I'm still not optimally medicated but next bloods aren't due for about a month so in the meantime I'm trying to research and do what I can for myself.
In regard to hypo symptoms, they're more or less gone apart from the more stubborn ones! Muscle weakness, fatigue, brain fog, and non-existant libido.
Will my libido improve as my thyroid levels get better? It definitely feels like a hormonal imbalance to me because I say non-existant but actually for one day a month (ovulation!) I have something resembling a sex drive.
I literally have no idea where to start when it comes to sex hormones.
Would an endo be able to help with this? (I'm pretty close to booking a consultation with a thyroid UK list endo!
Libido will increase with not only optimal thyroid hormone but good adrenal function.
Cortisol supports the body whilst it is in crisis with low thyroid hormone & when it becomes low itself it protects its own production at the expense of other hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
In a nutshell & roughly speaking it's the oestrogen that comes from the androgens that come from the progestogens that make the mineralocorticoids and glucorticoids all from cholesterol. That's why everything gets skewed with low thyroid hormone & we then takes ages to mend or ever want sex again. Glad you are feeling it for at least one day a month! 😁.
It's comforting to know that it will come back eventually because it's absolutely gone (aside from that one day!), To the point that I can't even get into is if we get started. 🤷🏻♀️
I don't have any obvious adrenal fatigue symptoms but (and it's wild speculation really) my maternal aunt died of adrenal cancer so I've half a thought that there might be some familial link to do with dodgy adrenals somewhere.
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You’re not alone. Im probably in a good place except for this. I put it down to daily stress. I had read some people never get it back to where it was.
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It's so difficult to navigate. There is also the thought that maybe much of my lack of libido is just general life - 2 small children, a dog, chickens, 2 part time jobs, the house, a broken car, lockdown!
I think that only accounts for part of it though, especially as I do have a libido around ovulation, so that suggests it's maybe hormonal.
I think I'm ok with it not being back to how it was, just higher than it is now! 🙏🏼
This is interesting. I'm toying with trying to get T3 as my next move. Although I still have room to improve levo I've not got a good conversion. Theres another reason to try it!
I've never had a huge libido but I think the last time I had a reasonable libido was university... 17 years ago! It'd just be nice for it to be more than one day a month! 🤦🏻♀️
Which brand do you recommend? There are many with different price tags. The thing is my GP does not think T3 is important to understand why I am undermedicated for so long. So without a doctor advise is it wise to start T3?
Denide, if you start a new post others with the knowledge will see your question and be able to answer. I don't take T3 but there are thousands of people on here who self-medicate either against drs advice or without their knowledge. Good luck! ☘️
I can't help you - I was hypo on thyroid meds in a state with many medical issues and diseases for 20 years plus under range adrenals and still had an extremely high sex drive throughout the whole entire period. Fixed most the issues and became much healthier and alive and it suddenly disappeared about 5 years ago
I had a flicker of one this month though so maybe there's hope still - I've kinda stopped missing it or caring to be honest but then I suppose i don't have someone else waiting for it
I play board games instead hehe!
I imagine, you'll feel much better once properly medicated and dealt with any deficiencies etc
Apologies was too late last night and that read a little more on the no hope side than intended - I meant can't currently help you in regards to the search for the elusive sex drive but was pointing out the first 20 yrs on thyroid meds, I did have a high sex drive so chances are getting the meds right will make it reappear - your body will just be focusing on adjusting for the changes right now - hope you find it soon xxx
I don’t know what age you are and apologies if this is not relevant, but if you are in your forties, have you considered that you might be perimenopausal? I have been hypothyroid (Hashimoto’s) for several years now and although Thyroxine treatments have improved me, I got so much better after going on HRT. Miraculous improvement in libido, energy, motivation, brain fog has gone, skin, weight, cellulite all better. Urethral irritation has completely gone as well.Because of this I have now been motivated to start a menopause clinic (I am an ex-GP who now does aesthetics).
It might be worth getting some blood tests. Always worth watching Davina McCall’s recent program ‘Sex, Myths and the Menopause’ and having a look at the amazing Dr Louise Newson‘s website ‘my menopause doctor’. She also has an app called ‘Balance’ which is really helpful.
Under the age of 45 it is best to get an FSH blood test on around a three of your cycle on two different cycles. If these are both raised it would confirm that you are perimenopausal. If you have a good GP they should be able to do this, but I know we all know how difficult that is!Otherwise you would have to see someone privately. 🙂
Thank you Miranda Ill keep this in mind and discuss with my GP on my next visit. I’m in Ireland and unfortunately all but necessary GP practice blood tests are suspended due to the recent cyber attack
I'd hope not at 35! But I don't rule anything out. My cycles went weird when I was breastfeeding. I stopped 8 months ago and they're still irregular but there's a sort of pattern, so I suppose that makes them regular. 🤔 😂
I'm still holding out hope that they will fully regularise when I'm on optimal meds but if they don't I'll have to look into it further.
Sorry I didn’t realise you are so young. It’s very unlikely, but if you don’t go back to regular periods, it’s worth testing as premature menopause (under 40) happens to 1% of women. Breast feeding definitely interferes with ovulation and libido. Hopefully your periods will get back to bring regular. If not, it is worth testing. (I’m presuming you’re not using any hormonal contraception ).
I don't think I'm near menopause yet, but there is something 'off' with the system! No, swore off hormonal contraception about 10 years ago. Not a fan!
Hi Miranda, I’m new to this website. I’m interested that you mentioned urethral irritation as one of your symptoms. Was this something you suffered as a result of your hypothyroidism? Does it feel like a burning sensation when you need to pee? I would suffer from this and wondered if it was related to my thyroid. I don’t have a UTI or anything but have just had periods of what seems like a flare up of this sensation over the years. I would have suffered from it before I was diagnosed as hypothyroid and always wondered what caused it. I thought it was vulvodynia or some sort of interstitial cystitis but now I’m wondering if this (very uncomfortable) sensation is more to do with some sort of hormone imbalance or,more specifically, my hypothyroidism. TIA
I don’t think it’s associated with hypothyroidism at all. I had it for years whilst on adequate doses of Levo and T3. I thought I was having recurrent UTIs but it was very rare for any bacteria to grow. I also thought it might be Thrush/vaginal infection but again treatments never helped. I concluded it was due to my Trans Vaginal Tape (mesh). I was thinking of going to see a specialist to see about having it removed as I was so miserable. I couldn’t wear jeans and felt like my urethral entrance was on fire most of the time. After I had done the menopause training course I learned that 80% of women get these sort of symptoms in the menopause. I’ve now been on a good dose of HRT for three months and haven’t had a single day of problems since the first week of HRT.
it’s common for GPs to try oestrogen vagina tablets or gel for this but they sting too much when you’ve been sore for so long. All I needed was a good dose of oestrogen.
I cannot say anything about women’s hormones but for a man using prescribed testosterone at the recommended dose can make a big difference.
Hi Plant Lady, I’m in the same boat 🤷🏼♀️ we’re the same age so I’ll look carefully at this post in case someone can offer a miracle 🤣
I was diagnosed almost 3 years ago now, and think I may have only just found a good dose for me. (Pandemic slowed things down though). I know I would benefit from T3 as I’m a poor converter, but really wanted to try everything else first as know the likelihood of getting via the nhs is low.
Despite feeling much better on a new dose the last 3 months, like you, my sex drive is non existent (it’s never been high though), with just a rumbling of interest at ovulation 🤣 we are the same age (im 36!)
Ah, I'm so glad you've responded - it helps to know I'm not alone!
I think the 'interest' around ovulation is probably saving my husbands sanity! 🤣 He's been so very patient and understanding, thankfully. Have read awful stories on here of husbands leaving when wives were symptomatic but undiagnosed, or diagnosed but they had selfish husbands.
Similarly - I feel like I'm on a reasonable dose now - yesterday was the best day I'd had in years but I still can't do any hard exercise. I used to run and I miss it. I don't feel like I've got enough in the reserve tanks to not take a massive hit if I were to go running.
Yoga is not the same!
I have done everything I can I think - I have got all my vitamins up to optimal; ferritin was taking forever and I hated iron tablets so I had an iron transfusion privately which I think is beginning to kick in! I'm gluten free too. I will consider going dairy free if need be but I'm already veggie too so my diet is quite limited already.
If, at the next lot of bloods, I'm still converting poorly I'll be making a private appointment with a TUK list consultant. I'd like to avoid T3 if I can but equally, I want to be able to do all the things I want to do!
I think the effect of low thyroid hormones on libido is often overlooked.
A healthy libido is, in my view, an essential part of a good life and a good relationship. A low libido is a symptom of thyroid problems -along with a few other conditions. When I saw Prof. Singhal he took my low libido seriously as a symptom.
I am now on a near optimal dose and my libido has returned, much to me and my partners relief.
Its interesting to read of the effect T3 has on libido in the posts. I think this needs further research.
Oh my goodness! Your post so sounds like what I have been through! Thank you for sharing. After so much research (my hubby was really helpful - lol), he found a great resource! I finally got off the roller coaster and not only got my libido back, but all my other symptoms, including those awful cramps every month are gone. It turns out I was estrogen dominant which was interfering with my testosterone and my thyroid hormones. Here is the page he found for me progesterone.com/progestero... I hope this helps.
I’ve just read through all of your posts and found all your posts very interesting.
I am now 67 years old and was diagnosed with an under active thyroid after the birth of my daughter in 1980.
I have had no libido since then, thought some of it was due to a busy family life, work and stress. I have a very understanding husband and am lucky to still have him. I’ve always had annual blood tests which I’m told always come back normal. I was on HRT for about eight years but was then advised to stop taking due to the length of time I’d been taking it. Although, I did sleep better and felt a lot better. After watching the tv programme with Davina McColl I am wondering if I should consider going back on HRT. I do feel as though I’ve missed out on a part of my marriage that should of been there and also that my husband has missed out too. Whenever I’ve mentioned this to doctors they have never offered any solution.
Oh Saffy, I'm so sorry to hear that. It is a great injustice that you have missed out on that. I can empathise with that, even though I am much younger, I still feel as though this is a part of my marriage that should be there. Left to their own devices the GP wouldn't help me with it. I have to research for myself, which of course I can in 2021. You weren't able to do so in 1980.
There is still time for you though! It's not too late! women's libido has never been considered important; men can buy Viagra over the counter and yet when women are faced with any kind of sexual dysfunction we get shrugged shoulders and 'well... it happens'. It's so unfair.
Just hope that through the media with Davina McColls programme more doctors sit up and listen to their patients. This is a problem for a lot of women and it’s way overdue for some more research into the symptoms of Thyroid and the ranges that doctors still use.
I can't help here, I will be 69 come July but I quit counting the years since sex when I hit 20. Altho I was sexually active physically I was never really there mentally before. Now I rarely even think about it, I don't date either because...well, honestly, most men want it until they die! 😜 Good luck.
My libido dramatically got better after being carnivore a short time. Men have found it very helpful also. I realize that not everyone is willing to adapt to this way of eating but this is just one of the many benefits of eating carnivore.
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