What is a Thyroid Disorder?
Thyroid is a gland in the neck that makes hormones that control metabolism and growth. In our body, Thyroid hormones are secreted into the blood. When there is an imbalance in the production of thyroid hormones, it can lead to a thyroid disorder.
A thyroid disorder is any condition where your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormone or produces too much hormone. Symptoms of a thyroid disorder include weight gain, feeling tired all the time, depression and severe mood swings.
It’s important to keep your Thyroid Disorder in check with regular check-ups at your doctor’s office where they can evaluate if your symptoms are worsening or not.
The Symptoms of Thyroid Disorders
A person with a thyroid disorder has symptoms that are not obvious at the beginning. One of the most common signs is weight loss without hunger. The thyroid gland regulates the amount of energy in your body and produces hormones that help regulate metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature. It becomes overactive when you have an underactive thyroid or if one of your hormones is out of balance. A person with a thyroid disorder may also experience problems with depression, fatigue, constipation, or increased sweating all while experiencing normal symptoms like weight gain and cold hands and feet. Symptoms of an underactive thyroid include:
-weight gain without hunger
-constant tiredness
-cold hands and feet
-low energy levels
Treatments for Thyroid Disorders
Thyroid disorders are often described as an epidemic and a growing problem. The rates of thyroid disorders have increased by 10% every two years since 2001.
A common symptom of thyroid disorder is weight gain. However, the focus is often on food intake as the cause. There are many other factors that contribute to weight gain, including sleep quality, exercise levels and stress levels. Therefore, it is important to identify what causes weight gain when the signs and symptoms of thyroid disorder are more prevalent than ever before.
There are many treatment options for those suffering from thyroids including diet changes, medication changes and supplements that can help people deal with a variety of symptoms.
There are treatments for thyroid disorders. In the most severe cases, patients need surgery or radiation, but often times simple medications will suffice.
Treatments for thyroid disorders:
-An iodine deficiency
-Hyperthyroidism
-Hypothyroidism
How Does the Thyroid Affect Fertility?
Thyroid disease can impact fertility in both men and women. Our thyroid hormones, which are produced by cells in our thyroid gland, control many of the body’s metabolic functions, including our metabolism, growth, and the rate at which we age.
The thyroid gland is responsible for making hormones that help regulate metabolism in the body. There are two types of hormones: thyroxin and triiodthyronine. Thyroxin is produced by cells in the pars avia (the part of our brainstem) while triiodthyronine is produced by cells in the pars triangularis (the part of our midbrain).
Thyroid hormone levels can be measured with a blood test or with a scan called a thyroid ultrasound. In turn, hormonal monitoring can determine whether someone has low thyroxin levels or high ones.
The thyroid will affect a woman’s fertility if she has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism. The male’s fertility might be affected by high levels of reverse T3 (rT3) which is produced by thyroid tissue itself when it’s over-functioning or by low levels of free thyroxine (FT4).
Thyroid hormones play a significant role in regulating the production of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. These two hormones are important for stimulating follicular growth. The thyroid also plays a role in regulating estrogen levels, which can affect female fertility.
Thyroid Medications and Fertility Treatments That Work Well with It
Fertility treatment includes the use of ovulation induction medications and fertility treatments that can be done in advance. One of the most common fertility treatments is IVF or In Vitro Fertilization.
IVF treatment with the help of thyroid drugs or medication is a very promising option for male infertility due to low sperm count, low motility, or other conditions that may cause infertility.
Thyroid health is important for both men and women who are trying to conceive since it affects hormone levels, including those that are needed during pregnancy.
Thyroid medications accelerate fertility treatment success rates because they provide a moderate decrease in hormone levels.
Fertility treatments and thyroid medication both work together to improve ovulation, egg viability, and implantation. Medications can improve the quality of sperm and eggs.
Thyroid medication typically reduces FSH from 20 – 35% in adults with symptoms such as hyperthyroidism.