As a young mom, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in my 20s. I still have the symptoms, but I don’t take medication anymore. Instead, I try to do everything I can to manage my symptoms. My endometriosis was triggered by my hypothyroidism, and I think I’m doing a pretty good job of managing it.
As you can imagine, my endometriosis is a pretty nasty disease. It can cause fibroids, adenomas, and also severe pain. I had a benign cyst removed from my endometrium, which I was told was causing me much pain. It also caused the inflammation and cyst, so now I have a cyst on my uterus.
Hypothyroidism can interfere with endometrial development. As hypothyroidism gets worse, it can cause abnormal growth of the endometrium, which can result in fibroids, adenomas, and infertility. My endometriosis was triggered by my hypothyroidism. Like anyone else with endometriosis, I had to take medication to manage it, which is a big part of my treatment.
Endometriosis is a disease where the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus grows into the outside of the uterus. The tissue can be either tissue from outside the body or tissue from inside the body. A fibroid, for example, is a large, hard growth that forms in the middle of the uterus and grows under the uterus.
Hypothyroidism is actually a pretty common disease in women. Most people with hypothyroidism have a thyroid called the “stabilizer”. However, in the very rare cases of hypothyroidism that goes untreated, the thyroid can become very susceptible to cancer. The thyroid can become cancerous if it’s not treated, and hypothyroidism is a major risk factor for developing uterine and breast cancers.
Endometriosis is a condition that causes abnormal growths that can also occur in the uterus. Although there is a connection between these two diseases, the reason that hypothyroidism and endometriosis (but not the other endo’s) are linked is because both occur when the thyroid gland is underactive.
In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland is not producing enough of the thyroid hormone. The excess of thyroid hormone it usually produces is called “hyperthyroidism,” which is a more serious condition that can lead to heart failure, diabetes, and even stroke.
Endometriosis is a condition that results from the implantation of a piece of tissue called the endometrium, which then develops into a cyst or lesion.
Endometriosis and hypothyroidism are both treatable conditions. Hypothyroidism can be corrected through diet and some medications. Endometriosis can be treated by surgery. Both are sometimes treated successfully with hormone replacement.
A good rule of thumb is to check with your thyroid doctor if you are on hormone replacement therapy so you can know if you need to have it adjusted. If your thyroid is “on” but you are still dealing with the symptoms of hypothyroidism, then it may be time to change your medication. If your thyroid is “off” and you are still dealing with symptoms of hypothyroidism, then you should consider having your thyroid adjusted.