DR. IZABELLA WENTZ, PHARM D

Thyroid Pharmacist

14 Ways Birth Control Pills Rob Us of Our Health

14 Ways Birth Control Pills Rob Us of Our Health

Medically reviewed and written by Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP on January 23, 2019

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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

14 Ways Birth Control Pills Rob Us of Our Health

  1. 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!
  2. 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.
  3. Birth control pills increase the risk of blood clots and strokes. The risk greatly increases after age 35 and for women who smoke.
  4. Birth control pills can thin our bones, leading to osteoporosis.
  5. 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.
  6. Birth control pills can change our normal flora, allowing yeast and other pathogenic organisms to thrive.
  7. Women who take birth control pills have an altered preference to mates, due to the change in hormones.
  8. Birth control pills increase the risk of breast, ovarian, and liver cancers.
  9. Birth control pills impair our ability to build muscle, despite exercise.
  10. Birth control pills can decrease sexual desire by suppressing testosterone. (Yes, women produce small amounts of testosterone too.)
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.

IW and 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.

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Comments

  3. It’s very clear that the risks greatly outweigh the benefits, and by benefits, I mean ‘mindless convenience’ of taking a pill to prevent pregnancy.
    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?)
    Reply

  4. Hi Orchid,
    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!
    Reply

  6. Thanks Emilia!
    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:)
    Reply

  7. i know this post is old, but just happened across it.. NFP (Natural Family Planning) has actually been used by Catholics (& a few Protestant denominations that haven’t caved by the pressure of activist feminist which often – the higher up the feminist activist ladder, the more you will find this true- have very strong financial ($$$) benefits/ connections to push contraception & abortions; though, totally another subject (but very interesting research digging into planned parenthood connections & founding principles)..
    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..
    Reply

  8. Because Big Abortion/Planned Parenthood/Big Pharma don’t want women to know. Ignorance is $$$ for them.
    Reply

    • 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/

      Reply

  10. We have been practicing NFP since our first child. It was the reason I was able to trouble shoot a problem I was having conceiving our second…with supplements was able to fix it and we had our second boy!
    Reply

  12. This product really sounds too good to be true. I’ve been on the pill for over 15 years and would love another viable option. However, as a DINK (dual income no kids), who is committed to a childfree lifestyle, who considers an accidental pregnancy a death sentence to my happiness and career I have a hard time trusting this science. I visited the website and in their fine print it states
    “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!
    Reply

  13. Hi Sarah,
    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!
    Reply

  14. Thanks! That is really helpful to know.
    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!
    Reply

  15. Do you seriously rely on the FDA? If you trust the government. You need to get out from under the rock your living under.
    The government approved the birth control pills that cause breast cancer. Why do you think bio-identical hormones are raging the market now?
    Reply

  17. Does the same apply for the depo shot? I’ve been on that for some time now and wonder if it’s the same in the terms above for the shot.
    Reply

  19. I was diagnosed, post operatively, with Hashimoto’s Thyroid. I also had a cancer in situ present, but I don’t remember the type. Anyway, now that I have no thyroid tissue left, am I still a Hashimoto’s patient? Do natural remedies for Hashimoto’s still apply to me??
    Reply

  20. Maria,
    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!
    Reply

  21. Thank you! I have been noticing my heath is not as good when I take BC pills. I recently decided that I wanted to go off of them again, but I didn’t know what non-drug options were out there. I have talked to my doctor and they always want to do drugs or implants, and I just don’t want to mess with my personal body chemistry anymore! I’m getting sick easier, and I’ve put on a ton of weight that came off when I found out I couldn’t eat gluten.
    Reply

  22. Glad that you have found what makes you feel better 🙂 I wish more doctors recommended this type of family planning option! Have been using it for over 2 years now and loving it!
    Reply

  23. I am trying to find the “root cause” to my Hashimoto’s. I am TH-2 dominant. Is this likely to be the case if triggered by birth control, if birth control suppresses the TH-1 response? Love your book… Thank you!!!
    Reply

  24. Hi Michelle,
    It’s possible, birth control would make us Th-2 dominant…Wishing you all of the best in your health journey.
    Reply

  25. Great information!! I have Hashimotos disease and I’m in menopause. I was wondering if I can take synthetic hormone replacement for my symptoms. I’ve tried bio-identical hormones and am having very little success.
    Thank you
    Reply

  26. Synthetic thyroid hormones for Hashi’s-yes. For menopause, I would prefer bio-identicals. I work with some really amazing compounding pharmacists that can work with you to optimize your bio-identical hormones. Do you have someone you work with?
    Reply

  27. I have two gorgeous little girls. After the second I tried natural birth control, tracking the days from menstruation, as well as abstinence during the time that i was meant to be fertile. I fell pregnant twice using this technique and unfortunately both resulted in miscarriages. I now have an IUD.
    Reply

  28. My friend and I were really excited when we found the LadyComp – but she has more money than me so bought it and 4 months in, guess what, she’s pregnant! It states on the LadyComp website you should not use it if you take thyroid medication (I guess this is due to changes in body temperature). Surely this applies to those of us with thyroid problems in general as we have inconsistencies in our body temperatures too??? I would LOVE to use the LadyComp but I can not get pregnant again!
    Reply

  29. Hi Karen, Thank you for sharing. Absolutely, the only birth control method that is 100% reliable is abstinence. I have a cousin who got pregnant on the birth control pill and that is rated to be 99.5% effective, while the Lady-Comp is 99.3% effective. But of course these rates are from the “perfect” user. In reality, the efficacy rate also depends on the user. Oral contraceptives, in the hands of a typical use are only 91% effective. With NFP, there is a lot of room for user error. Perhaps someone may have had a fever and this caused an earlier increase in temperature (the manual recommends skipping temps if you have a fever), or did not take the temperature correctly, maybe they got up and talked before taking the temp or were up late at night. Others may interpret the yellow days as infertile days instead of “learning”. I did not see a disclaimer on the Lady-Comp website or manual regarding thyroid disease. As a pharmacist I can tell you that the temperatures will improve once you are on the right dose of medication, and you will still have a thermal shift just the same, unless you are of course not ovulating. In fact, I have found the LadyComp extremely helpful in monitoring my own condition/dosage of medication. If it’s not too much trouble, can you send me a screen shot or link to the page where you found the thyroid info?
    Reply

  30. What about IUD – I noticed that question wasn’t answered? My gyno recommended me move to that option.
    Reply

    • 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/

      Reply

  31. I have a unique problem involving bcp. My oldest daughter, 35, is mentally handicapped and lives in a new group home. She has been on continuous bcp so as to not have a period. Her mental age is about 3 and she will not cooperate with leaving a pad in place! She will just reach in and remove it, giving it a toss! I don’t like her being on bcp like this but know of no better alternative for the situation. We have hypothyroid that runs in the family as well as graves and autoimmune issues. She has OCD and is on powerful meds. I do not want to keep giving her the bcp and risk thyroid problems for her too but what are my alternatives given the situation???
    Reply

  32. I am thinking I need birth control to get my periods under control. A little back story when I first started menstruating (I believe I was 13/14) my periods were 14 days long. So essentially I would be on my period for two weeks then have two weeks off and repeat. I was on the pill for almost 15yr. No real side effects. I went off the pill the year I got married. My periods were regular/normal and a little over a year later I got pregnant. Three years after the birth of baby number one came baby number two. I nursed baby number two up until a year ago. Since ending nursing my periods are horrible. Horrible cramping/moodiness/bathroom issues etc. They come every three weeks and I am now anemic. I am already taking progesterone via a prescription from a integrative doc. But it doesn’t seem to be helping. What suggestion could you offer to help my situation that maybe my docs are not thinking of?
    Reply

  33. Hi, I recently went through the same thing after my second child was born and have a similar history. Started my period at 14/15 and had two week cycles. They eventually got better after my first child was born but then became horrific after my second was born. Due to my family history I was scared to go to the docs and try hormone replacement therapy so I started searching the web and came across progesterone therapy. I am commenting because progesterone therapy prescribed by doctors is usually synthetic progesterone which often does not help, or can make worse, estrogen dominance issues. Natural progesterone cream therapy can help to balance out the estrogen dominance. So I tried the natural progesterone cream with the back up plan that if it didn’t work I would finally see the doctor about it. That was over a year ago. I am still using the natural cream with great results not just with improved period, cramps almost non existent, and regularity, but it also helped with many other issues such as migraines as well. I would encourage you to search online for the differences between synthetic and natural progesterone. The therapy I follow is at progesteronetherapy.com but I like to encourage people to find multiple sources when researching.
    Reply

  34. I was on oral contraceptives for many years because I have extensive endometriosis. I have already had one ovary removed because of the endo. I switched to the Mirena IUD last year. Is this the better of the two evils? I have been told until I go through menopause I need to be on something that will thin the uterine lining.
    Reply

  36. Izabella
    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”
    Reply

  37. I am currently taking the Levothyroxine hormone for my underactive thyroid. I am also wanting to get off my BCP and am interested in the lady comp… however, I am concerned that my synthetic thyroid hormone will interfere with the accuracy of the lady comp. Is that a valid concern?
    Reply

  38. I am hypothyroid. I have been concerned about my birth control affecting my health. However when not on it my cycle is 2 weeks long and super heavy. I became anemic when not taking it as my cycle was so heavy. I also have cramps so bad to the point I can’t function. I have been considering the iud or an implant. I have seen others ask and no response. I assume they would be the same as in the pulls but can you verify your thoughts on them? Thank you!
    Reply

    • 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/

      Reply

  39. Can a person be cured of hypothyroidism? I’ve been on the birth control pill for almost 20 years. I was put on a low dose estrogen pill to deal with fibroids and endometrium issues. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 3 years ago – hmmmm wondering if there is a correlation now…. uuggghhh!
    Reply

  40. Wow. Totally understand now. Was on the Pill from 16 -35. Hysterectomy at at 38 then diagnosed as Hashimotos at 40. And 14 years down the line struggling to understand #howonearthdidthishappentome. Thank you Now I Know.
    Reply

  41. This is really interesting and great information to know. Unfortunately, I’ve been diagnosed with Endometriosis, a chronic condition if left untreated can cause me to become infertile and even develop endometrial cancer, so I have no choice but to take birth control. I’ve recently switched from the oral contraceptives to the Nuvaring and am wondering if that’s any better or if I have any other alternatives. I’m also a single 24 year old and would really love to have children one day so I would rather not have anything that would one day prevent me from becoming pregnant. Thank you so much!
    Reply

  42. What about progesterone only pills taken to regulate heavy periods? Are they just as negative for hashi patients? I am thinking “yes” I want to know exactly in one potent sentence for my ob gyn doctor. I stopped taking them..thank heavens and went on nature thyriod 2 years ago.
    Reply

  43. What happens if you have to be on a form of birth control (pills) because you bleed 15 out of 30 days a month because you have a blood clotting disease. I’m going for my yearly in August, we’re going to discuss my having a hysterectomy to take care of the female issues. I have never been diagnosed with any Thyroid issues, but I know they any responses there. I have had A Lot of the symptoms for 10-15 years now, but every year……YOUR BLOODWORK IS NORMAL. I have a family history of thyroid disease. My two oldest sons, my bio-brother, and numerous other family members. ….Wish me luck !!
    Reply

  44. I have been taking oral contraceptives on and off for about 2 years as treatment for soaking wet night sweats that relate to my menstrual cycle. I don’t want to take them, but I don’t now what else to do
    Reply

    • 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/

      Reply

  45. How about the Mirena iud? After years of resisting hormonal birth control, I just threw in the towel and had Mirena inserted last week. I have Hashi’s and I’m finished having children. My OB assured me it would have no effect on my thyroid but I’m skeptical. I saw my endo today and forgot to ask her opinion! Am I in trouble?
    Reply

    • 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/

      Reply

    • 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

      Reply

  47. I have Hashimotos and premenopausal. Using birth control pills with iron to alleviate symptoms. I feel great. Know and weigh the risks at whichever phase or season in one’s life.
    Reply

  48. I have extremely heavy periods put on birth control and higher dosage of synthroid felt 1000 better had blood work after six weeks they lowered thyroid medication said it was too high now I am back to feeling bad and heavy periods but the say it is normal ranges I am so frustrated how can I feel so much better on other dosage but they won’t change it just feel like crap again
    Reply

  49. Hello what about the Nuva Ring? this is a contraception that is inserted for 3 weeks every month. Would this have the same effects as the oral pill? cheers
    Reply

    • 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/

      Reply

  50. What are your thoughts about IUDs? I had PCOS with 3-4 month cycles (now pretty much normal after functional medicine changes), and took the pill for many years. I now know that I have hashi’s, and wouldn’t doubt the pill contributed. At that time, charting would not have been of any use. I have a teenager who is showing signs of slightly irregular cycles and has no interest in helping herself by making changes in her diet, etc. Would the IUD be an acceptable non-hormonal option?
    Reply

    • 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/

      Reply

  51. 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 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
    Reply

  52. 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?

    Reply

  53. 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???

    Reply

    • 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

      Reply

  54. 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.

    Reply

  55. 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

    Reply

  56. 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.

    Reply

    • 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

      Reply

  57. 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!

    Reply

    • 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/

      Reply

  58. Hello,
    What do you think about a tubal ligation?? I have hashimotos and I’m 37 and done having Kids.
    Thank you

    Reply

  59. 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?

    Reply

    • 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

      Reply

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