Interview with QS24: Wanting Children After Taking The Pill – What You Need to Know Now

Many women take hormonal contraceptives for years. Five, ten, sometimes even twenty years. When they stop taking the pill because they want to have a baby, pregnancy does not always happen immediately. Their periods stop, their cycles become irregular, or they suffer repeated miscarriages.

Why is this? What role do progesterone, the thyroid gland, and micronutrients play? And when does it make sense to visit a fertility clinic? We talk to QS24 about causes, connections, and integrative solutions.

A conversation with Corina Klein and Dr. Isabella Wilden

The pill and hormonal imbalance

Host: Welcome to Swiss Health TV. Today we are talking about the desire to have children. Many women who have taken the pill for many years or suffer from hormonal imbalances face the challenge of not being able to get pregnant. What options are there for taking a holistic view of the body and possibly also using bioidentical hormones? I am very pleased to be talking to Dr. Isabella Wilden again.

Dr. Isabella Wilden: Thank you very much for the invitation. I am very happy to be here.

Hormonal deficiency due to discontinuing the pill

Moderator: We have already done several programs together, including on male potency issues and classic female complaints such as heavy bleeding or cysts. Today, we would like to give an overview specifically on the desire to have children. We often observe that after many years of artificial hormones, such as those in the contraceptive pill, the desire to have children is not immediately fulfilled after stopping the pill.

Dr. Isabella Wilden: Many women take the pill for five, ten, fifteen, sometimes even twenty years. When they then decide they want to have a child, they stop taking the pill. When taking the pill, the ovaries are essentially shut down. I wouldn't say “turned off,” but they are in standby mode and no longer produce hormones themselves.

When the pill is stopped, this synthetic source of hormones is suddenly missing. Periods stop or return irregularly, and the cycle changes significantly. For many women, this comes as a shock. They become anxious and immediately think, “I can't get pregnant.”

Often, the first step is a visit to the gynecologist. Without detailed blood tests or a differentiated assessment, some women are referred directly to a fertility clinic. There, they often receive standardized hormone therapies, synthetic hormone cocktails, to specifically trigger ovulation.

What is often not considered is that after many years of taking the pill, minerals and vitamins are often depleted. Other glands, especially the thyroid, are also not adequately checked. However, hypothyroidism is a common cause of infertility.

Mood swings after stopping the pill

Moderator: This is not only a hormonal challenge, but also a huge psychological one. Many women report personality changes after stopping the pill. You notice that something is shifting. When strong hormone therapies are added to this, it is certainly very stressful.

Dr. Isabella Wilden: Yes, many women develop panic attacks or depressive moods. Progesterone deficiency is particularly critical. Progesterone has a strong effect on the central nervous system. About 20 percent of the progesterone receptors in the body are located in the brain. It is important to know this.

If progesterone is lacking for years, the body gets used to this state. When the pill is then discontinued, even the “artificial information” is suddenly missing. A kind of hormonal void develops. And in my opinion, this is the most unfavorable phase for immediately trying to get pregnant.

Moderator: Many doctors only do a complete blood count. B vitamins or micronutrients are often not checked at all.

Dr. Isabella Wilden: That's right. And another key point is the thyroid gland. About six months ago, I had a patient who wanted to have children. She didn't want bioidentical hormones or to go to a fertility clinic. We diagnosed her with subclinical hypothyroidism. The lab values were within the official normal range, but in my opinion, they were not optimal for a woman who wanted to have children.

We administered a combined thyroid preparation for six to eight weeks, with a focus on T3. After a few weeks, she called me and said she was pregnant.

Another patient already had one child but wanted a second. After thyroid cancer surgery, she was put on a high dose of L-thyroxine. We adjusted the medication and added iron, selenium, and other micronutrients. A few days ago, she wrote to me from vacation: The test is positive. The thyroid gland is extremely important for fertility and should not be overlooked.

Fertility clinic as a solution?

Moderator: Another important issue is recurrent miscarriages. Often, progesterone is not examined in detail. How do you proceed?

Dr. Isabella Wilden: When women with this history come to me, I first take a blood sample to determine their progesterone levels, among other things. If there is a deficiency, we start supplementation. In many cases, the situation stabilizes within a few months.

It is important to continue with progesterone during the first few months of pregnancy. I remember a patient from over twelve years ago. She was unable to carry several pregnancies to term. We worked with a progesterone cream, and she continued to use it until the third month of pregnancy. She gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

The correct blood test

Moderator: Many women say, “My gynecologist did a hormone analysis.” But that's not the same as your approach.

Dr. Isabella Wilden: The timing is crucial. Progesterone can only be measured meaningfully in the second half of the cycle, i.e., after ovulation. Blood is often taken on the fourth or fifth day of the cycle. At this point, progesterone is naturally low.

The optimal time is between the 19th and 22nd day of the cycle, based on a 28-day cycle. Only then can it be determined whether ovulation has occurred and how estrogen and progesterone interact. I also take values such as LH and FSH into account and consider the relationships holistically. This provides an overall picture.

The man in focus

Moderator: Do you also involve the man?

Dr. Isabella Wilden: Yes, if desired. Even simple blood values such as FSH and LH provide information about sperm production. I also check testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and other parameters.

Micronutrients also play a role for men. Zinc and omega-3 fatty acids are particularly important. Another factor is the frequency of sexual intercourse. Many couples believe that daily intercourse automatically increases their chances. However, studies show that sperm can lose quality if intercourse is too frequent. Ovulation tests and targeted planning can help here. Psychological support is just as important.

Psychological pressure and relationship issues

Moderator: Many men feel under pressure, don't they?

Dr. Isabella Wilden: Yes, I see that a lot. Some couples are under enormous time pressure. After a few sessions, I can often sense how high their stress levels are. I can provide support and preparation, with micronutrients and possibly bioidentical hormones. However, if maximum intervention is desired, the path sometimes leads to a fertility clinic.

Moderator: Sometimes the question arises as to whether both partners really have the same desire.

Dr. Isabella Wilden: That's a very sensitive issue. People don't always openly express what's on their minds. These aspects must also be considered.

If you would like to watch the entire interview again, you can go directly to the YouTube video here.