10 Steps Towards Optimizing Your Chances for Fertility When You Have Low Thyroid or Hypothyroidism

Woman with thyroid problems often suffer female hormone imbalances. These Female hormone imbalances are often at the root of a miscarriage. Dr Hagmeyer’s offer these 10 tips to help improve your chances of a successful pregnancy.

1. Get Your Thyroid Properly Diagnosed.

One of the biggest problem I see in private practice is inadequate testing. Without proper testing, proper treatment can never be accomplished. A full thyroid panel is a must for any woman suffering with fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, anxiety, headaches, swelling in the extremities. Most doctors today only run A TSH and a free T4. Dr Hagmeyer states, “These markers do not show the entire picture missing many patterns of subclinical hypothyroidism. Woman need to have a complete thyroid panel including thyroid antibody testing. Dr Hagmeyer says, “There is a tremendous connection between healthy estrogen/ progesterone levels and healthy ovarian function.

2. Work With A Doctor Who Understands The Connection Between The Adrenal Glands And The Thyroid.

Stress hormones like cortisol have an impact on sleep, energy, mood and brain function. Your adrenal glands release a hormone called Cortisol. Cortisol when elevated blocks thyroid hormone from binding to the thyroid cells. “Cortisol also affects the conversion of inactive T4 hormone into its active Thyroid hormone T3. This can create a low thyroid reserve ultimately affecting progesterone levels and fertility” says Dr Hagmeyer. Learn more about improving adrenals naturally here

3. Get Your Thyroid Antibodies Tested.

If your TSH was slightly elevated or even on the very low end, and you are experiencing bouts of both Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid, have your antibodies tested. Ask your doctor to run both TPO antibodies and TGB antibodies. If you test positive you have Hashimoto’s disease. Symptoms to look out for include anxiety, inward trembling, heart palpitations and hair loss. If your doctor has not ordered a full thyroid panel to find out what thyroid tests you should have done.

4. Don’t Accept Normal Ranges as being Optimal.

When it comes to Thyroid lab ranges you want to use functional lab ranges. Woman everyday are told that their thyroid levels are within range. The problem with thyroid lab ranges is that most allopathic doctors use is that they follow bell curves. They are statistical averages of all the other woman who also suffer with thyroid problems. This creates a very broad range where a woman who clearly suffers with a thyroid problem is labeled as being “normal.” Dr Hagmeyer says, “Consult with a doctor who’s focus is on Functional Medicine.” If the diagnosis isn’t correct, the treatment will be ineffective – Here is a video that you can watch that explains everything you need to know about Understanding your Thyroid lab ranges 

5. Correct Any Signs of a Blood Sugar Imbalance.

Together, hyperglycemia (Fasting Glucose levels greater than 100) and hypoglycemia (Fasting Glucose levels under 85) are referred to as dysglycemia.  Dr Hagmeyer has noticed Dysglycemia being one of the most common problems with his patients. Dr Hagmeyer states that, “Dysglycemia weakens and inflames the gut, lungs and brain, imbalances hormone levels, exhausts the adrenal glands, disrupts detoxification pathways, and impairs overall metabolism.” Each of these effects significantly alters thyroid function. As long as you have dysglycemia, whatever you do to fix your thyroid will be unsuccessful. You can read more abut the importance of healthy blood sugar levels and How to maintain healthy glucose levels here.

6. Healthy Liver Function and Toxins.

We cant talk about hormones without also talking about the Liver and gallbladder- part of your livers responsibility is to breakdown, recycle and reuse hormones. If your liver and gallbladder have been taxed the ability to breakdown and recycle these hormones, will be compromised. This is a common problem with woman who have been on birth control pills for many years. Bottom line here………….you cannot have healthy hormones if your liver and gallbladder are not working optimally.

7. Eliminate Gluten From Your Diet- If You have a Gluten Sensitivity.

Gluten has been linked to over 55 diseases according to the New England Journal Of Medicine. “Gluten is no longer being seen as a fad diet”, says Dr. Hagmeyer. Gluten has been linked to Hashimoto’s, PCOS, endometriosis, and low progesterone during the second phase of your cycle. Because optimal hormones levels are needed not only for ovulation but also sustaining the embryo- it only makes sense to eliminate foods like gluten that may be contributing to a hormone imbalance. click here to learn about the common mistakes people make when they first eliminate gluten from their diet.

8. Make Sure To Get Your Vitamin D Levels Tested

“When it come to vitamins, Vitamin D is critical for healthy thyroid levels” says Dr Hagmeyer. Given that Vitamin D is one of the most talked about nutrients, it should come as no surprise that its effect on the thyroid has been studied extensively. The bottom line that has been established by these studies is that a lack of Vitamin D can have devastating effects on the thyroid, as well as the rest of the immune system. A good healthy range of vitamin D should be between 60-90. Concerned about your Low Vitamin D Levels? Read Dr Hagmeyers 4 part Vitamin D series here

9. Avoid Household Toxin Exposure.

“Today more so than ever, we are seeing the consequences of environmental toxins on hormone health. Researchers have identified one specific endocrine disruptor in particular known as Bisphenol A. Bisphenol A otherwise known as BPA has been shown to be one of the most damaging endocrine disruptors to Thyroid and ovarian health”. BPA can be a major contributor to autoimmune Hashimotos. Dr Hagmeyer strongly recommends the elimination of plastic bottles and plastic food containers. Instead switching over to glass can have a tremendous impact on thyroid function. Also, Dr Hagmeyer warns about the use of heating plastics in the microwave.

10. Adjust Your Stress Levels Naturally.

If you have had a miscarriage, then you are all too familiar with the symptoms of Stress. Fatigue, headaches, depression, anxiety, trouble breathing, chest constriction, brain fog, unable to focus. “When my wife miscarried at 16 weeks we were devastated”, says Dr Hagmeyer. Not only did my wife suffer emotionally, but she became severely anemic to the point she couldn’t stand up for 30 minutes without feeling exhausted and needing to lay down. Stress can come from many places, and there is no doubt that stress affects your thyroid function which can impact ability to conceive. Dr Hagmeyer says, “Stress is Stress, and all forms of stress reduce tissue level of thyroid and suppress the secretion of many hormones.” If you are struggling with stress you owe it to yourself to learn more about how to naturally and nutritionally support the glands that need it. Learn more about adrenal stress here

To Learn more about Dr Hagmeyer’s Thyroid or Hormone Recovery program visit DrHagmeyer.com