Thyroid Optimization

Are you experiencing fatigue, weight changes, mood swings, or menstrual irregularities? Early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid imbalance can help prevent or mitigate the impact of thyroid issues on a woman's health. We can help!

What is the Thyroid?

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and is an important part of your endocrine system. It’s responsible for producing and releasing hormones that regulate various processes in your body such as metabolism, energy levels, and other important bodily functions. The two main thyroid hormones are triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). If your thyroid is not functioning properly, it can cause a variety of health problems, including hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones) or hyperthyroidism (high levels of thyroid hormones). When your thyroid works properly, it will maintain the right amount of hormones to keep your metabolism and other bodily processes working at the right rate.

What is Thyroid Optimization

Thyroid optimization is the process of adjusting the levels of thyroid hormones in your body to optimal levels. Thyroid hormones play an important role in regulating your metabolism, energy levels, and overall health, and optimizing these levels can help alleviate symptoms and improve health outcomes.

Thyroid optimization is typically accomplished through medication, such as levothyroxine, which is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. This medication can help replace the thyroid hormones your body is not producing, bringing your levels back to optimal levels.

The decision to optimize thyroid hormone levels and the appropriate dose of medication will depend on your individual medical history, symptoms, and the results of your blood tests. It's important to work closely with your healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment for you and to monitor your progress over time.

Why is Thyroid Optimization important?

Optimizing your Thyroid may improve:

  • Weight Loss

  • Energy Levels

  • Sexual Function

  • Mental Wellbeing

  • Cold Intolerance

  • Skin/Hair/Nail quality

  • Cognition

  • Digestive processes

  • Menstrual regularity

  • Joint and muscle health

  • May even slow the aging process

More importantly, optimizing your thyroid gland can play a significant role in a woman's overall health, as it affects many different bodily functions and processes in your body. Some of the ways thyroid optimization can impact a woman include improvements to:

  1. Reproductive health: Regulating menstrual cycles and fertility. Women with hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones) may experience menstrual irregularities, including heavy or irregular periods, and may have difficulty becoming pregnant. Women with hyperthyroidism (high levels of thyroid hormones) may experience lighter or irregular periods.

  2. Pregnancy: Thyroid hormones are important for the normal growth and development of a fetus. Women with untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy are at increased risk for complications, such as miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight.

  3. Mood and mental health: Women with hypothyroidism may experience symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and fatigue.

  4. Menopause: The thyroid gland can be affected by the hormonal changes that occur during menopause, and women who are entering or going through menopause may experience changes in their thyroid hormone levels.

  5. Bone health: Women with hypothyroidism are at increased risk for osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weak and brittle bones.

  6. Metabolism: Thyroid hormones help regulate the process by which your body converts food into energy.

  7. Body temperature: Keeping you warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot.

  8. Heart rate: Thyroid optimization can help keep your heart rate at a steady pace.

  9. Nervous system function: The thyroid hormones play a role in the development and function of your nervous system.

  10. Muscle function: Help regulate muscle function and strength.

  11. Cholesterol levels: Hypothyroidism can affect your cholesterol levels, thyroid optimization can help to keep them in check.

It's important to note that symptoms of thyroid imbalance can be caused by other health conditions as well, so it's always best to see your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis. Your provider can perform a blood test to measure the level of thyroid hormones in your blood and determine if thyroid optimization would benefit you.