The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland, located in front of your neck. It is a crucial part of your endocrine system that controls your body’s metabolism. Metabolism is a process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. Therefore, the abnormalities in thyroid gland can cause weight gain or weight loss. The main function of the gland is to produce and regulate hormones. The thyroid gland receives a message from the pituitary gland via thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and releases triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and calcitonin. The imbalance of TSH, T3 and T4 can fluctuate your weight or cause mood swings. But can thyroid problems cause infertility?
Let us first understand what causes thyroid problems and the common symptoms and diagnosis of the disease.
What Causes Thyroid Problems?
Both men and women can have thyroid abnormalities due to various reasons such as graves’ disease, iodine deficiency and excessive iodine. Other reasons include exposure to chemical substances such as iodide and lithium. Inflammation caused due to an infection or other illnesses can also result in imbalance of thyroid hormones.
What Are The Symptoms And Diagnosis?
Symptoms of under active thyroid or hypothyroidism include fatigue, lethargy, or feeling cold, hair loss, dry skin, irritability, high cholesterol, slow heart rate, sexual dysfunction or unexplained weight gain.
Symptoms of overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism include unexpected weight loss, rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating and irritability.
Both the disorders require a medical diagnosis. A simple blood test can diagnose thyroid dysfunction, or a doctor may check for swelling of the gland visible on the neck. If blood tests are not conclusive, then an ultrasound scan can help to provide an accurate diagnosis.
Can Thyroid Problems Cause Infertility?
Thyroid disorders are of two types, namely, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Low level of thyroid hormone can interfere with the release of an egg from your ovary (ovulation). The occurrence of ovulation at irregular intervals disrupts menstrual cycles which affects your chances of getting pregnant. The dysfunction ends up disturbing the complete reproductive cycle ovulation, fertilization, and implantation that, in turn, impairs fertility. There could be  underlying causes of hypothyroidism such as certain autoimmune or pituitary disorders causing infertility issues in women. In some cases, thyroid dysfunction can also affect the production of sperm in men.
On a brighter side, you can manage your thyroid levels with certain treatments to reduce the chances of fertility-related issues down the line. The thyroid-related fertility issues are treatable in both men and women.
Are You Looking For A Treatment?
Sometimes, you can manage your thyroid issues by making small lifestyle changes. But in most hypothyroidism cases, doctors prescribe a hormone replacement medication to replace the production of the thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism may also require medicine or surgery, depending on the complication.
Are you are struggling to conceive a baby? Or are you planning a baby but skeptical about the complications that can be caused by your thyroid problems? In such scenario, getting a fertility treatment can be the right choice for you. Depending on your case history, you can conceive with techniques as IUI, IVF, or other assisted reproductive techniques.
Get in touch with Dr Gouri Sultane, one of the best fertility specialists based in Mumbai with more than twelve years of experience. She will advise the best treatment options suitable to you based on your age, TSH levels, and ovarian reserve. She has successfully treated many couples with thyroid problems to conceive using safe, affordable and reliable processes. Call – 9076006060 or fill this contact form to hear back from us.