The document discusses the thyroid gland and its impact on fertility. It notes that the thyroid is located in the neck and regulates endocrine activity and metabolism through hormones like T3 and T4. Thyroid disorders can cause issues with the menstrual cycle and fertility in both males and females. The document outlines how hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism impact fertility and provides treatment options using herbal medicines to support thyroid and reproductive health.

1. 22/06/2012
THE THYROID
AND FERTILITY
Morwenna Given
Medical Herbalist
BA MA (Oxon) BSc m.OHA
RH
1 ©

2. 2 22/06/2012
WHO AM I?
Iam a Medical Herbalist, trained in
University, Hospital and clinics in the UK
 With
a practise in downtown Toronto
focussing on cancer & precancerous
conditions including thyroid disorders
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WHAT IS THE THYROID?
 The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland
acting in concert with the Hypothalamic
pituitary axis
 Toregulate all the metabolic and
endocrine function of the body via a
feedback mechanism i.e. growth & sex
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WHERE IS IT LOCATED?
 located in the anterior (front ) side of the
oesophagus between the carotid and
arteries in the neck wrapped over the
trachea.
 Due its location abnormalities can be
easily observed to give an early indicator
of fertility issues
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WHAT DOES IT DO?
 Itregulates all endocrine activity through
hormones
 Principally by controlling the energy and
growth hormones which in turn
 Control metabolism and fertility.
 The parathyroid which regulates Vitamin
D, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, (bon
es and kidney excretion )
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CONSEQUENCES OF DISORDER
 Although menstrual irregularities are
common, ovulation and conception can still
occur in hypothyroidism, if treated.
 Subclinical hypothyroidism may be
associated with ovulatory dysfunction and
adverse pregnancy outcome.
 Thyroid autoimmunity increases the
miscarriage rate, and thyroxine treatment
does not protect. In males, thyrotoxicosis has
a significant but reversible effect on sperm
motility.
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HPA HORMONES
 The hypothalamus via its two lobes (anterior
and posterior pituitary creates the following
hormones:
 oxytocin,
 Trophic hormones of the anterior pituitary
includes thyrotropes that produce TSH and
gonadotropins that produce Prolactin, FSH
and LH. Via an ERK mediated pathway in
females only.
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HPA HORMONES
 Also produced are:
 ADH ( vasopressin/ regulating kidneys )
 Somastatin ( growth & TSH inhibiting )
 Corticotrophins (ACTH - insulin)
 Dopamine
 Growth releasing hormones (GRH)
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FEEDBACK MECHANISM
 Recentlya sperm protein (SP22) directly
affecting TSH and androgen synthesis has
been found in the male pituitary.
 Thelevel of all hormones is regulated
within the body by a feed back
mechanism
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THYROID HORMONES
 TSH,
T4, T3, thyroglobulin, thyroid
peroxidase and antibodies
 Conversion of TSH to T4 @ 20% takes place
in the thyroid – the rest in the body overall
 Calcitonin – vitamin D – calcium
absorption
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CONVERSION
 Deiodination is the most important
pathway of thyroid hormone metabolism
not only in quantitative terms, but also
because it accounts for most of the
circulating T3 (~ 80%) in humans
 IODINE
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IMPACT ON FEMALE FERTILITY
 Thyroid dysfunction may cause short luteal phase, failure to
sustain a fertilized egg, and loss of early pregnancy. Over
50%of hypothyroid patients have menstrual irregularities
and one third of subfertile patients have thyroid disease.
 Pituitary hormones such as TSH, prolactin, or growth
hormone act synergistically with follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) to usher the
follicles into the growth phase. About 46.1% of infertile
patients with hypothyroidism exhibit hyperprolactinaemia.
 Which impairs pulsatile secretion of gonadotrophin-
releasing hormone (GnRH) and causes ovulatory
dysfunctions ranging from inadequate corpus luteal
progesterone secretion when mildly elevated to
oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea and polycystic ovaries
when levels are high.
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IMPACT ON MALE FERTILITY
 Male reproduction is adversely affected
by both thyrotoxicosis and
hypothyroidism. Erectile abnormalities
have been reported. Thyrotoxicosis
induces abnormalities in sperm
motility, whereas hypothyroidism is
associated with abnormalities in sperm
morphology
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IMPACT ON MALES
 the participation of triiodothyronine (T3) in
the control of Sertoli and Leydig cell
proliferation, testicular maturation, and
steroidogenesis is widely accepted, as well as
the presence of thyroid hormone transporters
and receptors in testicular cells throughout
the development process and in adulthood.
But even with data suggesting that T3 may
act directly on these cells to bring about its
effects, there is still controversy regarding the
impact of thyroid diseases on human
spermatogenesis and fertility
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LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES
FOR MEN
 An increase in SHBG is a consistent feature associated with
thyrotoxicosis, and leads to an increase in circulating levels
of total T4 and reduction in the metabolic clearance rate
of testosterone. However, the plasma level of free
testosterone is usually maintained within the normal
range, which is in keeping with the lack of clinical
consequences of the noticeably elevated levels of total
testosterone found in thyrotoxicosis . Peripheral conversion
of androgen to estrogen is enhanced in
thyrotoxicosis, probably due to changes in peripheral blood
flow rather than a direct effect of thyroid hormones on the
aromatase complex. An increase in the production rate of
estrogens is also observed in some men with thyrotoxicosis,
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INFERTILITY STARTS IN
CHILDHOOD
 Thyroid failure in the pre-pubertal period is
associated with testicular enlargement as well
as alterations in sexual hormones.
Hypothyroidism initiated in infancy may occur
in association with macroorchidism without
virilization. The longer the hypothyroidism
persists, the greater is the degree of damage
to the testes. When adequately treated with
thyroid hormone, however, boys with
congenital hypothyroidism progress through
puberty normally and at the appropriate
time.
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ONTARIO & THYROID ISSUES
 Itis widely recognised that sub clinical
hypothyroidism is endemic in Ontario for
which there is conventional remedy
 But
 Leaving this condition to worsen actively
promotes diseases such as
cancer, diabetes and infertility as the only
available drug has a poor efficacy level.
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STANDARD PARAMETERS
 Thyroidfunction is measured in blood-
work as being @ between 0.35-5.5
 Itis ignored by conventional medicine as
there are no drugs to treat
 But even a small deviation from the mean
can have a huge effect on fertility
hormones.
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LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES
 Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation leads to important increases in
estradiol, which in turn may have an adverse effect on thyroid hormones
and TSH. When autoimmune thyroid disease is present, the impact of
controlled ovarian hyperstimulation may become more
severe, depending on pre-existing thyroid abnormalities.
 Autoimmune thyroid disease is present in 5-20% of unselected pregnant
women. Isolated hypothyroxinemia has been described in
approximately 2% of pregnancies, without serum TSH elevation and in
the absence of thyroid autoantibodies.
 Overt hypothyroidism has been associated with increased rates of
spontaneous abortion, premature delivery and/or low birth weight, fetal
distress in labor, and perhaps gestation-induced hypertension and
placental abruption. The links between such obstetrical complications
and subclinical hypothyroidism are less evident.
 Thyrotoxicosis during pregnancy is due to Graves' disease and
gestational transient thyrotoxicosis. All antithyroid drugs cross the
placenta and may potentially affect fetal thyroid function.
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IVF/Cancer
A brief discussion on the thyroid hormones
show why IVF can have such devastating
consequences on the female body
 Last
year I had 5 ladies who had had IVF
and consequently within a short time
period developed cancer.
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hypothyroidism
 Thisis traditional described as having a T3
IN EXCESS of T4
 However any loss of libido, weight
gain, fatigue, menstrual irregularities are
early warning signs
 Hashimoto’s
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hyperthyroidism
 Hyperthyroidismis traditionally measured
as a TSH below 0.35
 Earlywarning signs are blood
clots, rashes, heat intolerance, high
appetite and weight loss
 Graves disease
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Subclinical conditions
 Any of the typical symptoms associated
with disease are present
 Golden opportunity treat successfully
with plants
 Avoids a lifetime use of thyroxine which
only puts T4 into the body.
 Pre cursor to many diseases including
fertility issues
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PLANTS & MICRO MINERALS
 Zinc selenium chromium
 Bladderwrack, coleus, withania, myrrh, reis
hi, licorice, ginger, nettle
 Lemon balm, chickweed, nettle, all heal
 Vitex, paeony, red clover,
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Fertility
 Impacted also by:
 Stress
 Lifestyle
 Takes two to tango
 Alcohol
 Toxins – pcb’s
 Excess weight
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CAUTIONS
 PLEASE NOTE IT IS ADVISED, THAT ANY PLANTS MENTIONED
IN THIS TALK, ARE ONLY USED UNDER PROFESSIONAL
GUIDANCE.
 BOTANICAL MEDICINE AS SUPPLIED BY A PROFESSIONAL IS
NOT AVAILABLE OVER THE RETAIL COUNTER.
 It is not advisable to self treat
 A professional: will recognise all the issues within the body
 Select herbs that will impact positively on these issues
without causing problems in order to co exist with orthodox
drugs,
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SUPPLEMENTS
 There are some specific supplements
beneficial in infertility such as zinc
 Retail supplements are not allowed by
law to have a medical effect at the
suggested dose and thus the doses
maybe inappropriate
 Always consult your professional
practitioner first before purchasing
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References & Evidence base
 www. Pubmed, Science direct
Ihave a full list of references for those who
are interested – if you would like either to
email me or put your name down tonight I
will send them to you.
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Thank you
MORWENNA GIVEN WWW.MEDICUSHERBIS.COM
© 2012