MYF 39 | Low Thyroid: How To Find & Fix The Root Cause

Welcome to Episode 39!

In episode 39, we’re teaching you everything you need to know about thyroid health while trying to conceive. Screening for thyroid issues before and during pregnancy is NOT routine practice for conventional medical providers in the U.S. But we consider this one of the most important preconception tests a woman can receive and we advocate for universal screening, especially because not all cases of low thyroid function cause obvious symptoms. In this episode you’ll learn what your thyroid does and why it’s so important for fertility, pregnancy, and baby’s development, the symptoms and possible underlying causes of thyroid dysfunction, how to get the right testing and interpretation for your thyroid labs, available treatment options for low thyroid and how to choose the one that's right for you, and how to investigate and address the root cause of your thyroid issues so you can actually heal your body instead of just manage your symptoms.

Take the FREE Quiz: Are You Healthy Enough to Get Pregnant?

Resources we discuss

Gut health podcast episodes: #9, #10, #11

Food sensitivities podcast episode: #33

Blood sugar podcast episode: #5

Environmental toxins podcast episodes: #8. #37

Elimination diet guidelines: Whole30 & AIP

Environmental Working Group Produce Guide: Dirty Dozen & Clean 15

Clean animal products: U.S. Wellness Meats, Butcher Box, Vital Choice or Thrive Market

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Show Notes:

4:10        What your thyroid does and how it works

9:40        Types of thyroid dysfunction and possible root causes

                10:35     Autoimmune condition (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)

                11:25     Pituitary and/or HPA axis dysfunction

                12:10     Sex hormone imbalances – elevated estrogen or testosterone – and birth control use

                13:15     Gut dysfunction – infections, dysbiosis, leaky gut, food sensitivities

                14:45     Environmental toxins

                15:10     Nutrient deficiencies – iodine, selenium, zinc, iron

16:50     Why your thyroid is so important to fertility, pregnancy, and baby’s health

21:00     Symptoms of low thyroid function (hypothyroidism)

24:30     Symptoms of elevated thyroid function (hyperthyroidism)

27:40     Which markers should be included on a thyroid panel and how to interpret the results

TSH 0.3 - 2.5 mIU/L

Free T4 >1.0 ng/dl

Free T3 > 3.0 pg/ml

Reverse T3 – rT3:FT3 ratio should be less than 10:1

TPO antibodies

TG antibodies

31:20     Common issues that arise with testing and lab interpretation

33:45     Medication options for low thyroid function

35:40     Figuring out what’s causing YOUR low thyroid function and what to do about it

                37:10     Nutrient status testing and repletion– ferritin, iodine, selenium, zinc, and vitamin D

                44:55     Blood sugar dysregulation and insulin resistance – glucose, insulin, A1c, HOMA-IR

                47:00     Hormones and HPA axis function – DUTCH test

                48:25     Gut health and food sensitivities – GI-MAP stool analysis and MRT food sensitivity test

                50:20     Dietary triggers – trying a gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free diet

                52:50     Elimination protocols – Whole30 and AIP

                55:30     Environmental toxins – plastics, personal care products, pesticides, water, cookware

64:40     Even with Hashimoto’s, you’re not doomed to be sick forever!

67:40     Wrap-up