In all phases of a woman’s life, a well-functioning thyroid gland will keep her day-to-day activities in balance with few problems associated with it.  But when the thyroid gland is not functioning up to par, certain symptoms can occur making life miserable for her. 

The thyroid is a two-inch butterfly-shaped gland located just below the neck in front of the larynx secretes hormones through the bloodstream to every cell and every organ in the body. It has the responsibility of regulating body temperature, helping the brain to think clearly, the heart beating rhythmically, and keeping harmony and peace among all organs within the body.

Women are about eight times more likely to have thyroid issues than men.  Because the thyroid is also a crucial part of the endocrine system, this means it has an important relationship with sex hormone functioning and hormonal balance that effect women uniquely from men.  From fertility to pregnancy, breastfeeding to menopause, thyroid issues can crop up unexpectedly creating problems over the course of a woman’s life.

Menstrual irregularities

When a woman has problems with her thyroid, the gland will either become overactive or underactive.  If the thyroid doesn’t secrete enough hormones into the blood, a woman may suffer from hypothyroidism or a slowing down of bodily functions causing symptoms of fatigue, weight gain, dry or brittle hair and a slower heart rate. 

On the flip side, if the thyroid secretes too many hormones, bodily functions will speed up resulting in hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, heat intolerance, frequent bowel movements, nervousness and irritability and sleep disturbances.

Whether a woman is experiencing hypo- or hyperthyroidism, both can be associated with a variety of menstrual irregularities.  Hypothyroidism can lead to heavier, more frequent periods, while hyperthyroidism can result in lighter, less frequent periods or even a complete cessation of periods. 

A woman with a thyroid condition is more likely to have a higher risk of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Low sex drive or libido

Women with hypothyroidism frequently can have sexual issues including low or nonexistent sex drive (low libido).  This can manifest itself in a woman showing a lack of interest in sex, slow arousal, an inability to get aroused, and difficulty in achieving an orgasm.

Infertility

There are a number of ways thyroid disease affects a woman’s ability to conceive:

·Women with hypothyroidism can have anovulatory cycles or where the ovaries do not release an egg or oocyte during a menstrual cycle.  Therefore, ovulation does not take place since no egg is released and a woman will not be able to become pregnant.

·Women with untreated or undertreated hypothyroidism have an association with being more likely to have an increased risk of early miscarriage. 

·Elevated thyroid antibodies are associated with an increased risk of infertility, as well as an increased risk of an early miscarriage.

·Women with hypothyroidismand who are seeking assistance of becoming pregnant by using fertility treatments, may have less success with it if her hypothyroidism is untreated or undertreated.

Pregnancy and postpartum

Just becoming pregnant can create a situation of a higher risk for the onset or worsening of some thyroid conditions.  Any woman with a known thyroid condition at the time of conception should plan carefully in order to maintain the pregnancy as this can cause a number of challenges in managing a thyroid condition.

All women should become familiar with what changes they can expect of their thyroid functioning during pregnancy.  It is important for all pregnant women to have sufficient intake of iodine during pregnancy.

One particular challenge is the link between thyroid issues and extreme morning sickness known as hyperemesis gravidarum.  Some studies have shown a transient link between hyperthyroidism and this severe type of morning sickness.

For women with hypothyroidism, there may challenges here also.  It is during the first trimester when the thyroid ramps up its production of thyroid hormone to meet the needs of the developing baby.  If the thyroid cannot produce enough thyroid hormone, then the resulting hypothyroidism can pose a risk to the pregnancy and the growing baby. 

Women with hyperthyroidism and Grave’s disease in pregnancy need to be aware of the signs, symptoms and proper treatment and monitoring during pregnancy.  If the thyroid become overactive during pregnancy, this can pose some unique treatment challenges and risks to the pregnancy.

The postpartum period after the baby is born is another time of hormonal change that could result in making thyroid problems worse. This could result in post-partum depression and breastfeeding difficulties. 

Breastfeeding

Any sort of thyroid imbalance can interfere with a woman’s ability to successfully feed her baby if breastfeeding. Women with hypo- or hyperthyroidism should discuss with her doctor about the safety of using any thyroid medications while breastfeeding she may be taking to control her thyroid issues. 

Perimenopause and menopause

This phase of a woman’s life is probably the most critical in terms of thyroid conditions happening.  According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), millions of women with menopausal-like symptoms may be suffering from undiagnosed thyroid disease.  While symptoms such as fatigue, depressions, mood swings, and sleep disturbances are associated with menopause, they may also be a sign of hypothyroidism.  A survey done by AACE showed that only one in four women who have discussed menopause and its symptoms with a doctor were also tested for thyroid disease. 

Women who may be experiencing signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism should let her doctor know of her concerns of her thyroid function.  It is worth the time and effort to have thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels checked.  Ablood sample is all that is needed to make the initial diagnosis of hypothyroidism and treatment is easily achieved with thyroid replacement therapy.