrogen and progesterone through a negative feedback loop mechanism. Birth control pills flood our bodies with high doses of artificial estrogen and progesterone, causing our production of natural hormones to turn off, preventing ovulation, and thinning the uterine lining. This can lead to a hormonal imbalance such as estrogen dominance.
- Birth control pills increase the risk of blood clots and strokes. The risk greatly increases after age 35 and for women who smoke.
- Birth control pills can thin our bones, leading to osteoporosis.
- Oral contraceptives stimulate a shift from the Th1 to the Th2 immune branch. This can produce an imbalance of the immune system, perpetuating autoimmune conditions.
- Birth control pills can change our normal flora, allowing yeast and other pathogenic organisms to thrive.
- Women who take birth control pills have an altered preference to mates, due to the change in hormones.
- Birth control pills increase the risk of breast, ovarian, and liver cancers.
- Birth control pills impair our ability to build muscle, despite exercise.
- Birth control pills can decrease sexual desire by suppressing testosterone. (Yes, women produce small amounts of testosterone too.)
- High doses of estrogen contained in birth control pills increase the activity of TBG (Thyroxine Binding Globulin), which binds thyroid hormone. More circulating TGB leads to lower levels of free thyroid hormone available for use by the body.
- Many oral contraceptives contain lactose as an inactive filler. This may be an issue for many individuals with food intolerances and for women with Hashimoto’s who often present with dairy and gluten intolerances.
- Birth control pills lower our DHEA production. DHEA has been described as an anti-aging hormone, and many conditions, including autoimmune conditions, have been associated with low DHEA levels.
- Birth control pills deplete our bodies of folate, B12, and B6 vitamins. A deficiency in any of these may result in anemia, birth defects during pregnancy, depression, and other serious conditions.
With all of these things in mind, I knew that it was time to kick the hormonal birth control habit. But what were my alternatives? Condoms have a 14-15 percent failure rate… That seemed like too big of a risk to take. And I wasn’t too crazy about implants or any of the other birth control methods out there.
I then learned about another approach to birth control that changed everything for me.
Alternatives to Birth Control Pills
When I first heard about the Fertility Awareness Method, I was slightly skeptical, but extremely intrigued. This method doesn’t involve the use of any drugs, hormones, or implanted devices, but instead utilizes knowledge of the female reproductive cycles to predict days a woman will be fertile, as well as days that she isn’t.
With a typical menstrual cycle lasting 28 days (count Day 1 as the first day of the menstrual period), most women ovulate somewhere in the middle of this cycle. But not every woman has a 28-day cycle, and not every woman with a 28-day cycle ovulates right in the middle of her cycle. Additionally, many women may ovulate at different times each month depending on lifestyle factors.
Fertilization can occur five days before ovulation, or on the day of ovulation. Therefore, a woman will typically be infertile near the beginning and end of her menstrual cycle, and fertile for six days somewhere in the middle, around ovulation.
We can determine ovulation by noting cervical position, changes in cervical fluids, and the thermal shift in basal temperatures. Temperatures go up by 0.4-0.6 degrees Fahrenheit after ovulation, and this thermal shift can be measured by using a very sensitive basal thermometer right after waking up. The temperatures, along with the other fertility signs, are recorded in a daily fertility chart that will help a woman analyze where she is in her fertility cycle.
As a bonus, measuring your basal temperatures can help with measuring progress in your Hashimoto’s treatment. Your preovulatory temperature (usually the first 10-15 days of your cycle) is key to determining how well your thyroid and adrenals are performing. A preovulatory temperature is normally between 97.0-97.7 degrees Fahrenheit. Temps that are consistently lower than 97.3 degrees F may signal an underactive thyroid, while temps that are consistently above 97.7 degrees F may signal an overactive thyroid.
Also, temperatures that are low but inconsistent may signal adrenal insufficiency.
I highly recommend the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility, as it provides an amazingly descriptive and thorough overview of the Fertility Awareness Method for pregnancy prevention and achievement. After reading this book cover to cover, I purchased a copy for all of my girlfriends!
While the Fertility Awareness Method can be very effective, I was still worried about doing it on my own. This method can fail in 25 percent of “typical” users who are not diligent in their tracking, and I was afraid that I would fall into that category with my busy lifestyle.
That’s when I found the Lady-Comp fertility monitor, which is a mini computer/alarm system that comes with an ultra-sensitive thermometer. This device learns your own body’s normal temperatures and does the analysis for you, letting you know which days you are fertile with easy-to-read displays (red light – fertile, yellow light – learning, green light – infertile).
According to the manufacturer, “Lady-Comp is programmed with all natural family planning research data. It contains a database of more than 900,000 cycles and uses bio-mathematical forecasting calculations as well as the very latest computer techniques. It is a personal fertility monitor, which learns and adjusts to your individual cycle, regardless of irregularities or cycle length. Lady-Comp is a one-time purchase without any recurring costs. Several clinical studies confirm its 99.3% accuracy.”
While this mini-computer is costly, fertility monitors are covered under Flex Spending and Health Savings Accounts. It’s very good to know for those who can either use it or lose it at the end of the year, or who want to plan for next year. It is also a one time purchase. One month of brand name birth control pills can cost an upward of $100. Thus, the monitor pays for itself within a few months! (I included this last sentence for those of you who have husbands who work in finance, like mine does.)
This monitor can also be used to plan a future pregnancy for when the time is right!
Getting off hormonal birth control pills and tracking my natural cycles became an amazing experience for me, and this taught me a great deal about my own body. It was interesting to watch my temperatures change throughout the month, and to notice that all of a sudden, my husband smelled really, really good after a jog around the time of my ovulation (which is usually Day 17 or 18 for me, not Day 14 as some would lead you to believe)!
Another benefit of the Fertility Awareness Method is that it can also be used to plan a pregnancy for when the time is right, and my baby boy, Dimitry, is evidence that it works pretty well for this!
Beyond Birth Control
Choosing the right birth control option is a highly personal choice, and for some, the benefit of oral contraceptives outweighs the risks. This includes women with certain serious medical conditions for whom hormonal birth control is necessary. In such cases, supplementing with probiotics, magnesium, zinc, B vitamins and vitamin C is strongly recommended. Whether you continue to take birth control or decide to use an alternative, if you have experienced side effects, I highly recommend the new protocol-based book by my dear friend Dr. Jolene Brighten. Beyond the Pill: A 30-Day Program to Balance Your Hormones, Reclaim Your Body, and Reverse the Dangerous Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill, will be a huge asset to you in gaining back your health.
In 2015, I invited Jolene to my first ever Thyroid Mastermind, a “meeting of the minds” of some of the top experts in natural thyroid health, to share best practices and collaborate. Dr. Alan Christianson, Dr. Datis Kharrazian, and Dr. Brian Mowll were some of the attendees at this incredible event where The Thyroid Secret first became an idea.
In addition to learning more about Low Dose Naltrexone from Shannon Garrett R.N. and lasers from Dr. Kirk Gair, I found Jolene, who has become my go-to expert for women’s hormones and reproductive health. In fact, she was my top featured expert in The Thyroid Secret, discussing thyroid health in pregnancy and postpartum, and was one of the first people I called for a complete download when I found out I was pregnant with my little Dimitry!
I remember being in the room at the Mastermind when Jolene shared that she kept meeting women with post-birth control syndrome, and had developed specific protocols to address their issues. Afterwards, I encouraged her to share her wisdom with the world in book-form.
You see, a lot of us practitioners and researchers have a unique knowledge and experience, and it takes a lot of courage and time away from our families and businesses to share this knowledge with the world. I know I personally have at least seven books I could write on various health conditions due to patterns I’ve uncovered, but I’m still looking for the time to write them!
So, I’m incredibly excited that Dr. Brighten made the time and has shared this important information about hormonal and reproductive health in her new book, Beyond the Pill.
In it, she shares her proven 30-day program designed to reverse the myriad of symptoms women experience every day—whether they choose to stay on the pill or not. The first book of its kind to target the birth control pill and the scientifically-proven symptoms associated with taking it, Beyond the Pill is an actionable plan for taking control, and will help readers:
- Locate the root cause of their hormonal issues, like estrogen dominance, low testosterone, and low progesterone
- Discover a manageable period free of cramps, acne, stress, or PMS—without the harmful side effects that come with the pill
- Detoxify the liver, support the adrenals and thyroid, heal the gut, reverse metabolic mayhem, boost fertility, and enhance mood
- Transition into a nutrition and supplement program, with more than 30 hormone-balancing recipes
Featuring simple diet and lifestyle interventions, Beyond the Pill: A 30-Day Program to Balance Your Hormones, Reclaim Your Body, and Reverse the Dangerous Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill, is the first step to reversing the risky side effects of the pill, finally finding hormonal health, and getting your life back! You can purchase your copy of Beyond the Pill now!
I hope this information helps you toward better hormonal health!
PS. You can also download a free Thyroid Diet Guide, 10 thyroid-friendly recipes, and the Nutrient Depletions and Digestion chapter of my first book for free by going to www.thyroidpharmacist.com/gift. You will also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways and helpful information.
For future updates, make sure to follow us on Facebook!
Note: Originally published in April 2015, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness.
As someone who has been regularly searching for information to improve and take control of my body, I believe this information to be accurate and concise. A welcoming sight from weeding through other sources.
Question: are there any foods (or products) that you know of that may act as natural birth control? Or potentially decrease fertility? (Soy?)
As far as natural birth controls, you are right, there are some foods that decrease fertility such as soy, sugar, alcohol. Recreational drug use, malnutrition, hypothyroidism and stress are also big contributors. Of course I wouldn’t rely on those types of unhealthy foods to reduce fertility to the point of acting as a contraceptive.
There are also herbs that can suppress ovulation or implantation and have been traditionally used for contraceptive purposes but with limited safety information.
For pregnancy prevention (and planning) I think Fertility Awareness Method is the way to go!
Some of these findings are fairly new. Students in pharmacy and medical schools are probably learning about these types of issues right now, and I learned about many of these issues through continuing professional education.
However many practicing medical professionals may not be aware of this. Additionally, the pharmaceutical companies have no obligations to disclose this information either.
Check back for more interesting facts:)
Anywho- there are many Catholic OB-GYN’s as well as Catholic NFP Clinics & training.. You do NOT need to be Catholic, either. And if done correctly (which is really not that hard, & has the added benefit, besides those mentioned already above, in the article, of really understanding how the body works, & thus, alerting you to a potential issue/ illness very early.. It is very successful..
Heather- Thank you for sharing! Do you have Hashimoto’s or a thyroid condition?
Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
Gina- Thank you so much for following this page! Do you have Hashimoto’s or a thyroid condition?
Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
Maria- I’m not too crazy about implants or any of the IUDs, either.
I learned about the Fertility Awareness Method. This method utilizes knowledge of the female reproductive cycle to predict days a woman will be fertile, and days that she isn’t. There are only six days a woman can get pregnant within every cycle. I have been using the Lady Comp for over a year now, and it has been a really amazing tool that has taught me a great deal about my body. The link is below! 🙂
https://www.lady-comp.com/
“The Lady-Comp is not FDA approved as a contraception method or device. Conclusions regarding the contraceptive reliability of Lady-Comp are based upon independent clinical studies authorized and documented by the manufacturer,”
If this method of birth control is so effective then why is it not FDA approved? Why are there no independent studies verifying their claims? I mean if this product fails its not like I can return it with the unwanted child for a full refund!
I can appreciate your concern! I was really nervous about it too as I did not want to get pregnant at all! I researched it for 3 months and then was afraid to use it for six months after I got it. But I really needed to be off the pill…. I have been using it for 1 year and 8 months. No “accidents” so far:) The Lady-Comp is ISO-certified (European accrediting agency) and is approved as a contraception device in Europe and as an ovulation predictor in the US.
It won’t prevent ovulation, which is why I think it’s not classified as a contraceptive by the FDA, but it will tell you when you are at risk for getting pregnant. It takes a while for it to learn your body, and basically the first 1-2 months you need to use a back up method/abstinence. Eventually you end up with 8-10 days that you are either yellow/red (meaning potentially fertile) During those days you can abstain or use a back-up. Please do your research. Check out reviews on Amazon and other blogs before you take the plunge 🙂 As a pharmacist I was excited there was another option for those that didn’t want to go the chemical route, but you have to do what’s best for you!
I just got your book this week and it is by far the best resource I have found. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos a few weeks ago and was feeling really overwhelmed by all the information on alternatives solutions and trying to sort out the science from the hogwash. Your book is exactly what I needed! I love your unbiased approach and thoroughly documented reference section. I’m recommending it to everyone I know with thyroid issues.
Thank you so much!
Sarah- Thank you so much for your support! I know it’s a lot to ask, but if you haven’t already, would you mind leaving a review on Amazon? 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/Hashimotos-Thyroiditis-Lifestyle-Interventions-Treating/dp/0615825796/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
The government approved the birth control pills that cause breast cancer. Why do you think bio-identical hormones are raging the market now?
Lily- Thank you so much for sharing. Do you have Hashimoto’s or a thyroid condition?
Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
is your book for people with an overactive thyroid too?
Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target 🙁 We need to rebalance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well! The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system.
The info I present is based on my own research in journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition. Here’s the info on the book http://www.thyroidpharmacist.com/book. Hope it helps!
It’s possible, birth control would make us Th-2 dominant…Wishing you all of the best in your health journey.
Thank you
Shelly- Have you used the Lady Comp? I have been using the Lady Comp for over a year now, and it has been a really amazing tool that has taught me a great deal about my body. Here is the link below! 🙂
https://www.lady-comp.com/
Beluki- I’m not too crazy about implants or any of the IUDs, either.
I learned about the Fertility Awareness Method. This method utilizes knowledge of the female reproductive cycle to predict days a woman will be fertile, and days that she isn’t. There are only six days a woman can get pregnant within every cycle. I have been using the Lady Comp for over a year now, and it has been a really amazing tool that has taught me a great deal about my body. The link is below! 🙂
https://www.lady-comp.com/
MaryEllen- I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
Jessica- Thank you so much for sharing! I am so sorry to hear that. Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
Lindy- Thank you so much for sharing! Do you have Hashimoto’s or a thyroid condition?
Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
Concetta- There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. Have you read these articles?
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://www.thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
I’m so pleased to see this topic being covered – the bad effects of the BCP are terrible. I see big impacts on my clients with anxiety and depression – so many key mood nutrients are depleted (like zinc and B6).
It’s also so great to see someone using and writing about FAM /Fertility Awareness Method. I used it and am a big fan and recommend it to my clients
I am not a fan of copper IUD – too much copper which can be especially bad when someone has anxiety and low zinc
Trudy
Author “The Antianxiety Food Solution”
Trudy- Thank you so much for your support! 🙂
Elsa- There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. Have you read these articles?
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://www.thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
HOW THE DOSE OF YOUR THYROID MEDICATION CAN UNCOVER YOUR ROOT CAUSE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-dose-of-your-thyroid-medication-can-uncover-your-root-cause
Shanell- I’m not too crazy about implants or any of the IUDs, either.
I learned about the Fertility Awareness Method. This method utilizes knowledge of the female reproductive cycle to predict days a woman will be fertile, and days that she isn’t. There are only six days a woman can get pregnant within every cycle. I have been using the Lady Comp for over a year now, and it has been a really amazing tool that has taught me a great deal about my body. The link is below! 🙂
https://www.lady-comp.com/
Rhonda- Thyroid tissue can regenerate, but the rate at which it does is not always predictable. Thus, some are able to stop the autoimmune attack on their thyroid and regain normal thyroid function. Others can reduce the dose of medications, and others will need to stay on the medications indefinitely. I’m currently working on some protocols to help with tissue regeneration.
Reversing Hashimoto’s means different things to different people. For some, it means a reduction in symptoms and for others it means a reduction in your antibodies. I had both. Here a few articles that might be helpful for you 🙂
IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECOVER THYROID FUNCTION IN HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-it-possible-to-recover-thyroid-function-in-hashimotos
REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/
HASHIMOTO’S SELF CARE, GETTING AND STAYING IN REMISSION
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-self-care
Lynn- Thyroid tissue can regenerate, but the rate at which it does is not always predictable. Thus, some are able to stop the autoimmune attack on their thyroid and regain normal thyroid function. Others can reduce the dose of medications, and others will need to stay on the medications indefinitely. I’m currently working on some protocols to help with tissue regeneration.
Reversing Hashimoto’s means different things to different people. For some, it means a reduction in symptoms and for others it means a reduction in your antibodies. I had both. Here a few articles that might be helpful for you 🙂
IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECOVER THYROID FUNCTION IN HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-it-possible-to-recover-thyroid-function-in-hashimotos
REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY? AND THE PERFECT STORM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/
HASHIMOTO’S SELF CARE, GETTING AND STAYING IN REMISSION
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-self-care
Sharon- I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid
CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
Nichole- I learned about the Fertility Awareness Method. This method utilizes knowledge of the female reproductive cycle to predict days a woman will be fertile, and days that she isn’t. There are only six days a woman can get pregnant within every cycle. I have been using the Lady Comp for over a year now, and it has been a really amazing tool that has taught me a great deal about my body. The link is below! 🙂
https://www.lady-comp.com/
Kelly- I’m not too crazy about implants or any of the IUDs, either.
I learned about the Fertility Awareness Method. This method utilizes knowledge of the female reproductive cycle to predict days a woman will be fertile, and days that she isn’t. There are only six days a woman can get pregnant within every cycle. I have been using the Lady Comp for over a year now, and it has been a really amazing tool that has taught me a great deal about my body. The link is below! 🙂
https://www.lady-comp.com/
V- Not everyone will need every single supplement! In fact, I believe that most nutrients should come from the diet, this is why I always list food sources for most of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and probiotics that are depleted in Hashimoto’s in the book and on the blog. However, some may require/prefer supplements and the supplements on the website are a resource for those that do. I recommend getting tested for deficiencies to determine your need for a supplement as instructed in the book and blog. I also don’t recommend starting multiple supplements all at once. I recommend starting one at a time and then adding another a week or so later once it has been confirmed that the first supplement is not causing any harm.
I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out? Not everyone should be taking every supplement and the book will help uncover your root cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
TP- Thank you for sharing! Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
Kim- There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. Have you read these articles?
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
Helen- I’m not too crazy about implants or any of the IUDs, either.
I learned about the Fertility Awareness Method. This method utilizes knowledge of the female reproductive cycle to predict days a woman will be fertile, and days that she isn’t. There are only six days a woman can get pregnant within every cycle. I have been using the Lady Comp for over a year now, and it has been a really amazing tool that has taught me a great deal about my body. The link is below! 🙂
https://www.lady-comp.com/
Susan- I’m not too crazy about implants or any of the IUDs, either.
I learned about the Fertility Awareness Method. This method utilizes knowledge of the female reproductive cycle to predict days a woman will be fertile, and days that she isn’t. There are only six days a woman can get pregnant within every cycle. I have been using the Lady Comp for over a year now, and it has been a really amazing tool that has taught me a great deal about my body. The link is below! 🙂
https://www.lady-comp.com/
The info I present is based on my own research in journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition. Here’s the info on the book https://thyroidpharmacist.com/book. Hope it helps!
There is an upcoming free online seminar that will be discussing all things related to the thyroid, and one of my colleagues Christa Orechchio will be talking about how to put Graves’ disease into remission. You can sign up for this event at http://www.freethyroid.com
I have irregular periods, heavy bleeding, and some symptoms of estrogen dominance. I’ve had 2 recent miscarriages and am age 38. My gyn wants to put me on oral contraceptives for a few months to level out my hormones and give me a few months of regularity before we try again. She indicates this can be helpful for situations like mine. Your thoughts?
RJ – thank you for following this page. My heart goes out to you. <3
These articles may be of interest to you.
ESTROGEN DOMINANCE AS A HASHIMOTO'S TRIGGER
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/estrogen-dominance-as-a-hashimotos-trigger
PREGNANCY
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-pregnancy
BIRTH CONTROL
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/14-ways-birth-control-pills-rob-us-of-our-health
Hi Dr. Izabella! First of all I love your book and blog-they have both helped me greatly in my journey with Hashimotos! Little background-I was diagnosed with Hashi’s 4 years ago and immediately went gluten and dairy free. At the time the antibodies that mark Hashi’s was over 1000! A few months later I started taking Nature Thyroid and within a year there have been no antibodies in my bloodwork and my Thyroid levels have all stabilized 🙂 This has continued over the last 3 years. However, during this whole time I have been on birth control pills (12 years). I decided to go off of the pill last month and now I feel like I am actually going into a hyper thyroid phase. I am feeling very anxious, shakey inside and having insomnia. The insomnia is what is telling me there is something wrong because being hypo all of my life I have never had an issue sleeping. I also haven’t change my nature thyroid medication dosage in a year. Do you think that coming of birth control could cause my thyroid to function better and the added factor of nature thyroid may be too much???
I am also currently supplementing with the following:
B vitamin
Zinc
Magnesium
DIM
Abby – thank you for following this page. Graves and Hashimoto’s are both autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid. They are thought to be closely related. Sometimes one turns into the other. The difference is the site of the antibody attack. In Hashimoto’s, the antibodies are found to thyroglobulin (in 80%) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme (in 95% of people) – Hashimoto’s results in hypothyroidism and is usually treated with Synthroid and replacement hormone.
The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually people with Graves have hyperthyroidism and they are treated conventionally with thyroid suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own and these people end up on Synthroid as well.
Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically or treated with radioactive iodine, the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target. We need to rebalance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well). The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The information I present is based on my own research, in my journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.
Hashimoto’s Protocol
thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Hi,
It happened to me what you mentioned in the article except it was caused by an antidepressant which I only took for leas than 2 years when I as 30, but the damaged was already done. Fast ward at 38 the doctor said I was perimenopausal. I had many of the symptoms: brain fog, memory loss, etc, etc. The doctor wants to out me on the pill because my steogen levels are way too low. I am so afraid to put any type of chemical in my body. I would like to know your opinion on this.
Nancy – thank you for following this page. Progesterone deficiency can surge into Th-1 dominance. This explains why the peak onset of Hashimoto’s occurs during menopause, when the body’s progesterone drops, or after pregnancy,
when a rapid drop in progesterone occurs after the delivery. I do talk a lot about it and go into more depth in my book!! 🙂
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Hashimoto’s Protocol
thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol
I couldn’t agree more. I have two babies 15 years apart. For my newest son, I was on Mirena and started feeling terrible. My milk supply started decreasing whereas with my first son, let’s just say my chest was flowing with milk and honey, lol. I started getting terrible acne, rashes, feeling fatigued and then the 20 lb. weight gain piled on in about a span of 2 months. After researching Mirena and the effects it can have on my thyroid, I immediately reached out to my OBGYN for it’s removal. 3 weeks before removal, TSH was 5.7 on thyroid medication. 1 hour after Mirena removal, TSH was 5.0. 2 weeks later, TSH was 1.7. My typical norm has been 1.4 but I was shocked at what birth control did to my body. My OBGYN thought I was crazy for removing it. I’m just sad it took me 6 months to have the courage to say “enough was enough”. It’s been almost a month since it’s removal and I feel much better. Lost about 8-9 lbs and am getting better day by day. Thank you for your research out there on Hashimoto’s. Your work helps me feel validated, like I’m not crazy and that I can work on gaining control of this condition in my life. Love and respect, Kimster Rivera
Kimberly – thank you so much for sharing your journey. <3 I hope you will keep me updated on your progress. Post-birth control syndrome (PBCS) Awareness week begins November 5th. Let’s spread the word and empower women to feel their best. Join Dr. Jolene Brighten, myself and over 30 experts this November, in raising awareness about this important women’s health issue. Click here for more information: https://drbrighten.com/pbcsawareness/?bid=2f824dc3&pid=5bb239bb38371
Many women with thyroid conditions have irregular menstrual cycles. Will the Lady-Comp work for women with irregular cycles? My daughter’s cycles over the past year have ranged from 17 to 65 days. There was only one cycle of 65 days. The longest one other than that one was 52 days. She was told she has Hashimotos based on her recent blood work and prefers to not go on the pill but she’s worried that the Lady-Comp won’t be effective with her irregular cycles. She’s getting married in February and would really like to have a birth control plan in place by then.
Mary – thank you for reaching out and sharing your daughters journey. She may want to contact the company and ask them if it would be effective with irregular cycles. I highly recommend that she work with a functional medicine clinician to be a part of her own health care team. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying root causes and prevent serious chronic disease rather than treating individual disease symptoms. I believe that everyone needs to find a practitioner that will let her be a part of the healthcare team. You want someone that can guide her, that will also listen her concerns. You want someone that’s open to thinking outside of the box and who understands that she may not fit in with the standard of care. It’s a good idea to ask some standard questions when contacting a new doctor for the first time. Something else to consider is she can work with a functional doctor remotely, via Skype. She could also contact her local pharmacist or compounding pharmacy, who may be able to point her to a local doctor who has a natural functional approach. But I would encourage her to keep looking for the right one! Here are some resources she might find helpful.
CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/pages/clinician-database
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/recommended-compounding-pharmacies.html
Hi! Quick question!
I was diagnosed and operated on for Stage 4 endometriosis and was told that until I was ready to get pregnant, that I would have to take birth control and just skip the white pills or risk the endo growing back. I was also recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease and will soon begin taking 50mg of L-Thyroxin.
While this natural method of birth control sounds amazing, I can’t let the endometriosis grow back, because the pain it caused was at times unbearable, so I have to continue taking the birth control. Because of the Hashimoto’s, I still feel very sick and can hardly get out of bed sometimes.
If I have to take my birth control pills and will soon be taking a thyroid medication, what sort of supplements/vitamins should I take to help ensure the thyroid medication works and that I’m replenishing at least a portion of what the birth control depletes?
Thanks again!
Nicole – thank you so much for sharing your journey. I am so sorry to hear you are struggling with all of this. <3 My heart goes out to you. Please understand, I am not able to advise on whether what supplements would be appropriate for you and your specific health needs without a comprehensive health assessment. I recommend that you discuss this with your personal doctor. Endometriosis can be a symptom of Candida. Yeast is an opportunistic organism that acts up when your overall health is impaired or when your immune system is compromised. Most people with Hashimoto’s will have a high degree of yeast overgrowth, especially of the Candida genus. Treating this overgrowth can be very helpful in restoring health. A note about Candida: Candida can be a primary or a secondary root cause. While conventional medicine underdiagnoses issues related to yeast overgrowth, natural medicine practitioners seem to overdiagnose yeast and may say Candida is a root cause for all ailments. I recommend a Candida protocol for most people with Hashimoto’s. Here is an article you may find helpful as well:
CANDIDA AND HASHIMOTO'S CONNECTION:
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/candida-and-hashimotos-connection/
Hello,
What do you think about a tubal ligation?? I have hashimotos and I’m 37 and done having Kids.
Thank you
Hello,
what about progesterone therapy during pregnancy to prevent miscarriages while having Hashimoto’s. I was given progesterone when I was pregnant, and at 36 weeks I give up taking it, and in a week I started to get not very good symptoms like pre-eclampsia , I had swelling and high blood pressure also hydramnios. I was induced on 39th weeks of pregnancy cause things got worsened. So, I am interesting, could synthetic progesterone be the root cause of preeclampsia and hydramnios when you have Hashimoto’s?
Tanya – thank you for reaching out. <3 I'm so sorry you experienced this during your pregnancy. Progesterone deficiency can surge into Th- 1 dominance. This explains why the peak onset of Hashimoto’s occurs during menopause, when the body’s progesterone drops, or after pregnancy when a rapid drop in progesterone occurs after the delivery. You might find these articles interesting.
ESTROGEN DOMINANCE AS A HASHIMOTOS TRIGGER
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/estrogen-dominance-as-a-hashimotos-trigger/
Pregnancy
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pregnancy-announcement/
Best Advice Hashimamas
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-advice-hashimamas/
For 14 issues with the pill for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, for each point, can you provide a scientific article reference, please?
Elena – thank you for following my research! I wrote this article based on a chapter in my book Hashimoto’s the Root Cause. The references section is located in the back of the book and shows everything cited in Chapter 14/the Triggers chapter. Here are some that are about birth control. You may want to check out the book for more information and details.
Loyola University Health System. Increased stroke risk from birth control pills, review finds. Science Daily. Oct 27, 2009; Jan 26, 2013 Web.
Cell Press. Unnatural selection: birth control pills may alter choice of partners. ScienceDaily. Oct 8, 2009. Jan 26, 2013 Web.
Cohen S. Drug Muggers. Rodale. 2011.
Ando T, Davies TF. Clinical Review 160: Postpartum autoimmune thyroid disease: the potential role of fetal microchimerism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003;88(7):2965.
Gottfried, S. The Hormone Cure. Scribner; 2013.
Weschler T. Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Harper Collins; 2006.
You also may find this article & the references at the bottom helpful as well: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/low-libido-and-hashimotos/
Here is a link to Hashimot’s the Root Cause: https://amzn.to/2XXCqcQ
I am switching from birth control pills that I have been taking since 2012 to copper iUD. I have hypothyroidism and take synthroid since 2020 after my second pregnancy. When I switch to copper iud I will do a liver cleanse. My question is should I stop taking synthroid? I have a strong feeling birth control is what caused my thyroid levels to be off.
AG – thank you for reaching out. It is never advisable to stop taking your medications, or alter your dosages, without the advice of your practitioner. T4 thyroid hormone medications have a half-life of about 1 week. This means that when a person stops taking them, the amount of the hormone activity in their body, from the medication, will decrease by about 1/2 each week. For T3 medications, this half-life is only about 1 day. Generally, within three weeks (or a few days for T3), most of the hormone will be out of the body. This could result in increased symptoms, an increase in the autoimmune attack on the thyroid, and extra stress on your body and the thyroid. Thyroid hormones affect every organ, tissue and cell in the body. Appropriate medication management will allow you to recover from the effects of hypothyroidism, giving you the energy, vitality and support to continue working on optimizing your health. Please do not change your medications without speaking to your doctor first.
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
http://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
http://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications/