For women, is there any connection between hypothyroidism and infertility?

Answer From Tatnai Burnett, M.D.

There is sometimes a link between hypothyroidism — when you have an underactive thyroid gland — and infertility in women.

With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones. Low levels of thyroid hormone can interfere with the release of an egg from your ovary (ovulation), which impairs fertility. In addition, some of the underlying causes of hypothyroidism — such as certain autoimmune or pituitary disorders — may impair fertility.

For women, treating hypothyroidism is an important part of any effort to correct infertility. If infertility remains after hypothyroidism has been corrected, other interventions to treat infertility may be needed.

If you have hypothyroidism and hope to become pregnant, work with your doctor to make sure your hypothyroidism is under control. Seek additional help from an infertility specialist if needed.

If you have hypothyroidism and become pregnant, tell your doctor promptly. Close monitoring of your thyroid hormone level during pregnancy can promote normal fetal development and reduce the risk of miscarriage.

With

Tatnai Burnett, M.D.

Women’s health topics - straight to your inbox

Get the latest information from our Mayo Clinic experts on women’s health topics, serious and complex conditions, wellness and more. Click to view a preview and subscribe below.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

May 20, 2023 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Assisted reproductive technology
  2. Ovulation
  3. Egg donation
  4. Fallopian tubes: Is pregnancy possible with only one?
  5. Female fertility tips
  6. Female infertility
  7. In vitro fertilization (IVF)
  8. Ovulation signs
  9. Perimenopause
  10. Triple X syndrome
  11. Tubal ligation reversal
  12. Uterine polyps
  13. HSG test