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things I wish I knew before taking birth control: Part 1

birth control hypothyroidism nutrients preconception pregnancy ttc

All right, everyone! We’re kicking off a new and highly requested series. Over the next few weeks I’ll be talking about things that I personally wish I had known prior to taking hormonal contraceptives. Before we get started, these posts are coming from a place of absolute love and genuine curiosity. There is no judgement or shaming here, and any such comments will be removed.

Today’s post is about how hormonal contraceptives can impact thyroid function. A few ways they do this:

⏩ Ovulation-suppressing hormonal contraceptives mean that we don’t produce natural progesterone. Progesterone stimulates thyroid function. This is why our temperature rises after we ovulate, and why it’s such a great biomarker for tracking ovulation.

⏩ They increase thyroid-binding globulin (TBG). This can bind up free thyroid hormone, keeping our cells from using it.

⏩ Hormonal contraceptives delivery a relatively large amount of synthetic estrogen. Estrogen blocks thyroid hormone secretion.

⏩ They also deplete thyroid-supportive nutrients, like Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Zinc, Selenium, and others.

When I look back on a few of the things I was experiencing, they connected a lot to hypothyroidism:

↝Fatigue

↝Cold hands and feet

↝Cold intolerance

↝Dry skin

↝Weight gain

↝Thinning hair

Of course, hormonal contraceptives can affect people differently. But I definitely wish I had known this before I started taking them.

Working on thyroid function is especially important when going from hormonal contraceptives to pregnancy, because our thyroid gland has to increase thyroid hormone production by over 50%.

What about you: Did you or are you experiencing any of these issues with hormonal contraceptives? Share your story!

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 Not medical advice.

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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.

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References


Brighten, J. (2019). Beyond the Pill. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

Mayo Clinic. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20350284.

Nichols, L. (2018). Real Food for Pregnancy. United States.

Peat, R. (2007). Progesterone Summaries. Retrieved from: http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/progesterone-summaries.shtml.

 

 

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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. While the owner of this website tries to keep the information up to date, there may be things that are out-of-date and out of their control.