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“I feel tired. It’s so hard to get motivated to exercise, not to mention my muscles hurt so much. I just can’t lose weight. I feel depressed, my skin really sucks, and if I could just remember.”

Does any of this sound familiar?

These symptoms could actually be a sign of something more challenging.”

This is an excerpt from page 149 of my bestselling book, Conquer Your PCOS Naturally. It describes a common issue, more commonly experienced by women with PCOS.

I’m talking about thyroid dysfunction.

PCOS and hypothyroidism commonly occur together. Whether due to an autoimmune response or something less sinister, such as nutritional deficiencies.

So, what does the thyroid gland do?

Although small in size, you should not underestimate the importance of this gland. Your thyroid is vital for maintaining your health and keeping the ‘spark’ in your life. This tiny gland releases powerful hormones that help control and regulate energy for all your metabolic processes.

To cut a long story short, your thyroid gland is the metabolic engine of your body. It ubiquitously affects every cell in your body. Your thyroid:

• Can modify how your genes are expressed
• Regulates your metabolism by regulating the use of glucose and oxygen for the production of heat and energy
• Regulates the speed of your enzymes
• Regulates bone mass by affecting calcium metabolism
• Regulates cholesterol and fat metabolism
• It is involved in regulating your reproductive functions

How does this tiny gland do such a mammoth task?

When it comes to the thyroid, the gland’s immense strength lies in the potent hormones it releases into your blood. The three hormones of the thyroid gland are:

• Thyroxin
• Tri-iodothyronine
• Calcitonin

The secretion of these hormones is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is secreted by the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus, in turn, regulates the release of TSH from the pituitary by releasing the TSH-releasing hormone (TRH). This communication between your hypothalamus, pituitary gland and thyroid gland is called your Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis (or HPT). The development of the HPT is crucial for reproduction and overall development in both men and women.

When the levels of your thyroid hormones drop, your hypothalamus tells the pituitary gland to produce more TSH. The opposite occurs when your thyroid hormone levels get too high. This system, known as a ‘negative feedback’ system, is used by most of our body’s endocrine glands to ensure balance. or homeostasis.

“But, I’ve been told my thyroid levels are normal… Aren’t they?”

Unfortunately, most pathology laboratories haven’t kept up with the latest research. If you’re TSH results are between 0.5-4/5 (depending on the lab), you’ll be told – maybe inaccurately – that your thyroid is working fine.

However, we know that your TSH levels should ideally be between 1-2 or 2.5 mIU/L. Please review your test results and see what they indicate.

Results over 2.5 have been linked to the insulin resistance so commonly present in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Additionally, there is a need for other thyroid tests to be conducted.

Similar to T4, T3, reverse T3, and thyroid autoantibodies. For example, women with PCOS are more likely to have thyroid autoimmune disease, and this has been linked to implantation problems. In fact, several studies say that women experiencing trouble conceiving, especially with PCOS, need to be tested for autoantibodies. Are they? Often not. Given that PCOS and infertility are significantly linked, this, in my humble opinion, is a glaring oversight.

PCOS and weight gain… Yes! Another possible link with hypothyroidism!

This small gland is integral to your health and yet often misunderstood.

 

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