Thyroid hormones are important to almost every major function in your body. They impact your cardiovascular system, metabolism, fertility and energy levels. The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland at the base of your throat.

It is especially important to get your thyroid checked if you are trying to conceive. Low thyroid levels can cause infertility. If you are successful in getting pregnant, make sure your doctor closely monitors your thyroid level as low thyroid levels can also lead to problems with the developing fetus.

Make sure your doctor does a complete thyroid test along with your PCOS tests. Be sure they test your thyroid antibodies as well as your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels. I spent years begging doctors to help me with the crushing fatigue I lived with. They kept telling me I needed an antidepressant. I finally saw a good endocrinologist who tested my thyroid antibodies and found them to be so high the test could not register a final number. When I started taking thyroid replacement hormones my life changed. Suddenly I could do things like go to the grocery store without needing a nap afterwards.

Make sure your doctor is using the NEW TSH standards as well. Many, many women have been told they do not have a thyroid problem when in fact they DO have low thyroid under the new guidelines.

Signs of thyroid problems include:

* Fatigue
* Difficulty concentrating
* Dry skin
* Feeling cold all the time
* Unexplained weight gain or trouble losing weight
* Infertility
* Hair loss

For more information, read Mary J. Shomon’s book “Living Well With Hypothyroidism.” Shomon has been an incredible advocate for people with thyroid disorders for many years.