Dr Hina Naveed
“Women are more likely than men to have thyroid disease and one in eight women will develop thyroid problems during her lifetime, according to a Harvard Medical School study, “having even a slightly underactive thyroid may interfere with a woman’s ability to get pregnant.”
In women, thyroid disease can cause:
- Problems with your menstrual period: Your thyroid helps control your menstrual cycle. Too much or too little thyroid hormone can make your periods very light, heavy, or irregular. Thyroid disease also can cause your periods to stop for several months or longer, a condition called amenorrhea. If your body’s immune system causes thyroid disease, other glands, including your ovaries, may be involved. This can lead to early menopause (before age 40).
- Problems getting pregnant: When thyroid disease affects the menstrual cycle, it also affects ovulation. This can make it harder for you to get pregnant.
- Problems during pregnancy: Thyroid problems during pregnancy can cause health problems for the mother and the baby.
- Sometimes, symptoms of thyroid problems are mistaken for menopause symptoms. Thyroid disease, especially hypothyroidism, is more likely to develop after menopause.
Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can make it harder for you to get pregnant. This is because problems with the thyroid hormone can upset the balance of the hormones that cause ovulation. Hypothyroidism can also cause your body to make more prolactin, the hormone that tells your body to make breastmilk. Too much prolactin can prevent ovulation.
Untreated Hyperthyroidism during pregnancy can cause:
- Premature birth (birth of the baby before 39 to 40 weeks, or full-term).
- Preeclampsia, a serious condition starting after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Preeclampsia causes high blood pressure and problems with the kidneys and other organs. The only cure for preeclampsia is childbirth.
- Thyroid storm (sudden, severe worsening of symptoms).
- Fast heart rate in the newborn, which can lead to heart failure, poor weight gain, or an enlarged thyroid that can make it hard to breathe.
- Low birth weight (smaller than five pounds).
- Miscarriage.
Untreated Hypothyroidism during pregnancy can cause:
- Anaemia (lower than normal number of healthy red blood cells)
- Preeclampsia
- Low birth weight (smaller than five pounds)
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Problems with the baby’s growth and brain development
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and PCOS: Is There a Connection?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune hypothyroid condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid—is three times more common in women with PCOS than in women without it.
If you have been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, you are well aware that one the tell-tale sign is that your hormone levels are out of balance.
Common symptoms include menstrual irregularity, problematic acne, and excessive hair growth. You may also struggle with your weight due to the disruptions that PCOS causes to your metabolism, and you may have difficulty getting pregnant.
If you are a woman with PCOS, your body may be producing too much androgen. Androgens are a class of male sex hormones, in particular, testosterone, that are found in smaller but necessary levels in women too. Higher levels of androgen may interfere with a woman’s ability to get pregnant; for this reason, many women with PCOS struggle with infertility.
How can your diet support your Thyroid function with PCOS
Your diet can impact on your thyroid health, as well as your PCOS. It is important to consult with a nutritionist if diagnosed with a thyroid disorder.
Here are some suggestions to support your thyroid function and improve your PCOS:
1. Avoid soy: Soy products contain phytoestrogens that have been shown to increase the risk of developing subclinical hypothyroidism. Soy can also cause delayed ovulation which is why I don’t recommend soy products as part of a good PCOS Diet.
2. Reduce Gluten: There is a protein in gluten (gliadin) that is very similar in structure to a thyroid hormone. So, if you have a gluten sensitivity, your body not only attacks the gliadin, it can also attack your thyroid in an autoimmune response.
3. Avoid sugar: Research has shown that hypothyroidism can make insulin resistance worse. And, eating sugar or highly refined carbs causes your body to release more insulin. Remember that all of this insulin is also causing your ovaries to release more testosterone. So, by avoiding highly processed and sugary foods, you are managing your PCOS and supporting your thyroid function.
Established data suggests that women with PCOS are 22.5% more likely to have some type of thyroid dysfunction. This can make our PCOS symptoms worse and much harder to manage. Being aware of your thyroid health and keeping an eye on your thyroid levels at least every two years will prevent the development of undiagnosed thyroid disease reducing your risk for certain serious conditions.
When talking to your Healthcare Professional
- Be honest and upfront about your symptoms. Do not feel embarrassed!
- Write down your questions and concerns and bring them to your appointment
If possible, bring a family member or close friend. Sometimes it helps to have two sets of ears when hearing from your doctor
- Take notes so you can look them over at a later time
Remember no question is too small. Your doctor is there to answer all of your questions and make you feel confident and comfortable with the care you will be receiving.