One frequently misdiagnosed health problem can cause infertility in thousands of women. It is estimated that nearly 60 million women in American suffer from some sort of thyroid disorder. Symptoms vary and so problems often remain undiagnosed and untreated. Only now are many doctors becoming aware of the connection between thyroid malfunction and infertility.
The thyroid gland is a small butterfly shaped gland in your throat, around your windpipe. It produces the hormones that affect your metabolism, and can also influence heart rate, digestion, and reproduction.
The symptoms of thyroid disorders can vary from woman to woman, and depending upon whether you suffer from hyper- or hypo-thyroidism. Furthermore, many of the symptoms can be explained by depression or day-to-day living, which is why so many cases go unnoticed. Common symptoms may include (but are not limited to):
- thinning hair
- weight gain, or weight loss
- menstrual difficulties
- excessive sweating
- depression
Since the thyroid also plays a part in regulating the body?s natural reproductive hormones, thyroid disorders can lead to fertility problems by causing irregular or a complete absence of ovulation. Remember, menstruation does not necessarily mean that you are ovulating. A woman with undiagnosed thyroid problems may menstruate regularly but not ovulate.
Diagnosis may be carried out through a series of blood tests but since many doctors remain unaware of thyroid problems or recent changes in medical definitions of ?normal range,? many women still struggle to be taken seriously. If you are not satisfied with your doctor?s diagnosis, always remember that you have the right to a second opinion. Online research can also help you locate doctors in your area who specialize in thyroid disease. Ask for a thyroid antibody test, as well as the other selection of thyroid function tests usually offered. Once a doctor has diagnosed a thyroid problem, you can begin appropriate treatment.
With careful management and treatment, thyroid disease does not have to stand in the way of achieving a healthy and successful pregnancy. The key is to educate yourself and your doctors as much as possible.
? Fiona Young-Brown, August 2006
Fiona Young-Brown is a Certified Life Coach, specializing in helping women and couples through the struggle of infertility, so that they may reach positive outcomes. Her graduate research focussed on women's experiences with infertility and she has written numerous articles on the subject. To learn more, to sign up for her newsletters, or to schedule a free sample coaching session, visit her website at http://www.fionayoungbrown.com | |
