By Sara Russell, Ph.D., FNTP

 

This post focuses on the impact of thyroid health on fertility and pregnancy. Autoimmune hypothyroidism is one of the most common causes of infertility and miscarriage that I see in my nutritional therapy practice.

As I noted in an earlier post, most doctors recognize the impact of hypothyroidism on fertility and pregnancy but tend to ignore whether that hypothyroidism is possibly autoimmune in nature. Why? Because it makes no difference to them. In fact, they have one protocol for all types of hypothyroidism.

Autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s) is by far the most common form of hypothyroidism. There are a lot of women (and some men) out there with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism who have no idea that they have this condition. So they don’t know why they have symptoms such as fatigue, lack of motivation, weight issues, thinning hair, infertility and/or repeated miscarriage.

Now, if you don’t know what the root cause is, you can’t really solve the problem. If you’re struggling with repeated miscarriages or with infertility, you have the right to the proper medical tests.

Unfortunately, many doctors are still just testing for TSH. This is the hormone the pituitary gland sends to signal the thyroid gland to release a certain amount of hormone. However, the range of “normal” TSH readings is very broad. As a result, the test misses many cases of Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism.

What is Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism?

Hashimoto’s is a form of hypothyroidism that results from the presence of antibodies that attack the thyroid tissue, thus ultimately making it very difficult for the gland to do its job. If you have elevated antibodies against your thyroid, you have an autoimmune condition.

To diagnose Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, your doctor needs to run a full thyroid panel, including antibodies to thyroid tissue. A thyroid ultrasound is also important in anyone with a family history or symptoms of possible autoimmune hypothyroidism.

If you have autoimmune hypothyroidism, that actually changes everything for you. In fact, Hashimoto’s requires extensive immune and gut support, not just thyroid medication. Individualized nutritional and lifestyle support is extremely effective in addressing Hashimoto’s and reducing the risk of infertility and miscarriage.

Introduction to the thyroid gland

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck. The word thyroid comes from the Greek word thureos, which means “shield.” And this is quite an appropriate name for the gland, which slows down our basal metabolism in times of stress to protect us from the destructive processes that occur in the body during these times.

Chronic stress can lead to chronic thyroid problems. This can lead to symptoms such as difficulty losing weight on a healthy diet and exercise program and, unfortunately, an increased risk of miscarriage and/or infertility.

What stresses the thyroid?

Thyroid health is inextricably linked to all other areas of health in the body. Slow digestion and poor nutrient absorption often go hand in hand with a sluggish thyroid. Emotional stress, overwork, lack of sleep, exposure to toxic chemicals and use of stimulants (including legal ones such as sugar and caffeine!) are very common sources of chronic stress to the thyroid gland, which can slow down after an initial period of speeding up.

How is my thyroid doing?

One way to check your thyroid status at home is to take a basal body temperature first thing in the morning when you wake, before getting out of bed. Do this during the first week of your cycle to get accurate readings. As you approach ovulation, your basal body temperature will rise and may throw off your findings. If your temperature is not at least 97.5º F, your thyroid may be running low, and you may want to follow up with your healthcare provider. Try this a few times, but avoid obsessing over the process and your results. This is one of many possible indicators of thyroid health.

If you notice that your temperature runs pretty consistently low, it’s a good time to start digging for underlying causes so you can get back on track.

What can I do to support my thyroid?

If you have Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, your action plan must include both immune and thyroid support. But before you think this means just working in two layers, let’s dig deeper. With any autoimmune condition, it is crucial to support digestive health and avoid triggers that can set off antibody activity. The most notable one is gluten, and my autoimmune thyroid clients have greatly benefited from a gluten-free diet in the context of an individualized nutritional plan.

Use this as an opportunity to take care of yourself. If practical, enlist the help of those around you. Pare down your schedule, cut out anything that’s overwhelming, learn to say no to anything that doesn’t totally excite you, spend time with people you love, and rest. Yes, controlling stress is the most important piece of the puzzle.

But taking care of your thyroid also means eating properly prepared real food that is high in nutrients, food that deeply nourishes you and brings joy to your body and spirit. I find that digestive support is key for my Hashimoto’s clients. In fact, targeted digestive support increases the absorption of the great nutrients in your food. Increased nutrient absorption increases overall health and fertility as well as thyroid and immune health.

Also, make sure you are careful in addressing thyroid symptoms such as dry skin and hair loss with natural, non-toxic products in order to prevent adding fuel to the fire.

A few words of caution

One big mistake people make when the thyroid is slow and sluggish is to stimulate it to go faster without addressing the underlying cause. Because your thyroid has slowed down to shield you from harm, this is not a good approach. Often, the thyroid slows down because the body is exhausted, and stimulating the thyroid with herbs, medications or other preparations will only cause further stress.

Be very cautious with iodine supplementation. Yes, there is a lot of buzz around high-dose iodine supplementation, and it does have its therapeutic applications. However, high-dose iodine is a notorious trigger for flare-ups in Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. The easy way to remember this is to supplement in micrograms, not milligrams. If you’re preparing for conception and pregnancy, the risk of high-dose supplementation is much too high. Stick with a nutrient-dense diet and a high-quality prenatal, which will meet your daily iodine needs.

What if I need more guidance?

The Feed Your Fertile Body!™ Program provides a strong foundation for preconception support. It supplies a wealth of easy-to-implement tips and strategies to optimize fertility. If you have Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, you may benefit from combining the program with a few personalized nutritional consultations. Because everyone’s symptoms and triggers are unique, no two nutritional plans for my Hashimoto’s clients are exactly alike. Thus personalizing your care while preparing for conception can help you conceive sooner and have a healthier pregnancy.