Birth Control & Poly Pharmacy- The Series: Part 3 Thyroid Medication & Autoimmune Disease
Once again-I am all for the use of Birth Control, it is empowering. I am also all for the use of adequate Informed consent about the use of the birth control and I love empowering women through education surrounding the use of the birth control. This week I will be sharing a series about the reality of the Pill and PolyPharm (;the use of multiple medications to address side effects of previously prescribed medications.)
Women on the birth control are SIGNIFICANTLY more likely to be prescribed multiple drugs after starting Hormonal Birth Control:
PART 3:
Thyroid Medications and the Autoimmune Implications of the pill
Used to manage
Synthroid/levothyroxine: treats hypothyroidism ( a low functioning thyroid)
Levothyroxine is a synthetic form of our T4 (non-active) hormone. The idea behind prescribing T4 in Hashimoto's (an Autoimmune Condition of the Thyroid) is to supply the body with what it needs, but is not addressing the antibodies. As further destruction of the thyroid gland from the antibodies happen we can anticipate the doses to increase.
The Facts
1 in 5 women will be diagnosed with a thyroid disorder
100 million women are on birth control
The Female gender is 8x more likely than men to develop hypothyroidism
Thyroid disease may put patients at risk for certain serious conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and infertility.
Thyroid Disease has been increasing steadily
Thyroid Health and the Pill: The connection
1) Inflammation: chronic inflammation causes our immune system to malfunction and is considered to be a root cause of many chronic disease and autoimmune disease. This inflammation can also act as a stressor to our body which encourages our active thyroid hormone to be converted into something called Reverse T3. This then contributes to this slow thyroid picture.
2) Vital Nutrients: our thyroid needs certain nutrient to produce thyroid hormone and convert inactive hormone to active hormone in our bodies (T4—>T3) . Critical nutrients depleted by hormonal birth control includes the b vitamins, zinc, and selenium!
3)Increase in Thyroid Binding Globulin—> Functional Low Thyroid: This increase in Thyroid hormone binding globulin binds to our thyroid hormones ultimately decreasing our available thyroid hormone. This creates functional hypothyroid and gives us symptoms like depression, constipation, weight gain/weight loss resistance, brain fog, dry skin and hair.
4) Gut Dysbiosis: we know that certain Gut Bugs can predispose us to developing thyroid conditions like Hashimotos. Hormonal birth control alters our gut microbiome and can encourage the growth of these Gut Bugs thus leading to Auto Immune Conditions like Hashimotos/Graves.
A note on the Autoimmune Disease Connection:
Birth control shifts our immune response to favor something called the TH2 Immunity , this contributes to our risk of developing Autoimmune conditions like Rheumatoid arthritis, celiacs, chron’s/UC, eczema, psoriasis, vitilago, multiple sclerosis, and more.
Final thoughts:
Does this mean you need to come off the birth control? Again, maybe but probably not, it is your choice. I am writing this to create a space where women can educate themselves and empower them to know what side effects there are, what it can lead to, and how awareness can help them avoid falling into the cycle of poly pharm. With my patients on hormonal birth control we work to specifically ensure that we are replenishing the nutrient depletions, supporting our immune system, and optimizing our inflammation in our body to prevent these negative processes from occurring. You can also reestablish your gut health through clinical nutrition to restore normal flora and prevent the leaky gut—> inflammatory cycle.
Resources:
Raps, M et al. “Use of hormonal contraceptives lead to elevated TBG levels, slightly elevated TSH levels.” Thromb Res. 2014 Apr;133(4):640-4.