Treating Thyroid Related Fertility Issues with Chinese Medicine
The thyroid gland is a small organ located in the neck that helps to manage the body’s metabolism, blood calcium levels, and hormones. Imbalances of this organ can make conception a challenge.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition where an underactive thyroid fails to produce enough hormones, and various body systems slow down. Common symptoms include fatigue, feeling cold, weight gain, sluggishness, depression, and constipation. Hypothyroidism commonly goes undiagnosed as western medical blood tests fail to detect thyroid problems that with sub-clinical results.
Hashimoto’s disease or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is a common cause of hypothyroidism. In Hashimoto’s the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and causes an inflammation, and the result is an underactive thyroid. Goiter or enlargement of the thyroid gland can also result in hypothyroidism.
From a TCM (traditional Chinese Medicine) perspective, hypothyroidism is usually a yang deficiency in the body causing the typical symptoms of cold, fatigue, and depression, etc. Each person with hypothyroid may have different organ systems involved in the imbalance. For women trying to get pregnant, hypothyroidism may be preventing ovulation or creating irregular cycles including shortened luteal phase which can prevent implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterine wall. In cases of “unexplained” infertility, the influence the thyroid plays on hormones most likely plays into the inability to conceive. By correcting these imbalances, a healthy pregnancy is possible.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism involves an overactive thyroid. Rapid heartbeat, fatigue, weight loss, muscle weakness, irritability or anxiety, irregular menstruation and infertility are some of its many symptoms. Graves’ disease is a common cause of hyperthyroidism, where antibodies produced by the immune system attack the thyroid gland and cause it to overproduce hormones. Hyperthyroidism commonly affects women aged 20 to 40, just when fertility is of peak concern.
From a TCM perspective, hyperthyroidism may be more complex and include such diagnoses as yin deficiency with heat or liver yang rising. Hyperthyroidism can cause anovulation and will commonly contribute to “unexplained” infertility by interfering with the body’s normal hormone production.
Chinese Medicine to Correct Thyroid Imbalance
While some thyroid conditions require western medicine for successful treatment, prescription medications for these conditions often have unpleasant side-effects and may lead to long term health issues. For women who have sub-clinical thyroid imbalance, western medicine typically does not recognize a problem so solutions are offered. Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM can effectively at manage many thyroid irregularities and/or provide complementary support to resolve the symptoms and optimize fertility.
Regardless of the manifestation of your thyroid imbalance, your TCM practitioner will take everything about you into consideration to determine a diagnosis and treatment plan specific to you- including acupuncture, herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle modifications. TCM can bring the balance you need in order to get pregnant and have a healthy baby.
Diet and Nutrition for Hypothyroid Conditions
Avoiding foods that contain goitrogens may be one way to help treat hypothyroidism. Goitrogens are chemicals that can cause the enlargement of the thyroid gland, and foods containing them include broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, sweet potatoes, lima beans and maize. Red meat, eggs, fats, sugars and foods containing sodium chloride should also be eaten sparingly.
Foods containing iodine should be regularly consumed in the case of hypothyroidism, including parsley, beetroot, fish, bananas and oatmeal. Taking multivitamins and supplements including vitamin C, B complex, manganese, tyrosine, kelp and iodine can also help with hypothyroidism.
Lifestyle and Emotional Considerations
Exercise plays a vital role in treating thyroid conditions. In the case of hypothyroidism, it can help by stimulating thyroid gland secretions and enhancing tissue sensitivity to the thyroid hormone.
Exercise can relieve stress, and research shows that stress is the main trigger for Graves’ disease. Stress can also interfere with fertility. In addition to exercise, acupuncture is an excellent way to relieve stress.
One More Thing to Consider…
Thyroid conditions are said to be a dysfunction of the throat chakra- the body’s center for communication, creativity, connection and personal intention. Resolving emotional issues related to these matters may also help improve thyroid conditions and minimize their impact on fertility.