Are you aware of these?
- Unable to get pregnant after 6 months of active trying
- Recurrent Miscarriages
- Variations in Menstrual cycle patterns
- Family history of Thyroid problems
If these ring a bell, read on-
There has been an exponential rise in occurrence of Thyroid disorder world over, with more people being detected with autoimmune thyroid ailments, and increasing rates of associated cancer. This diagnosis, now becoming increasingly common, often exhibits a skewed picture where Women are seemingly more susceptible to the disorder. It’s a known fact that Thyroid governs the metabolism of every cell and impacts almost every function of our body. It directly impacts a women’s gynecological well being and any kind of Thyroid hormonal imbalance can have an adverse effect on female fertility. Women with a thyroid imbalance, generally seek help from their healthcare providers for their apparent symptoms, physical or psychological, and often attribute their symptoms to gynecological or hormonal reasons.
About Thyroid–
Thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just above the collarbone. Its one of the endocrine glands that primarily produce hormones, these hormones control the rate of numerous activities in our body determining how fast we burn calories or the rate at which our hearts beat. All these activities are our body’s Metabolism. Through the hormones it produces, the thyroid gland impacts most of the metabolic processes in our body. Too much thyroid hormone results in Hyperthyroidism while insufficient hormone production may lead to Hypothyroidism. Thyroid disorders may range from a mild Goiter to a life-threatening Cancer.
Thyroid and Infertility-
Female infertility can be caused by varied factors from Ovulatory disorders, Tubal diseases to Endometriosis to an abnormal uterus to apparent stress and lifestyles. However, often unnoticed, an underlying Thyroid condition could play a dampener as well. An optimum thyroid function is necessary for fertility, conception and maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. Thyroid disorders need to be diagnosed, addressed and treated before any conception plans to ensure a healthy mother and a healthy baby.
Thyroid driven Infertility can manifest itself as another uncommon condition of primary ovary failure which is an autoimmune disorder resulting in decreased size of ovaries, failure to ovulate and premature menopause, all contributing to Infertility.
Thyroid is not just a threat to fertility; but it often impairs the process of a healthy pregnancy. Complications for the mother may range from Anemia (iron deficiency), Miscarriage, Preeclampsia, Placental abruption (placenta detaches from wall of uterus pre-term) to Postpartum hemorrhage. Risks for Unborn baby may range from preterm birth, low birth weight, thyroid Problems, stillbirth or Birth defects ranging from mild to severe ones.
Afterword-
I had an engrossing dialogue with a Senior Gynecologist in Mumbai where she talked about sky-rocketing statistics of Thyroid cases over the years. It’s the unhealthy lifestyles that wreak havoc on our systems and lead to steep rise in infertility cases. She underlined the need to check thyroid levels as an inevitable part of pre-conception preparations. It’s vital to discuss with your healthcare provider before planning a baby to ensure your thyroid is under control. Prompt, timely and close monitoring of thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy can ensure normal fetal development and reduce the risk of miscarriage.
While treating thyroid functions is not a magic wand for all fertility issues but, for many women, once thyroid health is re-established, it will help in increasing the probability of a healthy pregnancy and help them treasure pleasures of motherhood. The golden key to conceive and carry pregnancy to term successfully, in the pink of health, is to address thyroid issues prior to conception. It’s a prudent approach to prepare your bodies proactively, prior to planning a baby, being abreast with changes, and making that critical appointment with your doctor, if need arises.
It will be a lovely realization, all worth your time and investment and perhaps the best gift for your baby!
