I've recently been reading up on ESTROGEN DOMINANCE and it's been a revelation to me. Many doctors have been curious about my many symptoms of hypothyroid that go along with my PCOS symptoms, but my thyroid tests usually turn out ok. Since I started studying PCOS related "estrogen dominance," however, I discovered something interesting.
Estrogen dominance causes thyroid issues and hypothyroid symptoms! Voila! You cannot believe how many hours I've spent on internet search engines over the last couple of days searching variations of the term "estrogen dominance." It's amazing to me to finally feel like I've connected my own personal dots!
Just because estrogen is involved doesn't mean you don't have a thyroid problem.
Estrogen binds to thyroid hormones making it unavailable to the body. A normal thyroid will respond to this by pumping out more hormone, keeping everything in balance. If the thyroid is not normal it will either overcompensate or undercompensate due to the stress, and thus you end up with a thyroid disorder.
This is not something that's going to go away if your estrogen dominance is controlled; every time you have a hormone fluctuation your thyroid will stress out - as in monthly cycling... estrogen usually peaks a few times during a monthly cycle as well, so.. you're going to have thyroid symptoms for the rest of your life. Eventually your thyroid will simply give up and you'll need medication.
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PCOS+IR, Hypothyroidism
Sleep Apnea (cured by tonsillectomy)
30-Something Mommy of 2
Logan Scott born April 9, 2004!
Conor James born Nov 1, 2006.
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I kinda agree with what Shenacat saying, but I kinda don't.
I mean, I think that the thyroid is obviously not working 100% right if it has a problem keeping up with the increased need when estrogen binds to thyroid hormones. But on the other hand, getting the estrogen under control could in some cases lead to the thyroid coping well enough on it's own that no treatment is needed and no symptoms are noticed. Yes, there will still be monthly estrogen fluctuations, but just because the thyroid can't handle a steady overload doesn't mean it couldn't handle a shorter increased demand. As an analogy, there is no way in hell that I could run for 8 hours (or even one), but I am quite capable of running for a short time. The increased workload is OK for a short time.
It may be that in that case the thyroid would eeventually burn out or develop into enough of a problem to need treatment and cause symptoms, but that doesn't mean there is a major problem now.
For myself, as my cycles have gotten a bit better (as in they exist now) and my hormone levels are a bit better, my hypothyroid symptoms are decreasing. My bbt is steadily higher by about .1-.2 degrees C. I'm not so fatigued. And the funny lump feeling in my throat is gone. I think that in my case at least there is a link.
Hey guys...I wasn't saying your thyroid issues weren't very really and don't need individual treatment...I was just saying I was not aware of the role estrogen dominance plays in some people's thyroid malfunction. Particularly thyroid malfunction that is very real but can't be picked up on traditional tests....and I consider myself very well PCOS informed. I think this is HUGE! It's huge to me, anyway. I think this is the connection between PCOS and hypothyroidism that some cysters have been wondering about. Estrogen dominance.
This idea has changed the way I think about, and treat my syndrome. I still take my Actos, and watch my carbs, and mind my thyroid health, and visit my RE. But you will never again catch me on a bcp or taking prescription synthetic progestins like provera. Ever. My personal research tells me those things have been slowly killing me, and my thyroid.
That's all . I wish you good health and a safe pcos journey...
BB, I know what you mean. Isn't it weird when you read enough of this information, and something in your head really clicks, and you feel like there MUST be some truth there, even if medical science hasn't caught up to it yet? I've read so much about how soy is bad for hypothyroidism *because* of its estrogenic properties -- so it certainly makes sense to me that estrogen would be the link between PCOS and hypothyroid. I'm convinced my hypothyroid was triggered when I stopped taking the pill.
your hypothyroid might not be a thyroid problem 
. I wish you good health and a safe pcos journey... 
