INTRODUCTION
Thyroid is a common disease among people. Naturally, it is all about the harm it causes to various parts of the body either directly or indirectly. In the case of women, things get a little more complicated. Thyroid is a condition that, if left untreated, can actually cause devastating problems like infertility, stillbirth, miscarriage, and so on. Given the rise in cases, it is essential to spread awareness regarding the dangers of thyroid. This article enlists thyroid effects in females.
EFFECTS OF THYROID IN FEMALES
Thyroid is a troublesome problem. Either directly or indirectly, all the parts of the body are affected by it. Given below are some thyroid side effects that affect women in particular.
1. Menstruation suffers.
Thyroid affects the normal menstrual cycle. As a result, most women experience delays in periods. Besides hormone imbalance, i.e., either very high or very low levels of thyroid hormone, causing either very light or very heavy menstrual periods. In some cases, it can also lead to absent menstrual periods, also known as amenorrhea.
2. Getting pregnant becomes hard.
When thyroid disease affects the menstrual cycle, it also affects ovulation. Thus, making it difficult to conceive. Both overactive and underactive thyroids can affect ovulation. As the ovaries find it difficult to release eggs, it leads to the development of cysts if the female is diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. This problem can also cause milk production in the breast while preventing ovulation.
3. Complicated pregnancy and postpartum.
Even if you conceive, there is still a high possibility that you might have to face various hardships during the nine-month period. Thyroid disorders can harm the baby. It can also lead to devastating consequences like miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and even postpartum hemorrhage. Excess levels of thyroid or an overactive thyroid cause severe morning sickness in pregnant ladies. Furthermore, it can cause postpartum thyroiditis—a thyroid problem caused post-delivery. To To avoid these circumstances, an appropriate treatment is necessary.
4. Menopausal issues
Thyroid can lead to early menopause, i.e., menopause before 40 years of age or during the early 40s. It is essential to note that certain symptoms of overactive thyroid, like delayed periods, amenorrhea, hot flashes, insomnia, and even mood swings, may be mistaken for early menopause. Right treatment can provide relief from these symptoms as well as prevent early menopause from happening. The other common side effects of thyroid are as follows:
1. Fluctuation in weight
This is definitely one of the primary thyroid effects in females. In the underactive thyroid, metabolism slows down. As a result, the weight increases. In overactive thyroid, the body functions speed up. Ultimately, the weight decreases drastically.
2. Hair loss
Not only can you lose hair, but also the texture of hair deteriorates. If you observe your hair getting brittle and breaking off despite moisturizing, it could be a sign of hypothyroidism. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hair thinning.
3. Skin dryness
Skin gets super dried out in thyroid. It makes the skin dry and dull, ultimately affecting the physical appearance, which sometimes also affects the person mentally. After all, there might be times when physical appearance matters a lot.
4. Abnormal blood pressure
This is another basic side effect of thyroid in people. It has been established that the thyroid hormone is in constant communication with the heart. Therefore, it is capable of impacting the pace of the heartbeat. In hypothyroidism, heart rate is slower than normal, which affects a host of other organs and body functions. On the contrary, the heart rate speeds up in hyperthyroidism, thus causing extra stress and exertion.
5. Fatigue and weakness
Hypothyroidism wipes you out of all the energy. This also contributes to weight gain with hypothyroidism. In hyperthyroidism, the person generally wounds up, but this
can also result in fatigue. In both conditions, a person might also suffer from muscle aches, joint stiffness, and weakness. This further gives you a reason to not be active.
6. Frequent need to go to the bathroom Often people with thyroids feel the need to rush to the bathroom more than others. Problems like constipation are also very common among thyroid victims.
7. Mood changes
Mood swings are as common as stones in the street. Hypothyroidism pushes a person into depression, while hyperthyroidism makes people anxious, irritable, and tremulous. Both the problems can make you feel out of control mentally and emotionally. It is therefore that a person should seek mental health treatment to resolve these issues.
8. Sensitivity to either heat or cold
People tend to be temperature sensitive when dealing with thyroid. In hypothyroidism, a person feels colder than usual due to slowed blood circulation. However, in hyperthyroidism, a person tends to become super-sensitive to any heat. As a result, they may sweat a lot more than it seems like other people do.
9. Dry and puffy eyes Hyperthyroidism can lead to visual changes. It can further cause eyes to protrude. Dry, irritated eyes also result from both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
10. Lower body swelling
Many females have experienced swelling in knees, hips, ankle joints, and feet post diagnosis. It is a sign of fluid retention, which can be caused by hypothyroidism.
THE FINAL WORD Thyroid can be additionally problematic for women. Thyroid effects in females are considered to be worse in females than in others. It is wise to consult a doctor in time to make sure the problem does not alleviate.
