Disease of the Thyroid Gland & Reproductive Hormones

Treatments are available for thyroid disorders affecting fertility and hormone levels. According to Harvard Medical School at Health.harvard.edu, over 12 million people in the United States suffer from thyroid disorders, and many people remain unaware of the imbalance as it may be asymptomatic (no noticeable symptoms). At first suspicion of thyroid deficiency, an individual should consult her family practitioner to discuss available options. Most hormonal imbalances, once diagnosed, are easy to correct.

Identification

• The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the frontal area of the neck, and it is responsible for manufacturing thyroid hormones T4 and T3. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not adequately produce these hormones, subsequently upsetting proper balance of the body's chemistry. According to the Mayo Clinic at Mayoclinic.com, an imbalance in these hormones can result in complications with different bodily functions, including reproduction.

Types

• A disorder referred to as Hashimoto's thyroiditis causes the body to manufacture antibodies that seek out and destroy thyroid cells, which decreases the gland's ability to produce essential hormones. At other times the hormone levels become imbalanced due to medications including lithium, or radiation treatments for cancers such as Hodgkin's disease, where the radiation is aimed at the the neck, in close proximity to the thyroid gland. Sometimes, however, the hormone imbalance is idiopathic (for no known cause).

Effects

• No matter what the underlying cause, an underactive thyroid gland will interfere with a woman's ability to ovulate, thus creating fertility problems. If the thyroid gland is severely underactive, a woman will produce an excess amount of the hormone prolactin, which also prevents ovulation. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine in an article at Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, men are affected in a similar way since abnormal thyroid activity will obstruct normal sperm production. The Thyroid Society for Education and Research reports that an overactive thyroid, though less common, can cause the same symptoms and complications.

Diagnosis

• To diagnose thyroid disorders, most doctors will usually begin by asking the patient if she is unusually tired, or if she feels unnaturally cold or hot when others in the same room seem to be comfortable. The physician generally places his hand on the area where the thyroid gland is located to check for swelling. Blood tests are taken to determine TSH levels. This is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland and will be present in either normal, elevated or diminished levels.

Treatments

• On its website at Cdc.gov, the Center for Disease Control states there is no outright cure for thyroid disorders, rather treatment goals center around returning hormone levels to the normal range and monitoring them to make sure the treatments are consistently effective. This is accomplished by medication, radioactive iodine treatment, and at times, surgery, although the latter is the less desirable option. Medications for an underactive thyroid include synthroid and levathyroxine. An overactive thyroid gland is usually treated with antithyroid drugs, and in rare cases, surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.