Thyroid Disease

What is thyroid disease?

Thyroid disease is a condition affecting thyroid gland function. Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that produces thyroid hormone, a hormone responsible for controlling your body’s metabolism. 

Two common types of thyroid disease are hypothyroidism (the body produces too little thyroid hormone) and hyperthyroidism (the body produces too much thyroid hormone).

Effectively managing thyroid disease offers the best chance of conceiving a baby and avoiding pregnancy complications. 

What are the symptoms of thyroid disease?

Thyroid disease can cause the following symptoms:

• Slowed or fast heart rate
• Fatigue
• Weight loss or gain
• Feeling cold often or sweating a lot
• Dry, sweaty, or clammy skin
• Coarse hair
• Hair loss
• Depression, anxiety, nervousness, or irritability 
• Heavy or irregular menstrual periods
• Difficulty sleeping
• Heart problems
• Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
• Infertility 

The specific symptoms you’ll experience depend on the type of thyroid disease you have.

What are the risk factors for thyroid disease?

Thyroid disease risk factors may include:

• Family history of thyroid disease
• Turner syndrome
• Some medications
• Consuming too much or too little iodine
• Being over 60
• Previous radiation therapy to the head and/or neck
• Autoimmune diseases (Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc.)
• Being female

Women are 5-8 times more likely than men to experience a thyroid disorder. 

How is thyroid disease diagnosed?

Diagnosing thyroid disease requires a physical exam, blood work, and sometimes a neck ultrasound. The experts at University Reproductive Associates can screen for thyroid disorders during an infertility evaluation. 

How is thyroid disease treated?

Your personalized thyroid disease treatment may consist of making healthy lifestyle changes and taking medications. It’s helpful to eat nutritious foods, take supplements if asked to, stay active, minimize stress, and maintain a healthy body weight.

Some people with thyroid disease need surgery to remove all or part of their thyroid gland. If you still struggle with infertility after effectively managing thyroid disease, University Reproductive Associates offers an array of fertility treatments. Examples include intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and third-party reproduction.

Schedule an evaluation at University Reproductive Associates by phone or request one online today to learn if thyroid disease may be causing your infertility.