QUESTION:
Are my hormones responsible for my hypothyroidism?
ANSWER:
The short answer is yes, because the thyroid gland itself is part of our endocrine
(hormone) system, meaning it produces and is itself regulated by hormones. And by
definition, and hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
are conditions that result in under- and overproduction of thyroid hormones, respectively.
But when most women think of hormones, they are thinking of their reproductive hormones.
Our bodies are constantly negotiating a delicate balance of hormones, and when one
pathway is impaired it can have negative effects on the thyroid. In many cases,
hypothyroidism first manifests in women at times of major fluctuations in their
reproductive hormones, such as pregnancy and menopause. The health of your adrenal
glands — responsible for the production of both your fight or flight hormones and
sex hormones, too, after menopause — is intimately connected to thyroid health.
Adrenal imbalance shares many symptoms with hypothyroidism, and can actually lead
to an underactive thyroid through the overproduction of cortisol.
Read our articles about thyroid health in women
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