Hypothyroidism and Infertility

It has been proven that hypothyroidism can sometimes be the reason for infertility. But because of the relatively low exposure on it, it is many times overlooked in the considerations of the reason behind the incidence of infertility. Fortunately, this can be remedied as tests can be carried out to determine the absence of either thyroxine or triiodothyronine (T4 and T3 respectively) in the body system by your doctor.Before going into all that however, what is hypothyroidism? In simple terms, it means that the thyroid gland located just below the “Adam’s apple” is deficient in its production of the hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

This does not necessarily mean that it has stopped functioning; it could mean that there is insufficient production of these hormones to be properly utilized by the body to carry out its vital functions –one of which is ensuring that the female is fertile.Hypothyroidism is also a more common malady among women than it is among the men. The reduced level and amount of thyroid hormones in the body of a female results in the inhibition of ovulation. This is because Prolactin which is a hormone that influences the production of breast milk is produced in larger quantities than normal. This process of excessive milk production hinders ovulation because a body goes through the process very similar to pregnancy. The brain then gets the signal that the body is not ready for another ovulation.

Hence, hindering the normal process of egg (ova) production in females. Hypothyroidism is a common phenomenon among women of reproductive age. So, it is more apparent among women between their early twenties and late thirties.It should also be noted that hypothyroidism can either be mild or severe. If it is mild, the tests will only show that the level of thyroid hormones produced is low compared to its normal quantity. But when severe, there may be literally, the total ceasing of thyroid hormone production. So, how does someone know she has hypothyroidism?

Well it is not very easy to spot or deduce as there are lots of symptoms that are attributed to it which are also commonly found among other ailments as symptoms. Some of these symptoms are excessive weight gain, general weakness or fatigue, increased heart rate, dry skin, brittle, flaky nails, and extreme mood swings just to mention a few. So you can see from the above that these symptoms are also commonly associated with other ailments. So, as soon as you notice these things, do yourself a favor: Go see the doctor as soon as possible. Once detected at an early stage, hypothyroidism can be easily corrected.

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