Do you know thyroid imbalances can severely affect egg quality? The thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck, plays a pivotal role in overall health.
Both lesser (underactive) and higher (overactive) amounts of thyroid hormones can severely impact your reproductive health. Learn more about the connection between fertility and thyroid health in this article.
Thyroid and Its Role in Female Reproductive Health
Thyroid and female fertility health are highly interconnected more than you think. An imbalance in thyroid hormones can have several effects on female reproductive health at different stages.
| Different Stages | Health Effects |
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Puberty and menstruation
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Thyroid problems can cause the first menstrual period to start late or early.
High and low thyroid hormone levels can result in light or heavy periods. This might be the reason for an irregular and absent menstrual cycle.
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Reproduction |
Thyroid problems can have severe impacts on ovulation, particularly underactive thyroid, which has increased risks.
A woman with an underactive thyroid has a higher risk of developing cysts. And severe underactive thyroid can prevent ovulation.
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Pregnancy
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Thyroid imbalances can even harm the baby, and a woman can expect these serious problems during pregnancy. It includes miscarriage, preterm birth, stillbirth, pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure disorder), and bleeding after childbirth.
Pregnant ladies can experience increased morning sickness.
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Menopause |
Thyroid problems may result in early menopause before the age of 40 or in the early 40s.
An overactive thyroid can result in mood swings, insomnia, hot flashes, and lack of menstrual cycle.
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How does Thyroid Imbalance Impact Egg Quality?
Thyroid imbalance can be either higher or lower levels in your body. Variations in the amount of thyroid gland can affect the mood, energy level, metabolism, bone health, heart rate, bone function, reproductive health, and other potential functions.
Thyroid imbalances are particularly detrimental to egg quality, disrupting ovulation and potentially affecting postpartum recovery. Women experiencing thyroid issues may notice symptoms early on, allowing them to take steps to manage the condition effectively and improve your egg quality through proper diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle adjustments.
Signs of Thyroid Imbalance that May Affect Egg Quality
Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism side effects make pregnancy very difficult. Women can experience too many problems with their menstrual cycle.
Thyroid problems interrupt ovulation, which blocks the release of an egg from an ovary. Underactive thyroid hormones increase the risk of developing cysts.
Thyroid Conditions and Fertility
Irregular thyroid conditions can cause fertility issues not only in women but also in men. Yes, men experience reduced sperm count, sexual drive, erectile dysfunction, or delayed ejaculation.
The higher and lower thyroid hormone levels can create a huge problem for the body, which affects overall and reproductive health conditions.
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
Hypothyroidism means a thyroid gland that doesn’t make sufficient levels of thyroid hormones. Leaving it untreated can bring several health issues and make your week.
The symptoms of hypothyroidism are,
- Tiredness.
- Increased cold sensitivity.
- Constipation.
- Weight gain.
- Dry skin, puffy face, hoarse voice, and coarse hair and skin.
- Muscle weakness, tenderness, aches, and stiffness.
- Bradycardia means slow heart rate.
- Depression and memory problems.
- Heavy menstrual cycles than usual.
- Testosterone levels, sperm count, and semen quality are severely affected.
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
This condition is quite the opposite of hypothyroidism, which is an excessive amount of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4). The overproduction leads to an increase in body metabolism and critical health conditions like Graves disease, thyroiditis, and multinodular goiter. Hyperthyroidism and Infertility in Women can significantly affect reproductive health.
You can identify hypothyroidism with these symptoms,
- Anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue.
- Frequent bowel movements.
- Goiter and increased appetite and sweating.
- Heat intolerance and hair loss.
- Irregular periods, problems with sleep, and weight loss or gain.
- High blood pressure and skin rashes
Subclinical Hypothyroidism Impacts Egg Quality
Excessive levels of thyroid-stimulating hormones (thyrotropin, which regulates thyroid hormone production) with a normal level of thyroxine (T4, which controls metabolism, heart and muscle function, and brain development) are called subclinical hypothyroidism.
Some studies state that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with infertility and increases several risks, such as
- Risk of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.
- There is a high possibility of neurocognitive deficits in the offspring.
- Increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and fatal & non-fatal coronary artery disease CAD.
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Diagnosis and Testing for Thyroid Health
Thyroid blood tests and imaging tests are the two categories that help with diagnosis.
Blood Tests: Doctors will take your blood sample for lab analysis. This test checks for antibodies and thyroglobulin that also analyse whether you’ve hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Healthcare providers can also measure thyroid-stimulating hormones, T3, T4, and thyroid antibodies in your blood.
Imagining tests: Ultrasound scans provide a detailed insight into where the benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous) lumps are in your neck.
The imagining test includes Thyroid ultrasound scans, CT scans, uptake tests, and other types of nuclear medicine imaging. During this test, your healthcare provider asks you to follow some instructions and inform you prior if any special preparations are needed.
So, follow them properly before the imagining tests.
Managing Thyroid Health to Improve Egg Quality
Hope you understand the importance of thyroid health from so far discussed sections. Poor lifestyle habits and unhealthy diet choices can disrupt the thyroid hormone balance and result in several health issues.
Stick to a proper and balanced diet:
A balanced diet is essential for improving thyroid health. Foods rich in iron, antioxidants, zinc, and vitamins B2, B3, and B6.
Consider consuming these items to maintain good health and thyroid function such as coriander seeds, amla, coconut, pumpkin seeds, cabbage, nuts, berries, grapes, broccoli, green tea, fish, milk, egg, lover, almond, carrot, and pumpkin.
Monitor the iodine intake:
Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production, and the amount of iodine requirement varies according to the age group.
Potential Lifestyle adjustments:
Exercise regularly; people with thyroid problems can easily follow walking, water aerobics, yoga, and strength training.
Try to maintain a proper sleep cycle.
Focusing on these things helps to boost your mood, lose weight, and enhance your energy.
Regular check-ups are mandatory:
Thyroid tests help identify thyroid gland issues and how they work. Your healthcare provider performs blood, nuclear medicine, and imaging tests.
Once you identified that you’ve thyroid problems, follow these tips and never miss any follow-up appointments, which helps to improve your overall health condition.
Conclusion
Finally, thyroid dysfunction can negatively affect egg quality and overall reproductive health. It can be either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism; both lead to hormonal imbalances that disrupt the normal ovulation function, decrease egg production, and affect pregnancy outcomes.
Proper diagnosis and early thyroid treatment can improve your health and make you feel better. So, consult your doctor when you start experiencing thyroid symptoms and overcome them efficiently.
FAQs
Yes, undiagnosed thyroid problems can make conception very difficult. It’s because both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can affect ovulation, resulting in infertility. So, treating them on time is essential for a successful pregnancy.
Low thyroid hormones in your body can cause miscarriages, increase the risk of cesarean birth, and cause more bleeding after delivery. An adequate supply of thyroid hormones is essential for the neurological development of the fetus.
The thyroid antibodies are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women could expect miscarriage and preterm birth.
