Email This Article To A FriendAfter being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I was not ready to start a family due to my less than optimal health and an unplanned pregnancy would wreak havoc on my health (not to mention life). At the same time, I realized that taking artificial hormones in the form of birth control on a daily basis was contributing to my poor health.
14 Ways Birth Control Pills Rob Us Of Our Health…
- Birth control pills are described as “Drug Muggers” by Suzy Cohen, RPh, America’s Pharmacist. 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! Thyroid conditions affect 1 in 5 women at some point in life and are responsible for weight gain, depression, and heart disease.
- 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 leading 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, which stimulate pseudopregnancy, 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.
- 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 also decrease sexual desire by suppressing testosterone (Yes, women produce small amounts of testosterone too).
- High dose estrogen contained in birth control pills increases the activity of TBG (Thyroxine Binding Globulin). TGB binds thyroid hormone. More circulating TGB leads to lower levels of free thyroid hormone available for use by our 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 intolerance issues.
- Birth control pills lower our DHEA production. DHEA has been described as an anti-aging hormone. Many conditions, including autoimmune conditions, have been associated with low DHEA.
- Birth control pills deplete our bodies of folic acid, B12, and B6 vitamins. A deficiency in any of these may result in anemia, birth defects, depression and other serious conditions….
So what’s a girl to do?
With all of these things in mind, I knew that it was time to kick the birth control habit. But what were my alternatives? Condoms have a 14-15% 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 the Fertility Awareness Method.
This method utilizes knowledge of the female reproductive cycles to predict days a woman will be fertile, and days that she isn’t. There are only 6 days a woman can get pregnant within every cycle.
With a typical menstrual cycle lasting 28 days (Count day one as the first day of the menstrual period), on average women ovulate somewhere in the middle. But not every woman has a 28-day cycle. Also, not every woman with a 28 days cycle ovulates right smack in the middle of the cycle. And many women may ovulate at different times each month depending on lifestyle factors.
Fertilization can occur 5 days before ovulation, or on the day of ovulation….Thus the beginning and end of a menstrual cycle a woman will typically be infertile, and fertile for 6 days somewhere in the middle after she ovulates.
A thermal shift in basal temperatures, cervical position, and cervical fluids help determine ovulation.
Our 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 daily in a fertility chart that will help the woman analyze where she is in the fertility cycle.
As a bonus, measuring your basal temperatures can help with measuring progress in your Hashimoto’s treatment. Your pre-ovulatory temperature (usually the first 10-15 days of your cycle) is key to determining how well your thyroid and adrenals are performing. A pre-ovulatory 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 or all over the place may signal adrenal insufficiency. You can document your interventions on the same fertility chart where you document the daily temperatures and fertility signs.
I highly recommend the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility that gives an amazingly descriptive and thorough overview of the Fertility Awareness Method for pregnancy prevention and achievement. After reading this book cover to cover, I have 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% of “typical” users, 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!
This is a mini computer/alarm system that comes with an ultra-sensitive thermometer. This mini computer 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). If you are super nerdy like me, you can still make your charts. I am currently running statistics on adrenal insufficiency temperatures and will share my templates soon.
I have been using the Lady-Comp for over a year now, and it has been an amazing tool that has taught me a great deal about my body. It has been an eye opener watching my temperatures change, as well as noticing 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 14 as some would lead you to believe).
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 Spending Accounts. Very good to know for those who use it or lose it at the end of the year, or 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!
Of course, if the benefit of the oral contraceptives outweighs the risks, such as for certain serious medical conditions, a woman may need to continue taking the pill. In that case, supplementing with probiotics, magnesium, zinc, B vitamins and Vitamin C is strongly recommended. Please note…all supplements are not created equally, and throwing them all in one pill often does not lead to good absorption. I will soon be blogging about two of my favorite topics, drug interactions, and supplements soon.
PS. You can also download a free Thyroid Diet Guide, 10 Thyroid friendly recipes, and the Nutrient Depletions and Digestion chapter for free by going to www.thyroidpharmacist.com/gift. You will also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways and helpful information.
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Disclosure: We are a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
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/blog/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/blog/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/blog/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/blog/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/blog/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