Hi,
Just wondering if anyone takes the pill and has hashimotos? I'm in my early thirties and did take the pill in my twenties but stopped as it caused terrible emotional issues. I'm now finding that I am having very severe PMS and awful cystic acne and I am thinking about trying the pill again to see how I get on. I know that oestrogen can interfere with thyroid function so just wondered if anyone is on a particular brand of pill which they feel OK on?
Thanks.
Kirstine
Hi kirstine!
I have a similar story, stopped pill in my twenties as felt sick often.
I had to go back on it for fertility treatment and felt like death- excessive heavy bleeding etc (Sorry TMI!)
I later found it was causing a massive b12 deficiency which a lot of Hashimoto patients also have (alongside folate) so make sure you check both levels and supplement accordingly if you do go back on it.
However have you tried all other interventions to control your symptoms?
Vitamin and mineral balancing is incredibly important with Hashimoto a and our hormones.
Magnesium in particular is essential esp for PMS and cramps.
From my personal experience I would avoid the pills like the plague. They are synthetic versions of our hormones and don’t help with ovulation etc (for obvious reasons!) if youre wanting contraception an IUD- mirena coil may be better.
But if you’re using it for hormone control then you can actually get bio-identical oestrogen and progesterone to help instead.
‘Period repair manual’ Is a fantastic book that helps guide you through the process.
Often acne etc can be balanced with good blood sugar control and vitamins (exacerbated by Hashimotos) gluten dairy etc can make it worse sometimes too. (Do you have polycystic ovarian syndrome? Again metformin is used to control blood sugar and insulin resistance which helps massively with hormonal balancing )
With regards to interactions- often if you take supplements 4hrs + away from thyroxine it often doesn’t affect it. Sometimes thyroxine dose may need to be altered but I believe that’s rarer.
If I’ve made any glaring mistakes hopefully someone will correct me- but my personal advice to anyone is use contraceptive pills as a last resort If you can!
I've been taking Magnesium, and also highly recommend eating ginger (cooked into anything you like, soup, stir fry, curry) in the days leading up to your period. Both have made my monthlies manageable. I was often so ill I'd faint!
Thanks so much to both of you for your replies - really helpful information! I also have coeliac disease in addition to hashimotos so already take sublingual B12, Floradix for iron, as well as vitamin D3. I will definitely try magnesium. Are there any particular brands you would recommend?
I like Viridian’s Magenesium citrate. However, there are lots of different forms of magnesium so it’s worth researching which one you think would suit you best. For example, my functional nutritionist wanted me to change to magnesium malate for more energy. It’s fine (not sure how much extra energy it’s given me as I started thiamine at the same time) but I probably prefer the citrate one as it really helps with keeping you regular.
I think they say to start with magnesium citrate, but if it causes stomach upset, try the malate instead. Preferably take it before bed, as it helps with sleep.
I use a natural variety of magnesium in tablet form but to be honest the best version I’ve used is the ‘better you’ brand (available online and Holland and Barrets) of magnesium flakes for baths or the oil spray version- I just rub it into my abdomen/tummy/pelvic region especially in the days preceding menstruation. Works a treat.
It can sting/itch a little if skin is dry or for first use or two but fine after that. It absorbs well and no digestive issues
Hashimotos & the Female Pill
Mini pill and levothyroxine 
Effects of contraceptive pill on thyroid beyond interaction between oestrogen & levothyroxine 
Could the contraceptive pill be the cause of high thyroglobulin antibody?
