Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsWhen to Contact a ProviderCauses and Risk FactorsDuring PregnancyComplicationsCan It Cause Erectile Dysfunction?Diagnosis and TestsTreatmentNext in Hypothyroidism GuideSymptoms of Hypothyroidism
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
When to Contact a Provider
Causes and Risk Factors
During Pregnancy
Complications
Can It Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Diagnosis and Tests
Treatment
Next in Hypothyroidism Guide
Hypothyroidism—or an underactive thyroid—is a condition that happens when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones to meet your body’s needs. It doesn’t always show noticeable symptoms in the early stages, but it can lead to other health problems if it’s left untreated.
Hypothyroidism symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, depression, hair loss, and more. A blood test to measure levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is used to diagnose hypothyroidism. Medication can be used to treat low TSH levels.
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Barely Noticeable Symptoms
About 1 in 20 Americans have hypothyroidism, but many don’t notice their symptoms, or know that they are linked to an underactive thyroid.That’s because symptoms usually start gradually, and can remain mild for years. In addition, many of the symptoms are common with other illnesses, so they can be hard to notice.
The symptoms of an underactive thyroid include:
Overactive vs. Underactive ThyroidWhile hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid that doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones,hyperthyroidismis an overactive thyroid making too many hormones.
Overactive vs. Underactive Thyroid
While hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid that doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones,hyperthyroidismis an overactive thyroid making too many hormones.
Symptoms in Infants
Congenital hypothyroidism can lead to permanent disability if it’s not treated. Luckily, screening for hypothyroidism is part of routine newborn screening, which is also known as the heel prick blood test, so most cases of congenital hypothyroidism are detected early and treated.
Symptoms in Children and Teens
Some children and teens who are not born with hypothyroidism can still develop it over time. As with adults, the symptoms can be challenging to spot, because they’re subtle and overlap with other conditions. Symptoms of an underactive thyroid in kids include:
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you suspect that you or your child has an underactive thyroid, talk with your healthcare provider. Thyroid medications are a simple treatment that can counteract many of the symptoms of thyroid disease.
Common Causes and Risk Factors
There are lots of different causes of hypothyroidism, and some people are at a higher risk for an underactive thyroid than others.
The most common cause of hypothyroidism among Americans isHashimoto’s disease. This autoimmune disorder causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland.
Sometimes, the terms “underactive thyroid” and “Hashimoto’s disease” (or “Hashimoto’s thyroiditis”) are used interchangeably. This is inaccurate since Hashimoto’s disease is only one possible cause of an underactive thyroid. Other causes include:
Rarely, an underactive thyroid can be a result of pituitary disease, or eating too much iodine.
Risk Factors
In general, females are more likely to experience an underactive thyroid than males. The condition also becomes more common with age, and is more prevalent in people 60 and older. Other risk factors for hypothyroidism are:
Certain other health conditions increase your risk for an underactive thyroid. These include:
What Causes Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the thyroid increases in size. In addition, hormones that are produced in large amounts during pregnancy, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen, can impact the function of the thyroid. This means that hypothyroidism is more common in pregnancy.
Hypothyroidism can increase risk for pregnancy complications, including:
If you are already being treated for hypothyroidism, your healthcare provider will likely increase the dosage of your medication while you’re pregnant. If you have a history of thyroid issues, particularly hypothyroidism, reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as your find out you’re pregnant.
The complications of hypothyroidism include:
Having an underactive thyroid can make it harder to get an erection, as well as make it more difficult to ejaculate (cum). In addition, the symptoms of an underactive thyroid, including depression and fatigue, can squash desire in both males and females.
To diagnose an underactive thyroid, your healthcare provider will use blood tests and imaging tests. Blood tests can measure the amount of thyroid hormones. You may have THS, T3, T4, or thyroid antibody tests, or a combination of tests. They will measure specific hormone levels to determine whether your thyroid is operating at the right level.
Imaging tests can include an ultrasound, or aradioactive iodine uptake test, which measures how much iodine your thyroid takes from your blood.
How It Is Treated
To treat an underactive thyroid, you’ll take a medication that replaces the hormones your thyroid isn’t making. Healthcare providers will order frequent blood tests (about every six weeks) to measure your hormone levels until you’re stable on the correct dose. After that, you’ll get blood work about every six months. Depending on the cause of your hypothyroidism, your healthcare provider may also recommend dietary and lifestyle changes.
Summary
Hypothyroidism is a thyroid that is underactive and doesn’t produce as much hormone as it should. This can lead to wide-ranging but stable symptoms, including weight gain, fatigue, hair thinning, and depression. A blood test can help diagnose an underactive thyroid, and if you have the condition you may need to take medications to replace the hormones your thyroid isn’t producing. With these medications, an underactive thyroid can be well managed and have a minimal impact on your life.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).Medline Plus.Hypothyroidism.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Hypothyroidism in children.Nemours Kids Health.Congenital hypothyroidism.American Thyroid Association.Hypothyroidism in pregnancy.Penn Medicine.How thyroid issues can hurt your sex life. Jan. 2019National Health Service.Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) treatment.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).Medline Plus.Hypothyroidism.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Hypothyroidism in children.Nemours Kids Health.Congenital hypothyroidism.American Thyroid Association.Hypothyroidism in pregnancy.Penn Medicine.How thyroid issues can hurt your sex life. Jan. 2019National Health Service.Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health.Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).Medline Plus.Hypothyroidism.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Hypothyroidism in children.Nemours Kids Health.Congenital hypothyroidism.American Thyroid Association.Hypothyroidism in pregnancy.Penn Medicine.How thyroid issues can hurt your sex life. Jan. 2019National Health Service.Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) treatment.
National Institutes of Health.Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
Medline Plus.Hypothyroidism.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Hypothyroidism in children.
Nemours Kids Health.Congenital hypothyroidism.
American Thyroid Association.Hypothyroidism in pregnancy.
Penn Medicine.How thyroid issues can hurt your sex life. Jan. 2019
National Health Service.Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) treatment.
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