The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland, which is in the front of the neck just under the Adam’s apple. It is a crucial component of the endocrine system gland, which synthesises and controls the hormones. Thyroid gland is one of the most essential gland and have a lot of functions including regulation of metabolism, energy production, and growth which in turn effects our heart rate, digestive system, weight, and mood. The thyroid produces two main hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid hormones are produced and released under the control of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus in the brain and hence is important for the well-being of the whole body.
Hyperthyroidism or the overactive thyroid is caused by the thyroid gland producing too much of its hormones, thus speeding up a body’s metabolism. This condition is characterised by symptoms such as weight loss, shaking hands and irregular heartbeats that can cause complications such as heart problems and fragile bones.
Treatment involves the use of anti-thyroid drugs, radioiodine therapy or surgical resection. On the contrary, hypothyroidism is described as an underactive thyroid that occurs when the thyroid gland is not able to produce adequate hormones, and it produces such symptoms like weight gain, constipation and slowed heart rate. They include autoimmune disease and some medicines.
Failure to treat hypothyroidism may lead to complications such as goiter and heart problems. Both conditions can impact menstrual health and fertility, highlighting the need to regularly check and treat thyroid issues for general health.
Menstrual patterns can be disrupted by both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Irregular and lighter menstrual periods can occur as a result of hyperthyroidism because of overproduction of thyroid hormones, which may pose threats to fertility. Hyperthyroidism can also cause increased levels of sex hormone binding globulin or SHBG affecting menstruation, ovulation, and fertility. On the other hand, hypothyroidism manifests as the slowing down of the thyroid’s working rate and may lead to menstrual irregularities such as heavier period or a lighter period or even no periods at all (amenorrhea). Infertility and other reproductive disorders linked to subclinical hypothyroidism include mild disruptions of the menstrual cycle.
Hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis may occur during pregnancy and can cause complication such as miscarriage, problems with the placenta, high blood pressure preeclampsia, premature birth and lower intellectual function in the baby. Various studies indicate that thyroid hormone in the mother is crucial to the baby’s brain development and general health of the mother. The thyroid gland of the foetus begins producing thyroid hormones after several months of gestation, but before that, the hormones produced by the mother’s thyroid gland are crucial for the development of the foetus’s brain. Although in the beginning of pregnancy most of the thyroid hormone needs are covered by the mother, important foetal brain development processes continue long after the first trimester.
Thyroid issues in mother during the first half of pregnancy have been linked to several complications such as preeclampsia, preterm labor, foetal demise, low birth weight, intellectual impairment in the child. Thyroid problems may not only affect pregnancy but they also have the potential to stem the early brain development of the child.
Finding and treating thyroid issues in pregnant women in time is also important to avoid complications for the baby, and the mother.
If you are suffering from thyroid and planning to start a family, seek help from a fertility expert to get a guided treatment for the condition. The intricate relationship between thyroid function and reproductive health underscores the significance of understanding and managing thyroid disorders.
Recognising these connections and seeking appropriate medical intervention is crucial for individuals grappling with thyroid disorders, emphasising the importance of comprehensive care to address both thyroid function and reproductive well-being.
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