Hormones are the most important substances in the human body that control the work of all organs and systems. Even slight fluctuations in their level can cause significant harm to the body. One such hormone is thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). In men, the indicators are practically unchanged throughout life, but in women, a large number of factors influence its level. Many women wonder - if TSH is elevated, what does it mean? We will get the answer to this and other questions in this article.
Description and functions of TSH
TSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. It plays an important role in the normal functioning of the thyroid gland and is responsible for the production of T4 and T3 hormones, which are involved in the work of many organs and body systems.
TSH is activated when the level of thyroid hormones decreases, and after their normalization, the synthesis of thyroid-stimulating hormone slows down. Their well-coordinated work ensures the normal functioning of the whole organism.
The relationship between TSH and thyroid hormones provides the following:
- Activate glucose uptake.
- Oxygen exchange.
- Proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.
- Help in the process of assimilation of fatty acids from the blood.
- Maintain an optimal balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
- Strengthening blood circulation of the thyroid gland.
- Regulation of psychosomatic reactions.
- Has a great influence on a woman's reproductive function. Often, problems with conception are caused precisely by an imbalance of thyroid hormones and TSH.
Diagnosis
You can get a referral to measure the level of TSH from a general practitioner, gynecologist or endocrinologist. Venous blood is used for analysis.
To get the most accurate result, you need to follow a number of rules.
- Blood donated in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Do not smoke two hours before the test.
- For 1-2 days before the procedure, exclude physical activity and avoid stressful situations.
- Do not drink alcohol 3-4 days before blood sampling.
- Do not eat fatty, spicy food two days before the test.
- Two weeks before the procedure, stop taking hormonal drugs. If for some reason this is not possible, you need to notify the laboratory assistant.
As a rule, a blood test to measure the level of TSH is prescribed in conjunction with tests for the level of hormones T3 and T4, as well as antibodies to thyroglobulin. Only in the sum of the results of these tests is it possible to make the most accurate diagnosis.
Norms
In the tableindicators are given according to age and during pregnancy:
| Age | Norm, mIU/l |
| 14 – 25 years old | 0, 6 – 4, 5 |
| 25 – 50 years | 0, 4 – 4, 0 |
| Pregnant | 0, 2 – 3, 5 |
Indications for testing
In general, a blood test for TSH levels is prescribed for suspected hormonal imbalance and reproductive dysfunction.
The reason for contacting a doctor who issues a referral for analysis may be the appearance of the following symptoms:
- Psycho-emotional disorders - frequent and prolonged depression, irritability, tearfulness.
- Failure to conceive.
- Unstable menstrual cycle.
- Bald loss or excessive body hair growth.
- Feeling of a lump in the throat and pain.
- Dramatic weight loss or weight gain for no apparent reason.
- Thyrotoxicosis.
- Bleeding.
- Prolonged low body temperature.
- Tremor of limbs.
- Increased prolactin values.
- Decreased libido.
- Developmental delay.
Increased TSH in women
There are a large number of reasons that can contribute to an increase in the level of this hormone in the blood. If TSH levels are elevated, what does this mean? Consider the most common of them:
- Thyroid disease.
- Hyperprolactinemia.
- Obesity.
- Rescheduled operations.
- Disorders of the pituitary gland.
- Autoimmune thyroiditis.
- Lack of iodine in the body.
- A benign tumor process in the pituitary gland.
- Mechanical injury of the thyroid gland.
- Removal of the gallbladder.
- Insensitivity of cells to TSH to thyroid hormones.
- Oncological processes occurring in the body.
- Infectious diseases.
- Medication taking.
- Excessive exercise.
Also, the causes of increased TSH in women can be psycho-emotional stress.
Symptoms of increased hormone levels
The main symptoms of elevated TSH levels are:
- Edema.
- Thick neck.
- Sweating.
- Lower body temperature.
- Nausea.
- Stool disorders.
- Infertility.
- Iron deficiency anemia.
- Dryness and flaking of the skin.
- Apathy and mood swings.
All of the above symptoms can manifest themselves both individually and in combination. An elevated TSH level can be a sign of serious pathologies, so if any of them are found, it is recommended to consult a specialist.
Decreased TSH
Low levels of the hormone are diagnosed much less frequently than their increase. This may indicate disorders in the thyroid gland, in which T3 and T4produced in excess. The causes of low thyroid-stimulating hormone are the following conditions:
- Thyrotoxicosis.
- Diffuse toxic goiter.
- Excessive fasting.
- Encephalitis.
- Mechanical damage to the thyroid gland and pituitary gland.
- Benign tumors in the thyroid gland and brain.
- Malignant tumors.
- Mental deviations.
- Frequent stress and depression.
- Graves' disease.
- Iodine deficiency.
- Decreased pituitary function.
- Medication taking.
Downgrade symptoms
A woman's body reacts painfully to a lack of TSH. The following symptoms may be present:
- Temperature jumps. In most cases, reduced values are observed.
- Stool disorders.
- Infertility.
- Increased appetite.
- Insomnia.
- Increased heart rate.
- Headaches.
- Psycho-emotional instability.
- Feeling of shivering all over the body.
antibodies to TSH
If endocrine disorders are suspected, an analysis for the presence of antibodies to TSH is prescribed. These are autoantibodies synthesized when the immune system fails. At the same time, TSH receptors are perceived as foreign, and therefore the body perceives them as cells that need to be fought.
Specialists identify two types of antibodies to TSH:
- Stimulating the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Whereinantibodies stimulate the thyroid gland, which begins to synthesize an excessive amount of T3 and T4. This leads to the development of signs of thyrotoxicosis and damage to the gland itself.
- Inhibiting the production of hormones. In this case, TSH is not synthesized in sufficient quantities, which leads to hypothyroidism and thyroid atrophy.
If the analysis showed that antibodies to TSH receptors are elevated, a doctor of a narrow speci alty should deal with the complete decoding of the result. The analysis does not indicate which type of AT was developed in a particular case. This can only be determined using the overall clinical picture.
How to increase TSH
First of all, after confirming a low TSH in the blood, it is necessary to determine the cause of these deviations. Treatment, first of all, will be aimed at eliminating the provoking disease. Therapy is prescribed by a doctor strictly on an individual basis. There is no specific treatment regimen.
In addition to the analysis of hormone levels, ultrasound of the thyroid gland is prescribed, and sometimes MRI of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
Medication is used to treat low TSH, but appropriate nutrition is also important.
Among medicines, drugs are used that stimulate the production of thyroid hormones or, conversely, inhibit their synthesis.
The following medications may be prescribed:
- "L-thyroxine".
- "Iodomarin".
- "Eutiroks".
- "Propicil".
- "Lizuride".
- "Bromocriptine" and others.
In the question of how to increase TSH, there is no place for self-prescription of drugs. Therapy is selected individually based on the results of many tests.
It is also necessary to adhere to certain rules in nutrition:
- Refuse junk, fatty foods rich in "bad" cholesterol. You should not eat rich products, pasta from low wheat varieties, milk chocolate.
- To normalize thyroid hormones, nuts, sea fish, seafood, sea kale, green vegetables should be introduced into the diet.
- Eat more fruits and berries. Season salads with vegetable oil, especially linseed and olive oil.
Ways to lower TSH
Pathological increase in the level of TSH in the blood responds well to treatment. Medications are prescribed that can normalize the amount of the hormone in the blood. For this, "L-thyroxine" and "Bagotirox" are widely used.
Dill, chamomile, celandine, wild rose, dandelion are widely used among traditional medicine. Fatty fish, sauerkraut, coconut oil, cereals should be present in the diet.
If none of the above is successful, surgery may be indicated.
Consequences
If the result of the analysis indicates an elevated TSH, the consequences of this without timely treatment can be very dangerous. Mostcommon complications of pathology are:
- Disorders of the cardiovascular system.
- Violation of the female reproductive function.
- Miscarriages in early pregnancy.
- Impaired vision.
- Neuroses and mental disorders.
- Development of diabetes.
- Hypertension.
Conclusion
TSH has a great influence on the proper functioning of the body, therefore, in case of deviations in its level in the blood, an extended diagnosis should be carried out, as a result of which a decision is made on how to normalize it. In most cases, with timely treatment, hormone levels return to normal. The decision on how to lower or how to increase TSH should be made by the attending physician.
