Thyroid, PCOS, Hormonal Disorder

Thyroid

Thyroid disease is a general term for a medical condition that keeps your thyroid from making the right amount of hormones. It can affect people of all ages.

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck under your skin. It’s a part of your endocrine system and controls many of your body’s important functions by producing and releasing thyroid hormones, like thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).

Your thyroid’s main job is to control the speed of your metabolism (metabolic rate). This is the process of how your body transforms the food you consume into energy. All the cells in your body need energy to function. When your thyroid isn’t working properly, it can impact your entire body.

Types of thyroid disease

The two main types of thyroid disease are hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). But they each have several conditions that can cause them.

Conditions that can cause hypothyroidism include:

• Hashimoto’s disease: This is a lifelong (chronic) autoimmune condition that can cause an underactive thyroid. It’s the most common cause of hypothyroidism in countries with widely available iodized salt and other iodine-enriched foods.
• Iodine deficiency: Your thyroid needs iodine to make thyroid hormone, so a lack of the mineral in your diet can lead to hypothyroidism. It’s the most common cause of hypothyroidism in countries that don’t have iodized salt widely available. It often causes goiter (enlarged thyroid).
• Congenital hypothyroidism: Sometimes, babies are born with a missing or underactive thyroid. “Congenital” means “present from birth.” About 1 in every 2,000 to 4,000 babies have congenital hypothyroidism.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

(PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance that occurs when your ovaries (the organ that produces and releases eggs) create excess hormones. If you have PCOS, your ovaries produce unusually high levels of hormones called androgens. This causes your reproductive hormones to become imbalanced. As a result, people with PCOS often have irregular menstrual cycles, missed periods and unpredictable ovulation. Small follicle cysts (fluid-filled sacs with immature eggs) may be visible on your ovaries on ultrasound due to lack of ovulation (anovulation). However, despite the name "polycystic," you don’t need to have cysts on your ovaries to have PCOS. The ovarian cysts aren’t dangerous or painful.

PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility. It can also increase your risk of other health conditions. Your healthcare provider can treat PCOS based on your symptoms and if you wish to become pregnant.

The most common signs and symptoms of PCOS include

• Irregular periods: Abnormal menstruation involves missing periods or not having a period at all. It may also involve heavy bleeding during periods.
• Abnormal hair growth: You may grow excess facial hair or experience heavy hair growth on your arms, chest and abdomen (hirsutism). This affects up to 70% of people with PCOS.
• Acne: PCOS can cause acne, especially on your back, chest and face. This acne may continue past your teenage years and may be difficult to treat.
• Obesity: Between 40% and 80% of people with PCOS have obesity and have trouble maintaining a weight that’s healthy for them.
• Darkening of the skin: You may get patches of dark skin, especially in the folds of your neck, armpits, groin (between the legs) and under your breasts. This is known as acanthosis nigricans.
• Cysts: Many people with PCOS have ovaries that appear larger or with many follicles (egg sac cysts) on ultrasound.
• Skin tags: Skin tags are little flaps of extra skin. They’re often found in your armpits or on your neck.
• Thinning hair: People with PCOS may lose patches of hair on their head or start to bald.
• Infertility: PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility. Not ovulating regularly or frequently can result in not being able to conceive.

Delhi Health Centre has an experienced team of Endocrinologist & dietician which provides you best care.