Estrogen

Estrogen physiology can be compromised or a causative factor in hypothyroidism. Elevations of primary and secondary estrogens are notorious for causing hypothyroidism at the gland and cellular levels.

Normal physiologic levels of estrogen are not the cause of your hypothyroid symptoms or hypothyroid condition. If, however your primary or secondary estrogens rise you can experience both hyper and hypothyroid symptoms.

At the thyroid gland, high levels of estrogen can reduce your ability to transport iodide into your thyroid gland. Without sufficient levels of iodide your body can’t make sufficient thyroid hormone. The result is not only low thyroid production by the gland, but an enlargement or swelling of the gland, often referred to as a goiter.

Elevated estrogen can also result in elevated levels of sex hormone binding globulins (SHBG) and elevated levels of Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG). When estrogen increases TBG levels, more thyroid hormone may wind up being bound and less thyroid hormone is free and available to be transported into cells and tissues. This can cause cellular hypothyroidism.