Is there link between long-term consumption of the oral contraception pill triggering grave disease?

[danielleG1988]

Over 4 years a ago I was diagnosed with graves disease, it all started a couple of months after I went of the contraceptive pill for the first time in a decade. When I was diagnosed I went back on the Pill and have been on it ever since. In the subsequent 2 years I was on 2 types of anti thyroid medication and eventfully got radioactive iodine and have been fine ever since. With a bit of tweeking in the beginning I've now been on 100mg daily for 2 years.

Fast forward to now, I decided a month ago to go back off the pill, as I'm now married and we are not actively trying but if we got pregnant were would be absolutely fine. But over the last 3/4 days I have started to feel over-active again, I'm nauseous and anxious and panicy, I have not got the shakes yet however.

my bloods came back normal just before I decided to come off the pill. My GP told me I wont need my bloods to be done until 3 months off the pill. I don't think I'm pregnant as we were carful.

My question is, Is there link between long-term consumption of the oral contraception pill triggering grave disease?

and should I wait the 3months out before I get my bloods done?

[Clutter]

DanielleG1988,

Oral contraception can affect thyroid levels but doesn't, as far as I'm aware, cause Graves or Hashimoto's which are autoimmune thyroid diseases.

The pill usually reduces TSH so stopping taking the pill should have the opposite effect.

What were your thyroid levels and ranges just before you came off the pill?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Starting or stopping oral contraceptives is likely to mean a need to change level of Thyroid treatment

You might need to reduce dose slightly or also look at vitamin levels- vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Izabella Wentz explains interactions here

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Point 11)

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.

I guess this why it's common to put on weight on the pill if you are already borderline hypo