The thyroid gland is located in the neck of a human and can be felt below the larynx. It produces vital hormones, whereby a defective production of these leads to significant health impairments while also negatively impacting fertility. This has been proven in both women and men.
Triiodothyronine and thyroxine are iodine-containing thyroid hormones that play an important role in energy metabolism and cell growth. Calcitonin is also produced in the thyroid and it regulates calcium and phosphate metabolism in the bones.
In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Symptoms can include:
Weight gain
Fatigue
Depression
Reduced heart rate
Dry skin
Disturbed egg and sperm maturation
The diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction is easy to establish by means of a blood test. This test can be carried out at your TFP fertility clinics. In most cases, administration of thyroid hormones in the form of a tablet is sufficient to remedy the deficiency and the resulting physical impairments.
However, depending on the cause of the hypofunction, these hormones usually have to be taken for the rest of one's lifetime. It is particularly important that pregnant women continue to take the hormones and that their lab values are regularly tested and, if necessary, that the dose of the hormones gets adjusted. If a child growing in the womb gets too few thyroid hormones, this can lead to severe physical and mental developmental disorders.
Hyperthyroidism refers to the excessive production of thyroid hormones. Again, this can easily be detected by means of a blood test.
This hyperfunction leads to:
Weight loss
Tachycardia
Nervousness
Insomnia
Increased sweating
Ocular changes
Impaired fertility
Since hyperthyroidism is a serious matter for those it affects, it must be accurately diagnosed and treated prior to commencing a fertility therapy. Unfortunately, its treatment is often more lengthy and difficult than that of hypothyroidism. It may be, therefore, that 6 months of drug therapy are undertaken and then a further operation on the thyroid gland, depending on the cause of the dysfunction.
At your TFP fertility clinics, thyroid hormone levels can be determined in the blood and the therapy can be discussed with you individually. Let us advise you.