Significance

• Up to two percent of women of childbearing age suffer from thyroid disease. Any woman experiencing difficulty when trying to conceive should have her thyroid evaluated to rule out hypothyroidism as a cause of the infertility.
  
  

Identification

• Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain and slowed metabolism, irregular periods, fatigue, dry hair or hair loss, cold intolerance, decreased libido, depression, constipation, muscle cramps, and a failure to conceive.
  
  

Function

• In some women with hypothyroidism, the pituitary gland produces excess levels of prolactin, a hormone that can interfere with menstruation and disrupt fertility.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Hypothyroidism should be treated before efforts to conceive begin for the greatest chance of success, but even early treatment does not guarantee fertility will be fully restored.
  
  

Warning

• Untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy may result in miscarriage or abnormal fetal development. Creating a treatment plan before conception is crucial.