| Over the years I have discussed thyroid antibodies | | | | It is common for gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance |
| with patients and how it relates to their fertility. When | | | | i.e. Coeliac Disease to be associated with elevated |
| suggested to some physicians that these should be | | | | thyroid antibodies. So if your antibodies are elevated, |
| tested due to various studies about thyroid antibodies | | | | make sure you remove gluten from your diet. |
| and fertility issues, I have heard them say, "Not worth | | | | It has also been demonstrated that adrenal |
| the time or money. If TSH is normal, then thyroid | | | | insufficiency and thyroid antibodies are associated with |
| antibodies can't be elevated." | | | | one another. Your adrenals sit on top of your kidneys |
| But now, to my pleasant surprise in the New York | | | | and help you respond to stress. But too much |
| Times there was an article by a prominent doctor in | | | | emotional and or physiological stress can take its toll on |
| the United States that has been studying the | | | | these endocrine glands. Therefore supporting and |
| relationship of thyroid antibodies to fertility issues for | | | | promoting optimal adrenal health with stress |
| years. Apparently he sees in a certain percentage of | | | | management, herbs and other nutritional supplements is |
| patients that the thyroid antibodies can be elevated | | | | extremely important in improving thyroid health, |
| with normal TSH and seem to be correlated to | | | | cardiovascular health and fertility as well as post |
| miscarriage as well. His conclusions have been the | | | | partum health too. |
| same conclusions in several studies around the world. | | | | If you haven't had them already, have the thyroid |
| How they treat this issue in one study out of Italy, I | | | | antibody tests (there are 2 or 3), TSH, FT4, and FT3 |
| believe, was with thyroid medication, i.e. thyroxine. This | | | | to assess thyroid function and a morning serum |
| treatment changed the miscarriage rate of those with | | | | cortisol test to begin to assess adrenal function. If |
| elevated thyroid antibodies to similar numbers seen in | | | | these levels are on the middle to bottom half of the |
| women who do not have thyroid antibodies. So a huge | | | | normal range then further tests would be warranted |
| difference was made through this treatment. | | | | OR if you are fine in the morning and exhausted by |
| However, its important to look at other reasons for | | | | the middle of the day then further assessment of |
| elevated thyroid antibodies and address those to not | | | | adrenals through saliva tests are also warranted. |
| only improve fertility but to optimize thyroid health for | | | | Remember your cortisol levels are associated with |
| the future. If thyroid antibodies are present for a long | | | | your progesterone levels (this is true of thyroid |
| period of time (i.e. if the body continues to make | | | | hormones as well). Therefore even if you don't have |
| antibodies which attack the thyroid, a disease called | | | | elevated thyroid antibodies if your progesterone levels |
| Hashimotos) then the thyroid is likely to fail and need | | | | are not optimal or the lining of the uterus is thin, the |
| medical support for life or in some cases the thyroid is | | | | thyroid and adrenals should be assessed and |
| surgically removed. So if you can do things to avoid | | | | addressed if needed. |
| surgical removal and the failure of the thyroid why not | | | | By improving the health of the thyroid (in both men and |
| atleast try. | | | | women) you can improve fertility, decrease the risk of |
| Other areas that should be assessed and addressed | | | | postpartum depression and decrease the risk of |
| along with or instead of utilizing thyroid hormones like | | | | cardiovascular disease in the long term. Sounds like a |
| thyroxine, are diet and adrenal health. | | | | good plan to me. |