Thyroid conditions are very common in women, so learning the warning signs and when to talk to your doctor is essential. Women are eight times more likely than men to have a thyroid problem in their lifetime.
The thyroid gland affects your body’s metabolism. When it’s not functioning well, it can cause problems in your reproductive system. In this blog, you’ll learn all about thyroid problems in females, how these problems affect your body and the signs to watch out for.
How a Thyroid Disorder Affects a Woman’s Body
The thyroid is a gland in your neck, just below your voicebox that makes hormones important for your body’s metabolism. When your thyroid isn’t working well, it can affect how much of these hormones are made. The hormones your thyroid makes affect your heart rate, body temperature and how your body burns calories.
Here are some of the most common ways thyroid disorders affect a woman’s body:
Puberty and menstruation
For young women with a thyroid condition, puberty can start really early or late. After puberty, thyroid problems can cause your periods to be light, heavy or irregular. Some people even experience amenorrhea, or missed periods for several months.
Reproduction
Thyroid problems in females can impact ovulation – when an egg is released for fertilization. This means your ovulation could be irregular or you may not ovulate at all.
Pregnancy and postpartum
For women with thyroid disorders, close monitoring during pregnancy is vital to ensure the baby isn’t harmed. Low thyroid hormone levels can cause miscarriage, preterm delivery or stillbirth. After a woman has a baby, the thyroid gland can become inflamed and make too many hormones. This is rare but women who recently had a baby should be closely monitored.
Menopause
Thyroid disorders can cause early menopause. Some signs of an overactive thyroid can be mistaken for early menopause such as missed periods, sleep problems and mood swings. Treating a thyroid disorder can improve these symptoms and even prevent early menopause.
Two Types of Thyroid Problems
There are two types of thyroid conditions, hyperthyroid and hypothyroid.
Hyperthyroid
This is when the thyroid is “overactive,” and too many thyroid hormones are released into your body, speeding up your body’s metabolism. An autoimmune disease called Grave’s disease is a very common cause of this condition. In Grave’s disease, your body makes antibodies that “attack” your thyroid, causing it to make more thyroid hormones than you need.
Hypothyroid
Hypothyroid is when your thyroid is “underactive” and doesn’t make enough hormones that your body needs which can slow your metabolism. Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disease that “attacks” your thyroid is a very common cause of hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroid Symptoms in Females
Here are some common symptoms that you’re thyroid might be overactive:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Increase in appetite
- Rapid heart rate
- Feeling irritable or nervous
- Feeling “shaky”
- Trouble sleeping
- Sweating or feeling hot when others don’t
- Muscle weakness
- Bulging eyes
- More frequency bowel movements
Hypothyroid Symptoms in Females
Here are some common symptoms that you’re thyroid might be underactive:
- Weight gain
- Difficulty losing weight
- Feeling cold
- Feeling tired
- Feeling sad or depressed
- Having dry skin
- Hair falling out or becoming more thin
- Heavy periods or very Irregular periods
- Constipation
- Confusion or “brain fog”
- Hoarse voice
It’s important to know that these symptoms can range from mild to severe. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider.
How Are Thyroid Diseases Diagnosed?
Thyroid diseases are usually diagnosed based on your symptoms, physical exams and blood tests. If you report any thyroid disease symptoms to your doctor, they will likely order blood tests to check for:
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- T4 (Thyroxine)
- T3 (Triiodothyronine)
These are the three main hormones that are affected when someone has a thyroid disorder. Once your doctor gets the results from these tests, they can better diagnose your thyroid condition. In some cases, doctors may want to get an image of your thyroid to check for nodules or cancer.
Thyroid problems in females can often be misdiagnosed or completely overlooked. Some people experience vague symptoms like fatigue, weight gain and mood changes. These symptoms can be so vague that up to 60% of people with a thyroid condition don’t even know they have it. Having an undiagnosed thyroid condition can put you at risk for developing heart disease, osteoporosis and infertility.
If you have any symptoms of a thyroid condition, talk to your healthcare provider right away. A simple blood test can let you know if you have it so you can start treatment and feel like yourself again.
Sources
