Thyroid issues and effects it has on fertility

Sometimes if you have been trying to fall pregnant and have been unsuccessful for more than six months, it may be worth getting your thyroid checked. Optimal thyroid function is crucial for both men and women when it comes to fertility.

Why is it so crucial?

The thyroid is the gland in the body that controls your metabolism. Your metabolism is what breaks down food and converts it into energy to be used in the body. The metabolism also controls the brain and digestive system, your blood pressure and how fast your heart beats. Every cell in the body needs the thyroid hormone to function.

(Photo Thanks Andrew Apperley - Burst)

What causes thyroid imbalances?

There are some prescription medications, such as those that are taken to lower cholesterol, and steroids that can block the thyroids function. Also, if there is a low level of the mineral iodine in your body, this can throw off the thyroid function as it is essential in producing the thyroid hormone.

Symptoms

Symptoms can include but are not limited to:

·         Skipped or irregular periods

·         Clotting and heavy bleeding

·         Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight

·         Fatigue 

Around 25% of women who have been previously diagnosed with unexplained infertility may have Hypothyroidism which is when there is low Thyroid hormone synthesis. Hypothyroidism may reduce the levels of Luteinising hormone and Follicle Stimulating Hormone. These hormones are essential for the maturation of egg follicles as well as your ovaries.

The most important female hormones are Oestrogen and Progesterone which need to be in balance for optimal fertility. If Progesterone levels fall, Oestrogen levels rise and this then creates an imbalance which causes Oestrogen dominance. With oestrogen dominance the liver begins to produce what is called TBG or Thyroid Binding Globulin this then prevents Thyroid hormone from being used properly in your cells causing low thyroid function. 

Testing your thyroid

Sometimes when you are sent for a blood test it can be misleading. Blood tests which only measure the amount of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) are basically incomplete and may been interpreted as normal by your GP. You need to be tested for your levels of T4 and T3 as well to get the complete picture of what is happening.

If you don’t have enough T4 and T3, the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone result will be high, but your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone level will be low if you have an excess of T4 and T3. There is also the fact that the amount of hormone actually being assimilated into each of your cells can be abnormal due to the presence of Thyroid Binding Globulin. This means that you may not be converting the inactive T4 into the active T3.

A thorough Thyroid Function Test should be checking your levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, T4, T3, reverse T3 and autoantibodies, which are an autoimmune disease indicator.

If these tests are not done properly and you are suffering from Oestrogen dominance you may be told that everything looks normal when is reality an under functioning Thyroid can have a significant impact on your ability to conceive.

Consult with your naturopath as well as doctor to get the right tests done. This clinic specialises in assisting people with fertility and hormonal issues. Give us a call to see how we can help.

Improving your brain function

Being healthy is not just about physical health. It’s not just about doing exercise, eating healthy and drinking enough water. You also need to look after your brain function if you want to be an active elderly adult.

Monitoring brain function pretty much can only be done by checking out how good we feel. Unfortunately this is not a good way to monitor things as there are a lot of factors that contribute to you feeling good or bad. Sometimes when you feel a bit off colour and foggy in the head your brain may just need a bit of a boost.

Improving your brain function is not as hard as you may think, all we need is a little help and this can be as simple as taking adaptogens. These are herbs or fungi that not only help boost brain function but can help your body adapt to stress, both physical and mental. They help to support your body, regulate your hormones as well as giving your immune system a boost.

Adding these herbs to your morning smoothie is a great way to add adaptogens to your diet. These herbs can help with focusing, productivity, and memory.

Herbs to ask your naturopath about

Turmeric is also known as Curcumin. It’s a great herb that has many health benefits some of which are anti-inflammatory. Research shows that it can be beneficial to Alzheimer’s sufferers or people who have suffered from a stroke. Turmeric can also help if you are suffering from mild depression as it has shown to have anti-depressant properties. 

A powdered root called Ashwagandha can help increase brain function also as it helps improve memory and reduces brain fog. It has been shown to help with message transmitting from the body to the brain and vice versa.

Maca can help balance hormones, stimulate neural activity and help balance mood swings when taken regularly. Maca also helps with depression and anxiety. This wonderful herb contains antioxidants and AcHE inhibitory properties which help stop neurotransmitters from breaking down. That means it could be beneficial to people suffering with neurodegenerative diseases.

Rhodiola rosea is another herb great for reducing stress while increasing mental energy, focus, and fortitude by making neurons more sensitive to dopamine and serotonin. It also has antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties and can be a great natural way to treat those with neurodegenerative diseases.

Siberian Ginseng is another herb which helps to improve memory and speed up the processes in the brain making it easier to learn faster and absorb information so this is a good herb to take while studying.

All these herbs are great for improving brain function but when taking adaptogens it is important to consult a professional as these herbs can be powerful and may affect some conditions and medications such as birth control pills, diabetes medication and antidepressant medication. So never go and just buy herbs or supplements off the shelf without checking with your naturopath as they are the trained expert in this field. Bottom of Form