Hypothyroidism and Hormones
Summary:
- Thyroid hormones regulate energy and metabolism and are equally important to maintaining your well-being.
- Many men experiencing the symptoms of low testosterone also have an underperforming thyroid.
- Like testosterone levels, thyroid function declines with age, resulting in a condition called hypothyroidism.
- Low thyroid levels can lead to symptoms like fatigue, difficulty losing weight, mood swings, and – notably – decreased testosterone production.
- Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) renews your thyroid hormones, gives your testosterone a boost, and helps you feel like yourself again.
Check your testosterone levels with our free hormone assessment.
What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid gland, located at the base of your neck, isn’t producing enough of the critical hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). Of the two, T3 is the active hormone responsible for transporting energy throughout the body and affects everything from your heart rate to your cholesterol levels to your weight.
T4, on the other hand, is a fairly inactive hormone. The thyroid produces much more T4 than T3, but with the help of enzymes, mainly in your liver and kidneys, your body converts T4 into active T3 hormones. Those with hypothyroidism may have thyroid dysfunction, in which the thyroid doesn’t produce enough T3 or T4, or they could simply have trouble converting T4 into T3. Either way, BHRT aims to alleviate the symptoms of hypothyroidism by replenishing your body’s supply of T3 hormones.
Common symptoms of hypothyroidism in men include:
- Fatigue
- Weight Gain
- Difficulty building muscle
- Depression and mood swings
- Lack of focus
- Low libido
- Muscle aches and weakness
- Dry skin
- Brittle hair and nails
If some of these symptoms look familiar, that’s because many are also symptoms of low testosterone. Research shows [1] a strong link between your thyroid function and the amount of testosterone your body produces, which is why an effective hormone replacement treatment considers both. T3 helps your body produce androgens like testosterone, so an underactive thyroid can cause your T levels to drop.
What Causes Hypothyroidism?
Thyroid dysfunction can occur for various reasons but studies show [2] that hypothyroidism becomes increasingly common in men as they get older. Your body stops producing as much T3 and T4, causing a drop in metabolism and energy.
Certain health issues [3] can also contribute to thyroid dysfunction and result in hypothyroidism, most commonly autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune conditions that attack the thyroid gland leave it unable to produce critical thyroid hormones. If the thyroid is inflamed by an autoimmune disorder or an infection, this can cause thyroiditis, a condition in which the thyroid releases all of its stored hormones at once, resulting in sudden hyperthyroidism followed by a drop in thyroid function.
Some cases of hypothyroidism happen because of radiation treatment, surgical removal of the thyroid gland, or damage to the pituitary gland. Certain medications can also reduce thyroid function.
Medical conditions like these result in drastically low levels of thyroid hormones, but this decline happens on a smaller scale as men age. If you don’t have a thyroid condition, but you’re still experiencing the symptoms of hypothyroidism, this could simply mean that you are below the normal threshold and could benefit from hormone therapy.
How does Hypothyroidism Affect Hormones?
Your thyroid not only produces T3 and T4 but also regulates the amount of hormones released into your bloodstream. In this way, your thyroid function impacts the rest of your body, including your testosterone levels, through a hormonal chain reaction [4].
First, thyroid hormones stimulate the hypothalamus, which produces GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormones). These hormones then signal the pituitary gland, which produces another key hormone, LH (luteinizing hormone). LH triggers the testes to start making testosterone, and the cycle continues.
Your thyroid also produces important proteins called sex hormone-binding globulins (SHBGs), which bind to important sex hormones like testosterone. SHBGs transport and regulate testosterone, ensuring optimal T levels throughout your body. Without them, you won’t see as many of the positive effects of testosterone production, which is why thyroid supplements are also key to seeing results in BHRT treatment.
Test your hormone levels with our at-home lab kit.
BHRT and Hypothyroidism
Because the symptoms of hypothyroidism closely resemble those of low testosterone in men, it can be hard to diagnose. Like your testosterone levels, thyroid dysfunction occurs on a spectrum. As you age and your body stops producing as much T3 and T4, you may start to feel less like yourself, but you don’t need to wait until your thyroid levels are critically low to seek treatment. With BHRT, you can achieve the optimal hormone levels you had in your youth and finally regain your vitality.
Benefits of thyroid treatment include but are not limited to:
- Improved energy and sleep
- Faster metabolism
- Increased muscle mass
- Weight loss
- Better mood
- More focus and motivation
- Improved libido
With our at-home hormone test, you can assess your thyroid levels and ensure that you’re getting the optimal amount of thyroid hormones. When creating a treatment tailored to your needs, our doctors carefully consider your symptoms along with your blood test results. If your thyroid levels have you feeling sick, exhausted, and not yourself, BHRT can help give you the boost you need.
It’s time to replenish your hormone levels and start living a happier, healthier life.
Thyroid Health
Frequently asked questions
HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy. Hormone levels are tested and medications are administered to help hormones such as testosterone and thyroid reach their optimum levels.
TRT stands for testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone is given to combat decreasing levels in men. This is to fight the usual signs and symptoms of aging such as fatigue, weight gain, loss of libido, and muscle loss.
We offer a daily injectable Testosterone Cypionate or a twice-daily Lipoderm cream. Both are bioidentical. We also prescribe Triclozene (Clomiphene Citrate) for men, which can help improve several aspects of male health, including low testosterone levels, hormone ratios and sperm production.
The benefits of HRT are extensive but include the following: healthy heart and blood, less fat, more muscle, stronger bones, improved libido, better sleep, improved memory, spatial ability and mental reasoning, improved mood, and better sex.
On average it takes approximately 7 business days from ordering your test kit to receiving your results. This is obviously dependent on how quickly you complete and return the test via free return postage. Once we have received your results, a dedicated medical provider will review this along with your online assessment to create your personalized treatment plan.
This is a very difficult question because there is no definitive answer. Everybody is biologically different and responds to the treatment differently. For detailed information, click here.
The test indicates whether you will benefit from this treatment and what your current hormone levels are. We can then know the proper medication to get your testosterone and thyroid to their optimum levels.
Our blood spot test measures 5 key hormone levels. It offers distinct advantages over traditional testing methods because it eliminates the need for a blood draw – saving patients time and money. Our blood spot test is a simple to use test that is done in the comfort of your own home. It involves a finger prick and 12 drops of blood dropped onto a card. We include free return postage with your test for your convenience.
Yes. HRT is safe when monitored by a licensed medical provider. This is why we require yearly testing and symptoms questionnaires every 2 months.
The treatment is effective for as long as you take it. Once you stop taking HRT your levels will return to the levels they were previously.
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