Greenville SC Thyroid Doctor Answers – Do Birth Control Pills Affect Thyroid Function?
For most women, hormones play a strong role in their lives and can impact the way they feel on any given day. This is especially true for those who take birth control, as these pills can change the balance of hormones in order to prevent pregnancy. While this is highly effective for what it’s supposed to do, it can have a negative impact on the way that certain parts of the body function. This includes the thyroid, which, when not functioning properly, can lead to many health issues and symptoms.
The Trouble With Birth Control
Birth control, while generally an effective way of preventing pregnancy and even minimizing menstruation symptoms, can negatively impact the thyroid. Reasons why include:
– Depleting Nutrients
Once in your body, birth control pills will begin to deplete important nutrients in your system, including those that the thyroid relies on to stay healthy. This includes zinc and selenium, both of which are needed to make, activate, and use thyroid hormones throughout the body.
– Contributes to Inflammation
Most birth control pills can cause inflammation within the body, which is especially detrimental to anyone who is suffering from an autoimmune disease. Since autoimmune diseases are the leading causes of thyroid disease, it’s important to try to avoid added inflammation within the body.
– Suppresses Hormone Production
Most birth control pills contain hormones that suppress the body’s natural ability to produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This can cause a hormonal imbalance that makes it difficult for the thyroid to function like normal.
Symptoms of a Thyroid Problem
If you experience any of the following symptoms, then your thyroid may not be working properly. However, keep in mind that symptoms are different for each individual. Some may experience many, while others may experience only one or two. The intensity of symptoms will also vary for each individual, which is why personalized care is so important with a health concern like this.
– Fatigue
– Weight Gain
– Swelling in the Neck
– Hair Loss
– Feeling Cold
– Vision Problems
– Dry Skin
It’s recommended to keep a notebook of your symptoms and when they impact you the most. With this information, you’ll be able to give your care provider insight into when symptoms spike and what issues may be triggering them.
What’s Going on With Your Thyroid?
If you’re currently taking birth control and are wondering if it has impacted your thyroid health, then it’s important to speak with your care provider about what’s going on. Functional wellness practitioners, in particular, are resources that can help you get to the bottom of what’s going on. They understand the complexities of the thyroid and the role hormones play in a healthy body. They will provide you with the in-depth testing, comprehensive care, and effective advice that’s necessary to tackle this problem at the root.
