What is the Thyroid, and How is it Connected to Fertility?
The thyroid is a gland in the neck that regulates our metabolism, body temperature and heart rate. Also, crucially for fertility, it regulates our hormones and is important for ovulation, preventing miscarriages and fetal brain development.
Thyroid Conditions
There are a number of conditions which can affect the thyroid, including:
Thyroid Disease, which occurs when the thyroid gland doesn't produce the right amount of hormones.
Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid that doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones.
Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid that produces too many hormones.
Hashimoto's Syndrome: an autoimmune condition in which thyroid antibodies are produced. This may then affect implantation and pregnancy.
At our fertility acupuncture clinic in Wolverhampton, the most common thyroid condition we see is hypothyroidism or in cases of an overactive immune system, it is common for fertility patients to have thyroid antibodies.
What are the Symptoms of an Under-Active Thyroid?
There are a number of symptoms to watch out for, including
Fatigue
Weight gain
A hoarse voice
Puffy eyes
Slow heart rate
Wispy eyebrows
Cracked heels
Blood tests are the best way to find out if you have an underactive thyroid. One of the key tests, and the most sensitive, is the TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) Test. A high TSH level indicates the thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones.
The reference range in the UK is quite wide, usually up to 4.2 but in Chinese Medicine for fertility, we prefer between 1-2, ideally closer to 1 and definitely not higher than 2.5.
Some endocrinologists may prefer it even lower when trying to conceive. Although levothyroxine (the medical treatment for under active thyroid) may not be given unless TSH is higher, in acupuncture we treat with needles to keep this value low. A high TSH indicates that the thyroid isn’t producing enough thyroid hormones and therefore indicates an underactive thyroid.
Other tests include the Free T4 and T3 (Thyroxine) Tests.
Free T4 (Thyroxine) Test – Measures the level of free (active) T4 in the blood. Low levels suggest hypothyroidism.
Free T3 (Triiodothyronine) Test – Usually tested if TSH and T4 results are abnormal, though it's less commonly used for diagnosis.
Thyroxine (T4) regulates metabolism, mood, and body temperature. T4 is also converted into T3 in the cells. If T4 is low and TSH is high, hypothyroidism would be present affecting implantation. The treatment is levothyroxine.
Thyroid Antibodies
You can also arrange with your fertility clinic to have a thyroid antibodies test. Excess thyroid antibodies are associated with an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's or autoimmune thyroiditis. This affects reproductive immunology and can contribute to implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage. The treatment is often prednisolone, a steroid treatment to suppress the immune system response.
Chinese Medicine
In Chinese Medicine, the thyroid is related to the Kidney energy.
Hypothyroidism is Kidney Yang deficiency.
Hyperthyroidism is Kidney Yin deficiency.
Kidney Yang is progesterone.
Kidney Yang is essential for the luteal phase, a strong and warm uterus, optimal implantation and a healthy pregnancy.
As hypothyroidism is more common when treating fertility and Kidney Yang equates to progesterone, in Chinese Medicine we see a direct link between an underactive thyroid and implantation.
How Can Acupuncture Help?
Acupuncture stimulates points on the kidney channel to tonify and strengthen Kidney Yang in the luteal phase.
We also use a heat lamp to keep the uterus warm as the natural function of Kidney Yang is to warm the Uterus. When it is deficient I. In the case of hypothyroidism, the uterus is more susceptible to cold and this breeds an inhospitable environment for implantation of an embryo.
With Kidney deficiency and a link to the immune system, the Spleen is usually also deficient. Our professional acupuncturist will use needles on the Spleen channel to strengthen Spleen Qi.
What Can You Do to Support Your Thyroid?
Here are 10 ways you can support the thyroid and potentially boost your fertility:
Reduce mercury and heavy metals from fish
Take a selenium supplement
Get enough iodine in your diet
Reduce stress
Throat chakra meditation
Have acupuncture to support kidney Yang, Spleen Qi and the throat chakra
Get the TSH and free T4 blood test
Ask your clinic or acupuncturist if you need to have a level 2 immune system test, or a test for thyroid antibodies
Keep your uterus warm using a hot water bottle
Eat warm foods and have warm drinks
The Spiritual Significance of the Thyroid
You might wonder why I chose to focus on the thyroid this week.
As a spiritual acupuncturist, I intuitively work with signs from the Universe about what biomedical condition we need to focus on at a particular time. It usually fits with the energy pertaining to that time period. I also respond to signs and symptoms from patients.
At this time, I was considering the link between the thyroid and the immune system. I was recapping the role of Mercury as a heavy metal and its association with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism.
I then realised that Mercury, the planet, stations retrograde on March 15th. Mercury is the planet of communication and rules over the throat chakra alongside Archangel Michael.
The throat chakra is associated with lung energy, the immune system, communication and speaking your truth.
A Time for Fasting
This time of year is also associated with fasting, since it is simultaneously Lent and Ramadan. Lent being 40 days of fasting to symbolise Jesus’ solitude in the desert and Ramadan being a holy month of fasting according to the lunar cycle, starting with a new moon (feminine energy important for fertility). After speaking to Muslim patients I learned that fasting in Ramadan is not only about food but also fasting from negative talk, arguments and negative thoughts.
On these levels, Lent and Ramadan could be seen as throat chakra fasting.
I believe that we are in a time of healing of the throat chakra, healing our methods of communication, speaking with loving intention but speaking our truth whilst maintaining our boundaries. When we communicate effectively, we start to open the throat chakra which improves the flow of Qi to the thyroid and improves immune system function.
The Thyroid and Butterflies
I had also been seeing a lot of butterfly symbolism.
The thyroid is shaped like a butterfly.
Butterflies symbolise change.
An overactive immune system (and therefore thyroid) needs change to throw it off course and prevent antibodies attacking an embryo at the same point as it has done previously.
This might be a change of belief. A change in the way you communicate. A change in what you eat. A change in your spiritual practice. A new type of exercise. Whatever works for you!
The th sound
A lot of words relating to the thyroid begin with th:
Thyroid
Throat
Thymus
Thinking
The spiritual meaning of the sound ‘th’ is inner knowing and communication. Revealing the truth.
More Reasons this Topic is Relevant in March
If you’ve been following the emails and information about the cosmic energies recently, you might recall the eclipse energy which happens on 14th March. This will coincide with Mercury retrograde.
The eclipse asks you to:
Use specific details to work out your next step but release overthinking.
Flow with divine timing.
Balance these two practices.
Let’s give an example: Mercury Retrograde is the Throat Chakra.
To Sum Up…
Do you have the specific details you need in this article? Are you struggling with fertility and need to explore the thyroid or immune system? If you would like to know more, my fertility acupuncture clinic is always happy to help.
To really heal this at a deep level, it’s important to take action on what you need but then LET GO of the outcome. Go within and do the throat chakra healing. This would be inner child or the throat chakra meditation.
I hope this helps! 🙏 If you want to know more, please don’t hesitate to contact my clinic in Wolverhampton.
Natalia
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