If you or anyone you know currently takes oral contraceptives, or has taken them in the past, then you’ll want to read this article carefully. Millions of women take “the Pill”, which is a highly effective form of birth control, and can also help to minimize many different symptoms in which cycling women commonly experience. But while there are numerous benefits with oral contraceptives, there are also a number of risks you need to be aware of. Not all of these directly relate to thyroid health, but taking “the Pill” can definitely have an impact, and can affect the recovery for anyone looking to restore their health through a natural thyroid treatment protocol.
With regards to thyroid health, taking “the Pill” will suppress the production of progesterone, which does a great job of preventing a woman from becoming pregnant, but also will create chaos with the endocrine system. I’ve mentioned in the past how many people with thyroid conditions have the condition estrogen dominance, which can be caused by an excess in estrogen, but is more commonly caused by a progesterone deficiency. And so a person who is taking oral contraceptives will frequently develop this condition, which not only can affect their thyroid health, but their overall health as well.
Other Risks In Addition To Affecting Thyroid Health
In addition to potentially affecting thyroid health, what are some of the other risks of taking “the Pill”? Well, even though it is a small risk, there still is the risk of getting pregnant while taking oral contraceptives. While many doctors will tell you the risk of getting pregnant is less than 1%, some sources show that the risk is actually closer to 6%, which is still low, but obviously a bit higher than 1%. And for women who get pregnant while taking “the Pill”, continously taking this drug could have severe risks with regards to the baby. And many women don’t discover that they’re pregnant while taking “the Pill” until many weeks later.
In addition to this risk, some potential symptoms include weight gain, a decrease in sex drive, depression, fatigue, and headaches. And while these are definitely symptoms to be concerned about, the primary health concern is the effects that oral contraceptives have on the endocrine system. Many medical doctors recommend “the Pill” in order to “regulate” the menstral cycle. And while it can do a good job of symptom management, it does this by suppressing the endocrine system, which has its own set of consequences. And the long term consequences are worse for someone who took “the Pill” at an earlier age. One of these risks is an increased incidence in breast cancer. This is once again due to the effect that oral contraceptives have on the hormones of the endocrine system. Some studies also show an increased incidence of heart attacks and strokes for women who are taking oral contraceptives, or have taken them in the past.
What Other Options Are There Besides “The Pill”?
If you’re taking oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, then there are of course other birth control options out there. However, many of them come with other risks. For example, many women choose an IUD as a form of birth control, which also comes with risks. Obviously having the male wear a condom is an option, although many women choose oral contraceptives to avoid their partners using condoms. I recommend reading the book “The Pill, Are You Sure It’s For You?”, which was written by Jane Bennett and Alexandra Pope, as they talk about natural forms of contraception (and not just the rhythm method). This book also goes into greater detail about some of the risks associated with “the Pill”.
On the other hand, if you are taking oral contraceptives because you have severe symptoms during PMS, acne, or other symptoms, then this frequently can be corrected by following a natural treatment protocol. Such a protocol involves changes in lifestyle, support with nutritional supplements and/or herbs, and other factors that address the actual cause of a disorder. For example, many women who experience severe PMS symptoms can have these symptoms reduced dramatically by following a natural treatment protocol.
Is It Possible To Restore Thyroid Health While Taking The Pill?
For someone who is taking the pill and wants to restore their thyroid health back to normal, it admittedly will be more challenging to accomplish this. However, if the women is taking oral contraceptives on a regular basis and is still having her monthly cycles, then this is still possible by following a certain protocol. On the other hand, a women who is taking an aggressive form of birth control which suppresses her menstrual cycle will have just about no chance of completely restoring her health back to normal.
In summary, taking oral contraceptives can definitely affect your thyroid health, and also lead to many other health risks as well. And while it still is possible for women currently taking “the Pill” to restore their thyroid health through a natural thyroid treatment protocol, it’s definitely more challenging when compared with someone who isn’t taking oral contraceptives. For those no longer taking “the Pill”, there is still a good chance you have a hormonal imbalance, which once again can be contributing to your thyroid condition, and leave you at risk for developing other conditions in the future. As a result, whether you are currently taking oral contraceptives, or have in the past, it’s a good idea to consult with a natural endocrine doctor to achieve optimal health, and reduce the risks of any future problems.
Other Articles You Might Like To Read:
3 Common Causes of Estrogen Dominance [1]
Should Natural Progesterone Be Used To Help Restore Thyroid Health? [2]
4 Bodily Systems To Address With Most Thyroid Conditions [3]