I regularly get women in the practice who suffer from stress complaints, concentration problems, are not feeling well or even suffer from panic attacks. For myself I have already made a link with the hormone coil because when asking about the cause and nature of the complaints, the great common denominator was that the complaints started or worsened after a (Mirena) hormone coil was placed. These women have always been told by their doctors that there could be no connection, because the hormones would only be released locally and therefore would not affect the rest of their bodies.
What is my surprise now?
The hormone IUD as a contraceptive has potentially unwanted side effects in many women, Erasmus MC concluded in a study published today. This research shows that women with such an IUD have higher cortisol levels, a higher heart rate during stress tests and generally have higher levels of hair cortisol than women using other forms of contraception. Long-term chronic stress can lead to mental illnesses such as depression and concentration problems.
Of course there are several possible causes of the above complaints. This may be due to other chronic stress, vitamin deficiency, a decrease in liver or intestinal function and exposure to exogenous estrogens such as BPA (found in plastic bottles or personal care products, to name a few). The widespread assumption that a hormone coil would only work locally and therefore has no influence on the rest of the body, is not obvious to me, nor is it logical: the body is one large feedback mechanism and something that can be found in 1 part of the body. happens is passed on to another part of the body.
The (Mirena) hormone coil contains a progestogen [a hormone that has the same properties as progesterone but it is not]: Levonorgestrel.
From a Western point of view it works like this *:
“The Mirena contains a hormone whose effect on the endometrium is comparable to that of progesterone (a hormone made by the body). Levonorgestrel, the hormone in Mirena, is administered continuously and causes the endometrium to enter a resting phase so that it no longer reacts to estrogens (female hormones produced in the ovaries). As a result, the endometrium is no longer built up. "
In Chinese medicine we say that when the function of an organ is stopped, it stagnates. That stagnation affects the total system. So if a hormone coil only binds receptors at a local level, and thereby provides feedback to the brain and adrenal glands that there is sufficient local progesterone, so that there is no longer a reaction to estrogens, then you are actually not fooling your entire hormone system. keeping it? And could it be that the body is stressed as a result?
And at the end of this stress, the fight / flight system of our autonomic nervous system is activated, which in my opinion could well explain the presence of elevated cortisol levels. But yes, I look from a holistic perspective, and prefer to use my common sense. I just can't support it scientifically at the moment. Nevertheless, from my expertise as an acupuncturist specializing in women's medicine, I always recommend that you consider removing the hormone coil and see what effect it has. An advice also given by researcher Jurate Aleknaviciute. The current guideline for information on the IUD needs to be 'urgently' revised.
The majority of my clients decide to eventually have the spiral removed and see the improvement with their own eyes. At the same time, I support the body again during the consultations to restart the systems that have been brought to a standstill by the action of the hormone spiral. We also go through other forms of (natural) anti-conception together, which gives the body the opportunity to restore the hormonal balance in the body itself. * (leaflet found at www.healthcare.bayer.nl)
Source: https://www.vrouwengeneeskracht.nl/bijwerken-van-de-hormoonspiraal/
See also our course evenings , which also discuss the hormones.