Key Takeaways

• Recovered from thyroid cancer with personalized thyroid hormone replacement
• Managed PCOS through targeted supplements and dietary changes
• Achieved healthy pregnancy on first try after 10 months with Parsley Health
• Received immediate access to medical support throughout pregnancy

Thyroid cancer recovery is overwhelming, especially if you’re on the cusp of starting a family. For Parsley Health patient Laura, functional medicine was key to restoring balance after successful cancer treatment. Within 10 months of starting care with Dr. Robin Berzin, about two-and-a-half years after her thyroid-removal surgery, Laura managed to rebuild trust in her body and achieve a healthy pregnancy. 

Here’s Laura’s story, in her own words.

I know the question well by now. After telling a friend or colleague I’m pregnant, they look at me self-consciously. They usually preface the question with, “You don’t have to answer this if it’s too personal but…did you have trouble getting pregnant?” I see the look of worry about their own ticking biological clock.

"I got pregnant on the first try," I answer sheepishly, knowing that’s not really the full answer.

The Diagnosis: Thyroid Cancer at 28

The true story of my fertility journey, and what ultimately led me to Parsley Health, really started three years ago when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I was 28 and in what felt like the prime of my life, health, and career when my mother noticed a lump on my neck while wedding dress shopping. The next six months were a blur of doctor’s appointments, surgery, radiation, and—oh, yeah—getting married while managing a career in marketing.

Struggling with Post-Surgery Symptoms

It was about a year-and-a-half after surgery to remove my thyroid. I knew something was not quite right with my body. I was carrying around about 10 extra pounds that I couldn’t seem to shed. Acne that I hadn’t experienced since I was a teenager returned to my face, and constipation and muscle fatigue plagued my life. Every day I was waking up feeling like I had just run 10 miles.

I saw some alternative medicine practitioners, like acupuncturists and naturopaths, but I grew frustrated by the fact that they were not able to order any blood work to test my thyroid hormone levels or tweak my thyroid hormone replacement medicine.

Finding Functional Medicine Support

It was this frustration that led me to Dr. Berzin and Parsley Health. What I most appreciated was Dr. Berzin’s ability to treat me as an individual. She ordered a full panel of tests, but what I most appreciated was Dr. Berzin’s ability to treat me as an individual. For example, she prescribed me a thyroid replacement hormone that is not traditionally used in patients with a history of thyroid cancer. But this medicine allowed me to feel like a normal person again.

Within 6 months of seeing Dr. Berzin, my constipation and muscle fatigue were non-existent. From there, we were able to begin addressing life without a thyroid, as I like to refer to it. This included tackling some other chronic health issues I was experiencing, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Managing PCOS Alongside Thyroid Health

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 19, so I was prescribed the blanket treatment given by most gynecologists of a hormonal birth control pill. Through Dr. Berzin and her team at Parsley Health, I got on the right supplements and made the necessary dietary changes to manage my PCOS.

A Successful Pregnancy Journey

Now managing my thyroid and PCOS, I began to think about my fertility. I was worried that it was going to take me years to get pregnant, as it had taken several years to get to a point where I was feeling good with my thyroid levels.

But 10 months after joining Parsley Health, I was staring at a positive pregnancy test. And who was the first person I told, after my husband? Not my mom, best friend, or sister, but Dr. Berzin. Messaging with her allowed me to ask for the blood test to confirm the pregnancy. This was something my OB-GYN wouldn’t do for 6 weeks. Because of the work I put in with Parsley Health prior to getting pregnant, I was able to have a healthy pregnancy. I asked her for the list of supplements I needed to stop taking, and my most pressing question: did I need to discontinue hot yoga for the time being?

I experienced a healthy pregnancy where I honestly felt great, even up to the final weeks. Sure, I had to pee what felt like 12 times a night and would have some aches and pains. But because of the work I put in with Parsley Health prior to getting pregnant, I was able to have a healthy pregnancy.

Understanding Thyroid Health and Fertility: A Functional Medicine Perspective

Thyroid hormones help regulate ovulation, menstrual regularity, and early fetal development. When levels are too high or too low, it can make it harder to conceive or increase the risk of pregnancy complications. In Laura’s case, lingering thyroid imbalance after cancer treatment contributed to fatigue, weight changes, and hormone disruption that affected her reproductive health.

Personalized thyroid hormone replacement is critical, especially for women without a thyroid or with autoimmune or post-cancer thyroid conditions. Functional medicine for thyroid health looks at symptoms, advanced labs, and life stages to find the dose and formulation that truly supports whole-body balance.

There’s also an overlap between thyroid dysfunction and PCOS and pregnancy outcomes. Both thyroid disorders and PCOS are linked to insulin resistance, inflammation, and disrupted hormone signaling, which is why effective PCOS management must address thyroid health as well. 

At Parsley Health, preconception care focuses on: 

• optimizing thyroid levels
• supporting metabolic and ovarian health
• addressing nutrient deficiencies
• reducing inflammation

We address these areas early to support a healthy pregnancy if and when it happens. 

Laura’s experience highlights what’s possible when care goes beyond symptom control. If you’re navigating thyroid issues and thinking about fertility, Parsley’s functional medicine clinicians will help you prepare your body for pregnancy and beyond. Learn More About Complete Care for Thyroid Health.

Frequently Asked Questions: Pregnancy After Thyroid Cancer

Can you get pregnant after thyroid cancer?

Yes. Many women go on to have healthy pregnancies after thyroid cancer recovery, especially when thyroid hormone levels are carefully managed and overall health is optimized before conception.

How does thyroid health affect fertility

Thyroid hormones influence ovulation, menstrual cycles, and embryo development. Imbalances can interfere with conception and increase pregnancy risks if left unaddressed.

What is functional medicine’s approach to PCOS?

Functional medicine addresses root causes of PCOS including insulin resistance, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and thyroid dysfunction, rather than relying solely on symptom-suppressing medications.

How long does thyroid cancer recovery take?

Recovery timelines vary. While cancer treatment may be completed within months, achieving full hormonal balance and feeling well again can take longer, especially without personalized thyroid hormone replacement and supportive care.