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Raquelle24 · Jul 27, 2012, 09:36 PM

Could birth control pills cause slight hypothyroidism?
I have experienced diffuse hair loss for 4 years now, and 90% of my hair has been lost. When I first saw my trichologist he believed it may have been due to my extremely low ferriten levels of 13 ug/L. However, once that was corrected one year later and levels went up to 283 ug/L and stayed up the hair loss still hadn't stopped- at which time my TSH FT4 and FT3 levels were normal. I then started Estelle 35 birth control pills for my acne which contain estrogen, ethinyloestradiol and anti- androgen cyproterone acetate, during this period the shedding remained at a constant rate. Two years later, my hair is still shedding. I have also noticed I'm very tired despite 9 hours sleep every night, and always feel down (maybe because of my hair loss). I have also gained 5kgs however, I'm not sure whether this is due to my thyroid or the pill. So rencently, I visited my GP who had my thyroid levels checked: my TSH was 4.73 mU/L and Free T4 15.9 pmol/L and Free T3 6.0 pmol/L. My doctor told me these indicated a slightly underactive thyroid was but still within the normal range and that within the next 6 months we should just 'monitor' my thyroid. However, I'm afraid I don't have that kind of time, within 6 months I'll probably be bald. :'(

What I want to know is that is there a chance that my slightly underactive thyroid could be due to the birth control pills I'm on? Is the pill affecting the thyroid in any way?

Please any advice or answers would be greatly appreciated, I'm desperate. Thank you

JudyKayTee · Jul 28, 2012, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by Raquelle24

Could birth control pills cause slight hypothyroidism?
I have experienced diffuse hair loss for 4 years now, and 90% of my hair has been lost. When I first saw my trichologist he believed it may have been due to my extremely low ferriten levels of 13 ug/L. However, once that was corrected one year later and levels went up to 283 ug/L and stayed up the hair loss still hadn't stopped- at which time my TSH FT4 and FT3 levels were normal. I then started Estelle 35 birth control pills for my acne which contain estrogen, ethinyloestradiol and anti- androgen cyproterone acetate, during this period the shedding remained at a constant rate. Two years later, my hair is still shedding. I have also noticed I'm very tired despite 9 hours sleep every night, and always feel down (maybe because of my hair loss). I have also gained 5kgs however, I'm not sure whether this is due to my thyroid or the pill. So rencently, I visited my GP who had my thyroid levels checked: my TSH was 4.73 mU/L and Free T4 15.9 pmol/L and Free T3 6.0 pmol/L. My doctor told me these indicated a slightly underactive thyroid was but still within the normal range and that within the next 6 months we should just 'monitor' my thyroid. However, I'm afraid I dont have that kind of time, within 6 months I'll probably be bald. :'(

What I want to know is that is there a chance that my slightly underactive thyroid could be due to the birth control pills I'm on? Is the pill affecting the thyroid in any way?

Please any advice or answers would be greatly appreciated, I'm desperate. Thank you

I'm not finding a connection - I'm curious to see what the "medical people" have to say.

This sounds awful - have you seen a Dermatologist?

Raquelle24 · Jul 28, 2012, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

I'm not finding a connection - I'm curious to see what the "medical people" have to say.

This sounds awful - have you seen a Dermatologist?

It is awful, a living hell. I just want my hair back :'( I never imagined anything like this would ever happen, especially when I'm only 18. I've been told that birth control pills have a very mild effect on the thyroid gland and that if I stopped them I shouldn't expect a drastic change.

Raquelle24 · Jul 28, 2012, 06:35 AM

I did see a dermatologist almost a year ago who completely dismissed the hair loss and said it would stop ultimately and went on to treat my acne :(

J_9 · Jul 28, 2012, 06:37 AM

It could be something totally unrelated to the birth control pills OR hypothyroidism. Something called alopecia. I recommend a visit to a dermatologist.

JudyKayTee · Jul 28, 2012, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Raquelle24

It is awful, a living hell. I just want my hair back :'( I never imagined anything like this would ever happen, especially when I'm only 18. I've been told that birth control pills have a very mild effect on the thyroid gland and that if I stopped them I shouldn't expect a drastic change.

J9 is an RN so she has the final word. Many years ago I was on birth control pills and when I went off them I had some hair loss. I was told that the pill somehow effected normal day-to-day hair loss.

I have no idea how that relates but thought I'd share.

J_9 · Jul 28, 2012, 06:55 AM

Besides the typical thyroid tests, there are others that should be done as well.

An H&H (hematocrit and hemoglobin)

DHEA, DHEA Sulfate, Prolactin, Follicle Stimulating (FSH) and Leutinizing Hormone (LH)

A free and total testosterone

Androstenedione

I notice that you had Ferritin, but have you had Iron and Serum Ferritin and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)?

And, finally a CBC, otherwise known as a Complete Blood Count.