ArticleBMJ open2021
Birth control pills and risk of hypothyroidism: a cross-sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2012.
Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 19 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in polycystic ovary syndrome and its impact on insulin resistance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC endocrine disorders · 2025Pooled it
- Pharmacological topics of interest for young people: misinformation on TikTok is common.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2026Article
- The role of hypothyroidism in cirrhosis pathogenesis: A retrospective cohort study and multi-omics integration analysis.PLoS genetics · 2025Article
- Article
- Association betweenFrontiers in endocrinology · 2025Article
- Relationship between vitamin B6 intake and thyroid function in US adults: NHANES 2007-2012 results.PloS one · 2025Article
- The Association Between Estrogen-Containing Oral Contraceptive Pills and Hypothyroidism.International journal of endocrinology · 2025Article
- Relationship between sleep abnormalities and hypothyroidism: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Serum klotho associated with thyroid hormone in adults: A population-based cross-sectional research.PloS one · 2024Article
- Relationship between TSH and free thyroxine in outpatient cancer patient population.Endocrine · 2023Article
- Assessment of Saudi Society's Knowledge Regarding Hypothyroidism and Its Neuropsychiatric Clinical Manifestations.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Association betweenFrontiers in endocrinology · 2022Article
- Relationship between dietary selenium intake and serum thyroid function measures in U.S. adults: Data from NHANES 2007-2012.Frontiers in nutrition · 2022Article
- Sex Dimorphic Responses of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis to Energy Demands and Stress.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThe association between use of birth control pills and thyroid function in women has not ever been well studied, but potential risk has been implicated by small sample-sized studies. We aimed to determine this association using a large epidemiological survey.
designCross-sectional study.
settingNational Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in the USA from 2007 to 2012.
participantsFemale respondents aged 18+ who had data on history of taking birth control pills and thyroid function were included. History of taking birth control pills was based on responses on the reproductive health questionnaire. Participants not on antithyroid medication with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) >5.6 mIU/L and those on thyroid hormone replacement regardless of TSH were categorised as hypothyroid. Participants not on thyroid hormone replacement or antithyroid medication who had TSH between 0.34 mIU/L and 5.6 mIU/L were classified as euthyroid. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Association between use of birth control pills and hypothyroidism based on multivariate logistic regression analysis.
resultsA total of 5116 female adults with history of taking birth control pills (n=3034) and without (n=2082) were included. A higher prevalence of hypothyroidism was found in those who have ever taken birth control pills (17.7% vs 14.1%; p=0.003). Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for confounding covariables, including age, race, education, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol use, history of thyroid disease, current thyroid disease, first menstrual age, pregnancy history, menopause status and history of hormone replacement use, demonstrated a significant association between history of taking birth control pills for more than 10 years and hypothyroidism (OR, 3.837; 95% CI 1.402 to 10.500; p=0.009).
conclusionsLonger history of using birth control pills was strongly associated with hypothyroidism, especially for more than 10 years.
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