Birth control robbed me of my health
My doctor would rather put me on antidepressants then do more tests
Data can tell us why we are feeling bad.
95% of the population falls into the lab ranges.
So unless something is severely off, will a doctor even consider mentioning it.
I had used the pill or hormonal birth control since 16. To avoid heavy, painful periods and was sexually active. For years it was okay, not a single problem. Little did I know that birth control affects 150 body functions. It took me six years before I started to notice that I didn't feel right. Yet, I never thought birth control was the problem.
My Test Results from 2018. (Just got off birth control, debated going back on) (Acne, feeling depressed, gained 15 pounds, brain fog, always tired but couldn't sleep well, low libido, metabolism (not going #2 frequently - yes it matters)
Vitamin D - 32 ng/mL
Estradiol <10
TSH Highly Sensitive - 0.46 mIU/L
T4, Free - 1.1 ng/dL
Testosterone total - 24 ng/dL
Testosterone free -0.9 pg/mL
Testosterone bioavailable -1.8 ng/dL
LH- <0.5
FSH- <0.1
DHEA Sulfate - 286.2 mcg/DL
All these results were within range, but some were SERVERLY low. The doctor told me everything's normal. Yet, birth control had shut down my natural hormone production. My hormones were on par with women going through menopause (In my 20's)
My doctor put me back on birth control to help my acne. She switched me to a different brand—one with an increased dosage of estradiol and progesterone.
She wanted to put me on antidepressants.
What I should have asked my doctor to order:
Add in cortisol levels
- birth control spikes it up high, which also contributes to depression.
Add in T3, Free
- I had hypothyroidism - which was a huge factor in my depression, not my mental strength.
DEXA scan - I was in osteopenia in my low 20's with poor brittle bone health.
NOT GONE BACK ON THE PILL
ASKED A DIFFERENT DOCTOR
Birth control robbed me of my health.
In 2020 - I went to see a holistic doctor who ordered all the tests. We do a hormone panel every three months to track the changes.
After a year of being off the pill, I can see the changes to my body and health. I've lost 10 pounds. Sleep like a baby. Even feel wittier.
Early 2020 - Late 2020 ( 1 year being off the pill)
Cortisol : 20 - 8.8
Vitamin D: 33 - 92
Testosterone Total: 52 - 137
Testosterone Free: 5.1 -11.7
Estradiol: 28 - 63
TSH: 1.44 - 1.71
T4 free: 1.2 -1.3
T3, free: 2.4 -3.6
A traditional lab wouldn’t consider any of these values significant. Yet a few tweaks to decrease my cortisol, increase my vitamin D and testosterone. My energy is fantastic. TSH and T4 never really changed, but what mattered the most was my T3. (Which most doctors don't test for.) I feel like a very different person. I understand my values and know was is abnormal for ME.
In future posts, I'll go through each test one by one. Give evidence of what would happen to your body if they are off-balance. Over time hopefully, you will learn the importance and how your values impact your well-being.