Thyroid Therapy

Thyroid Therapy for Men

Thyroid hormones are essential in their own right, particularly for regulating metabolism. But healthy thyroid function is also critical for the balance of other hormones. When something is out of whack elsewhere in the endocrine system, the thyroid gland will work hard to compensate.

Facts About Thyroid for Men

1. Having low thyroid (also known as hypothyroidism) often goes hand-in-hand with imbalances in other hormones.
2. There is a symbiotic relationship between thyroid and your other hormones. Treating other hormones without treating hypothyroidism often yields suboptimal results in terms of symptom relief.
3. Many symptoms of low thyroid overlap with symptoms of other hormone imbalances. Examples include fatigue, weight gain, depression, and brain fog.

T3 and T4

T4 is the thyroid hormone produced by your thyroid gland. After T4 is secreted, it flows through the pituitary. When the pituitary senses the body doesn’t have enough T4, it releases thyroid stimulating hormone (or TSH). TSH then stimulates the thyroid gland to produce more T4. Proper functioning of this feedback loop is the first piece of the thyroid puzzle.

But there’s more. T4 is not the thyroid hormone your body uses for the most part. T4 is broken down into another thyroid hormone called T3; and then T3 is broken down into yet another thyroid hormone called T3 free. T3 free is the thyroid hormone your body primarily uses.

One of the reasons thyroid levels decline with age is because the thyroid and pituitary glands slow down. But as the body ages, it also becomes less efficient at converting T4 to T3 free.

Why Low Thyroid Falls Through the Cracks

Low thyroid is frequently undiagnosed and under-treated by medical professionals as a consequence of outdated protocols. Here’s what they often miss:

• T4 only accounts for about 20% of thyroid function.
• T4’s primary function is to be broken down into T3, and then T3 free.
• T3 free accounts for 80% of thyroid function.
• As the thyroid ages, it produces less T4. However, changes also take place that inhibit T4’s breakdown into T3 free.
• Most medical professionals only measure T4 and TSH. They miss 80% of thyroid function by not testing T3’s functional form, T3 free.
• When these same medical professionals do treat for low thyroid, they generally prescribe T4 only. But if the body isn’t breaking T4 down into T3 free, the end result will be suboptimal.
• What is often considered a normal level for thyroid isn’t usually high enough for men to feel good. The upper end of lab reference ranges is typically healthiest.

All of the above results in many men being inadequately tested and treated for low thyroid…if they’re being tested and treated at all.

Method of Treatment

1. We start by checking thyroid hormones—the rightthyroid hormones.
2. Our physicians take a full inventory of symptoms to see if any are consistent with low thyroid.
3. If treatment is indicated, our physicians rarely prescribe T4 alone. The majority of men with hypothyroidism need a combination of T4 and T3, or they need T3 alone.
4. Six weeks after starting treatment, we retest levels to be sure they are optimal. Most men will see symptom relief near the top of lab reference ranges. From there, our physicians adjust dosing as necessary.
5. We give recommendations as needed for supplements that can help the body to process thyroid hormones more efficiently.

The interplay between thyroid hormones and the remainder of your endocrine system is too important to ignore. Better aging means balancing everything—including thyroid. Beyond that, treatment just has to be done correctly. At Renew Youth, that’s the only way we know how.