Treatment for Hypothyroidism & Hyperthyroidism

If you are having difficulty conceiving, have experienced recurrent miscarriages, have a family history of thyroid conditions, or are struggling with a multitude of symptoms, your fertility doctor may indicate a thyroid disorder as a possibility. A thyroid disorder can involve either an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Thyroid dysfunction (whether too high or too low) can affect the growth of follicles, implantation, and early pregnancy. During pregnancy, thyroid issues are associated with an increased risk of problems — including miscarriage, preeclampsia, poor fetal growth, and premature birth.

If you are undergoing IUI or IVF treatment, the best course of action is to begin with a thyroid check.

With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland isn’t producing enough hormones. In turn, this can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and/or impact ovulation, which can affect your ability to conceive. This condition may also cause cysts to form on your ovaries and increase your prolactin levels (the lactation hormone). Untreated hypothyroidism has also been linked to a higher risk of miscarriage — almost 4 times the risk of someone who doesn’t have a thyroid condition.

Treatment is usually medication. However, there are various other types of therapy (ranging from desiccated or synthetic to combination therapy).

Hyperthyroidism occurs when you have an excess of thyroid hormones circulating in your body. If left untreated, it can cause irregular menstrual cycles, lighter periods, difficulty conceiving and pregnancy loss.  In men, it can cause a low sperm count, poor sperm quality and low volume or morphology — resulting in reduced fertility. Research published in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist in 2015 found that 2.3 percent of women with fertility challenges had hyperthyroidism. Treatment may include medication, radioactive iodine, or surgery.

The thyroid gland affects every system in the body. In hypothyroidism, things down down, so this can cause fatigue, brain fog, constipation, weight gain, insomnia, hair loss and more. In hyperthyroidism, everything speeds up so it can cause sweating, heat intolerance, increased bowel movements, nervousness, anxiety, rapid heart rate, weight loss, fatigue and more. Both impact ovulation — and ultimately, the ability to get pregnant and avoid miscarraige. If you have a family history of hypothyroidism, are struggling with symptoms, or are having difficulty conceiving, your best defence is to get your thyroid levels tested.

Your thyroid is located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam’s apple. This small, butterfly-shaped gland, produces two key hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) – and it influences everything from your metabolism and brain function, to your body temperature and heart rate. Thyroid dysfunction can be detected by a simple blood test which looks at Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Your doctor may also order Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies test to determine if there is autoimmune disease.