Are you feeling tired all the time? Do you experience irregular periods, weight gain, brain fog, or hair loss? Perhaps you struggle with the opposite symptoms. Are you feeling anxious, hyper, jittery, or sweaty? If you experience any of these symptoms there may be an underlying issue with your thyroid function.
Approximately 20 million Americans have some sort of thyroid disease. Up to 60 percent of those are unaware of their condition. While it is normal to feel tired after a long week or experience an irregular period here and there, it is not necessary to tolerate ongoing symptoms. Connect with your healthcare provider to talk about your symptoms. Or schedule an appointment to get started on your journey to better health.
Thyroid and Women’s Health
Thyroid conditions can impact both men and women. However, according to the American Thyroid Association, women are five to eight times more likely than men to experience thyroid issues. Because women are more likely to develop thyroid disease, it’s important for women to understand how to properly care for their thyroid.
The exact cause of thyroid disorders is largely unknown. There are many factors that can lead to disrupted thyroid function. The high numbers of women experiencing thyroid issues are most commonly caused from:
- Hormone imbalances
- Stress overload
- Digestive system imbalances
- Vitamin and mineral insufficiencies
- Environmental toxin exposure
- Hidden infections
With all our patients, we strive to provide awareness of thyroid health. To begin, it is important to understand the function of the thyroid gland, symptoms of a thyroid imbalance, and when to talk to your care provider. Additionally, thyroid disease can impact a woman’s health in unique ways. Below we dive into six facts about women’s thyroid health.
What is the thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located on the front of your neck under your adam’s apple. The thyroid gland mainly produces two types of hormones – Thyroxine (T4) and (Triiodothyronine) T3. The thyroid hormone T4 is produced most abundantly. T4 is later converted to T3 outside of the thyroid gland, particularly in the liver. From there, T3 travels throughout your body dialing up or down your body’s metabolic expenditure.
This small, yet mighty gland handles thousands of biological functions. This includes your heart rate, breathing, muscle and digestive function, and brain development. In women, it also helps to regulate puberty and menstruation, reproduction, pregnancy, and menopause. As you can see, it’s a very important gland to keep an eye on!
What are the symptoms of a thyroid imbalance?
A disruption in the production of thyroid hormones leads to a thyroid imbalance. A thyroid imbalance causes the body to slow down or speed up your metabolism. Because the thyroid helps to control everything from your mood to your metabolism to your menstruation, even a slight imbalance can cause a wide variety of symptoms.
Thyroid disorders come in many shapes and sizes. There are four common types of thyroid disorders:
Hypothyroidism – Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. This can be due to a variety of genetic, nutritional, or environmental causes. Hypothyroidism can cause feelings of low energy, unexplained weight gain, dry or thinning hair, and unusual menstruation patterns.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis – An autoimmune type of hypothyroidism where the immune system produces antibodies against the thyroid leading to a decreased production of thyroid hormones.
Hyperthyroidism – Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces an abundance of hormones. This can be due to a variety of genetic, nutritional, or environmental causes. Hyperthyroidism can cause heart palpitations, nervous or anxious feelings, unexplained weight loss, difficulty sleeping, and fewer or lighter menstrual periods than normal.
Grave’s Disease – An autoimmune type of hyperthyroidism where the immune system produces antibodies (different from the ones involved in Hashimoto’s) that override the regulation of the thyroid, leading to an increased production of thyroid hormones.
Symptoms of thyroid imbalance can mirror the symptoms of many other diseases. The symptoms can also come on slowly or have a sudden onset. This can lead to delayed thyroid disease diagnoses because the symptoms differ greatly from person to person. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or other unexplained symptoms such as: joint or muscle pain, feeling sad or depressed, brain fog, cold intolerance, recurrent miscarriages, or unusual menstrual cycles talk with your doctor about having your thyroid tested.
The basics of thyroid testing
We talk with all our patients who may be struggling with thyroid imbalance about testing. A blood test of your thyroid hormones is the most accurate way to identify a thyroid imbalance. And, it's quick and easy.
When testing a patient's thyroid for the first time, we review the full thyroid panel. A full panel includes TSH, free T3, free T4, thyroid antibodies, and reverse T3.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) – The pituitary gland in the brain controls and produces TSH. TSH tells the thyroid gland to make the thyroid hormones T4 and T3. The signaling of TSH works via a feedback loop, mainly controlled by the production of T4. When the pituitary gland receives input that there is enough T4 in the body, it dials down the production of TSH and vice versa. There is some disagreement in the medical community about the normal range of TSH. This discrepancy can lead to a missed thyroid disease diagnosis. Many medical experts, myself included, agree that an optimal range for TSH is 1-2.5 uM/L, especially in a woman trying to conceive.
T3 and T4 – Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) are the hormones produced by the thyroid gland. T3 is the most active form of the two hormones. The thyroid produces larger amounts of T4 that are later converted to T3 in our cells. Together, the thyroid hormones move throughout the body to help regulate metabolic functions. Free T3 (fT3) and free T4 (fT4) are always included in our thyroid panel because a woman may have normal TSH, but low or high fT3 or fT4. Having high or low thyroid hormones with a normal TSH might not mean you need to be on medication. Instead, you might be a good candidate for taking thyroid-balancing herbs or including certain nutrients in your diet.
Thyroid Antibodies – Thyroid antibody testing confirms an autoimmune thyroid disease. This will help distinguish a thyroid diagnosis from other types of thyroid disease. We always include Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and when appropriate, Thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) in our thyroid panel. In the early stages of an autoimmune thyroid condition, the TSH and thyroid hormones can remain normal even in the presence of antibodies targeting the thyroid gland. If antibodies are elevated, we can then look into underlying causes of the autoimmune condition and in some cases before it starts affecting thyroid function. Antibody testing can also be used to monitor treatment progress in someone with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis or Graves Disease.
Reverse T3 – Reverse T3 (rT3) is elevated when the body is conserving energy. The body will convert T4 to rT3 instead of T3 (the active form of the thyroid hormones) when you are under high stress, undernourished, or are sick. We find this test useful in our thyroid panel to gain insight into how stress may be affecting the thyroid gland.
Begin by listening to your body. You know it best and can help your provider identify symptoms that may be associated with thyroid dysfunction. And, when in doubt, ask for a full thyroid panel.
6 Facts About Women’s Thyroid Health
1. Women are more likely than men to develop thyroid problems.
One in eight women will develop thyroid disease in their lifetime. Women are especially susceptible to thyroid issues in the first three to five months postpartum.
2. A thyroid imbalance can impact the regularity and severity of your menstrual cycle.
The thyroid and pituitary gland work together to regulate ovulation and menstruation for women.
When the thyroid produces abnormally low or high amounts of thyroid hormones the pituitary gland responds by causing very light or very heavy periods, irregular periods, or stop menstrual periods altogether.
3. Fertility issues and an increased risk of miscarriage are linked to hypothyroidism.
Fertility and menstruation are regulated by the thyroid. When the thyroid hormones are deficient (hypothyroidism) women can see an increase in miscarriages, preterm delivery, and stillbirth. If you have a thyroid disease or suspect you have thyroid issues, we strongly encourage you to have your thyroid tested before conception.
4. Stress overload can contribute to a slow functioning thyroid.
Your adrenal glands and thyroid gland work together to regulate your body’s energy expenditure. If you are always tired or experience high levels of stress, your adrenals will tell your thyroid to slow the production of thyroid hormones and store fat. This in turn allows your body to have energy to burn when you need it.
5. A sluggish metabolism or difficulty losing weight can be associated with a thyroid imbalance.
Gaining unexplained weight or having difficulty losing weight can be associated with hypothyroidism. When the thyroid hormone production is low, the body burns fat more slowly leading to weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
6. An under-active thyroid can cause elevated cholesterol.
People with hypothyroidism have a slower burning metabolism. Meaning that their body is not burning up their fat as quickly. Instead, it is storing the fat leading to elevated cholesterol.
Begin to unearth your vitality and regain control of your health by understanding the importance of your thyroid gland. Working to balance your thyroid hormones will allow you to control long-standing symptoms while gaining confidence in your body.
If you are experiencing any thyroid imbalance symptoms or are struggling with thyroid disease, we can help. Schedule an appointment today.
Resources
"General Information/Press Room | American Thyroid Association." https://www.thyroid.org/media-main/press-room/. Accessed 17 Aug. 2021.
"Thyroid disease | Office on Women's Health." 1 Apr. 2019, https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/thyroid-disease. Accessed 17 Aug. 2021.