- Information provided by Dr. Shobha Gupta, Infertility Specialist at Mother’s Lap IVF Centre – New Delhi
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after
one year of regular intercourse without contraception. It is one of the medial,
social and psychological burden in the world. About 18–20% of couples in
reproductive age are infertile.
The thyroid hormone regulates cellular function; abnormal
thyroid function can affect your fertility. Undiagnosed and untreated thyroid
disease can be a cause for infertility or frequent miscarriage.
According to Indian Thyroid society about 70% of women with
PMS have low thyroid levels, which make the ovaries less able to produce
progesterone leading to PMS symptoms. 25.6% of Indian population have thyroid
dysfunction and possibly resulted infertility.
Having trouble getting pregnant? Your thyroid could be the
problem - and your doctor may not even know it. According to Dr. Shobha Gupta
the IVF expert on thyroid issues quoted that “standard blood tests miss up to
80 percent of cases in which low tissue thyroid levels are causing or
contributing to infertility.”
Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is a condition in which
the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones. For
women, there is a link between hypothyroidism and infertility. Low levels of
thyroid hormone can interfere with ovulation, which impairs fertility. In
addition, some of the underlying causes of hypothyroidism — such as certain
autoimmune or pituitary disorders — impair fertility.
Payal Mehra (name changed on request), 29, a working
professional, her world came to an end when she got to know that she can’t be
pregnant. As thyroid is very much common in today’s lifestyle, Payal diagnosed
with thyroid but she ignored and did not go for regular maintenance check ups.
After 1 year when she underwent TSH blood test she got to know that she is
suffering from hypothyroidism due to which she is now unable to conceive.
Since standard thyroid blood tests are not sensitive enough
to detect low ovarian tissue levels the majority of the time, Dr Shobha Gupta
advises, "Women must find a knowledgeable physician who understands that
standard tests will often not be useful in detecting low ovarian thyroid
levels."
Symptoms:
The symptoms of hypothyroidism can be of many types. Some
patients show no symptoms, while others show some marked symptoms. The symptoms
usually depend on the severity of the hormone deficiency and the rate at which
it develops in the patient. The symptoms are usually milder at the beginning
but develop gradually as the condition deteriorates.
The general symptoms are weight gain, fatigue, constipation,
muscle and joint aches, sluggishness, and intolerance towards cold weather,
abnormal and irregular periods, fatigue, and sleeplessness. The skin may turn
dry and thick. The hair may become coarse or thin. At times eyebrows disappears
and nails become brittle.
Diagnosis:
If you feel the above mentioned symptoms immediately go for
TSH(thyroid stimulating hormone) test, Chest X-ray, T4 or thyroxin test.
Treatment:
Hyperthyroidism can be treated in many ways. However, a
doctor chooses the line of treatment on the basis of a number of variables like
the underlying cause of hyperthyroidism, the age of the patient, the size of
the thyroid gland and the presence of coexisting medical illnesses.
If you are found to have hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone
replacement is very effective in restoring fertility. It may take 1-2 months to
normalize your thyroid hormone levels with medication; and once you start
medication, you must check your TSH levels to confirm they are in the normal
range. You will usually need to continue the medicines for the rest of your
life and recheck your thyroid function every 6 months or so.
Few Tips by Dr. Shobha Gupta:
- Get proper diagnosis
- Loose weight
- Take Adequate sleep and omit stress
- Go for regular exercises
- Do not ignore early symptoms
- Take adequate diet
Dr. Shobha Gupta said “Millions of people have an
undiagnosed thyroid problem, and don’t realize that it is the source of the
other health challenges they face. Infertility is a major health threat due to
thyroid and many other conditions that are often the direct result of
undiagnosed and untreated thyroid conditions.
In order to lead a healthy life I would recommend that all patients who
recognise any of these symptoms should go for a TSH test.”
Thanks for sharing the blog. Hegde Fertility is the Best Fertility & IVF Center in Hyderabad. A Name you can trust for IVF, IUI, ICSI and Endometriosis Treatment. Hegde Fertility has a success rate of 70% -80% In ivf Treatment. For more details Visit Best fertility center in Hyderabad
ReplyDeleteIUI cost in Hyderabad
Natural Ivf treatment in Hyderabad