I have seen many young women taking birth control pills who exhibit symptoms of hypothyroidism.

In laboratory testing, many of them will show problems converting T4 thyroid hormone into T3. However, when I advise them to stop taking birth control pills and correct the nutrient imbalances that those birth control pills cause, their thyroid problem magically reverses itself.

One of my patients, Julie, was suffering from many of the classic signs of hypothyroidism — cold hands and feet, hair loss, fatigue, and brain fog.

However, Julie had a normal TSH test. Her T4 was in the mid-range of normal and the T3 level was in the lower range of normal.

Julie was also taking birth control pills. I asked her to stop the birth control pills. A later blood test found that her T3 level had increased to the mid-range of normal. More importantly, all signs of hypothyroidism disappeared.

This pattern has been repeated over and over in my practice.