Thyroid disorders emerging as hidden factor behind infertility among urban women, warn Bengaluru specialists

A growing number of urban women struggling with infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, failed conception attempts, and recurrent miscarriages may be, witout being aware, suffering from thyroid disorders, fertility specialists in Bengaluru have warned. Doctors said thyroid dysfunction is often overlooked because of its vague symptoms, but is increasingly being linked to reproductive health complications among women in their late 20s and 30s, particularly in metropolitan cities where stress, poor sleep, unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles are common. Vidya V. Bhat, gynaecologist, IVF specialist and Medical Director of Radhakrishna Multispeciality Hospital, said thyroid-related fertility problems are being seen more frequently in clinical practice. “Many women come to us after years of struggling to conceive or after repeated miscarriages, without realising that a simple thyroid imbalance could be the underlying cause,” Dr. Bhat said. She noted that symptoms such as fatigue, unexplained weight gain or loss, hair fall, anxiety, mood swings, irregular periods and poor sleep are often mistaken for stress-related problems among working women, delaying diagnosis and treatment. Among urban poor too N. Venkatesh, Board of Examination (NBE) Professor and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the State-run Jayanagar General Hospital, said thyroid disorders are increasingly being detected even among urban poor women visiting government hospitals, though many cases initially go undiagnosed. “The symptoms are often subtle and may not become apparent until women face infertility, recurrent miscarriages or severe menstrual irregularities,” Dr. Venkatesh said. He stressed that thyroid testing is essential for women presenting with fertility or menstrual problems. “If we only treat symptoms such as scanty periods or excessive bleeding without evaluating thyroid function, we may miss the root cause,” he said. Around 20 of the nearly 120 women attending the OBG outpatient department daily at Jayanagar General Hospital seek treatment related to fertility concerns and often require thyroid evaluation or specialised referrals. Venkatesh pointed out that advanced thyroid-related fertility investigations are unavailable in many government hospitals and primary health centres, forcing economically vulnerable patients to seek referrals to tertiary care institutions such as Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Linked to reproductive system Doctors explained that thyroid hormones play a key role in follicular development, ovulation and preparing the uterus for implantation. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can interfere with fertility by disrupting ovulation, affecting egg quality, delaying implantation and increasing pregnancy risks. Anupama Ashok, Senior Consultant and Fertility Expert at Motherhood Fertility and IVF, Hebbal, said thyroid hormones are closely linked to the body’s reproductive hormone system. “The disruption can lead to ovulation problems, irregular menstrual cycles, implantation failure and difficulty maintaining pregnancy, resulting in early miscarriages,” Dr. Ashok said. Risk of recurrent miscarriages Arunima Haldar, Consultant in IVF and Reproductive Medicine at Manipal Hospital Whitefield and Varthur, said silent thyroid disorders can remain undetected and present only as infertility or recurrent miscarriage. She also cautioned that untreated thyroid disorders during pregnancy may increase the risk of recurrent miscarriages, preterm delivery, pregnancy-induced hypertension and developmental concerns in babies. Timely diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and lifestyle modifications can help many women conceive naturally and have healthy pregnancies. They are now advocating routine thyroid screening during fertility evaluations and preconception counselling, especially for women with irregular periods, PCOS, infertility, previous miscarriages or a family history of thyroid disorders.