Hormones are the most important substances in the human body that control the functioning of all organs and systems. Even slight fluctuations in their level can cause significant harm to the body. One of these hormones is thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). In men, 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? The answer to this and other questions will be given in this article.
Description and functions of TTG
TSH is a hormone that is synthesized in the pituitary gland. It plays an important role in the normal functioning of the thyroid gland and is responsible for the production of hormones T4 and T3, which are involved in the work of many organs and systems of the body.
TSH is activated by lowering the level of thyroid hormones, and after their normalization, the synthesis of thyroid-stimulating hormone slows down. Their coordinated work ensures the normal functioning of the whole organism.
The relationship of TSH and thyroid hormones provides the following:
- Activation of glucose uptake.
- Oxygen exchange.
- The proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.
- Help in the processes of assimilation of fatty acids from the blood.
- Maintaining an optimal balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
- Strengthening the blood circulation of the thyroid gland.
- Regulation of psychosomatic reactions.
- It has a great effect on the reproductive function of women. Often, problems with conception are caused precisely by an imbalance of thyroid hormones and TSH.
Diagnostics
Referral to a TSH level can be obtained from a physician, gynecologist or endocrinologist. For analysis, venous blood is used.
To get the most accurate result, you must follow a series of rules.
- Blood is donated in the morning to an empty stomach.
- Do not smoke two hours before analysis.
- 1-2 days before the procedure, exclude physical activity and avoid stressful situations.
- 3-4 days before blood sampling, do not drink alcohol.
- Two days before the analysis, do not eat fatty, spicy foods.
- Two weeks before the procedure, stop taking hormonal drugs. If for some reason this cannot be done, you need to notify the laboratory assistant about this.
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 analyzes is it possible to make the most accurate diagnosis.
Norms
The table shows the indicators in accordance with age and pregnancy:
| Age | Norm, mIU / l |
| 14 - 25 years old | 0.6 - 4.5 |
| 25 - 50 years old | 0.4 - 4.0 |
| Pregnant women | 0.2 - 3.5 |
Indications for analysis
Basically, a blood test for TSH level is prescribed for suspected hormonal imbalance and impaired reproductive function.
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.
- Inability to get pregnant.
- An unstable menstrual cycle.
- Alopecia or excessive hair growth on the body.
- Sensation of a lump in the throat and pain.
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain for no apparent reason.
- Thyrotoxicosis.
- Bleeding.
- Long-term reduced body temperature.
- Tremor of the limbs.
- Increased prolactin values.
- Decreased libido.
- Lag in development.
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 is elevated, what does it mean? Consider the most common of them:
- Thyroid disease.
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Obesity.
- Moved operations.
- Disorders of the pituitary gland.
- Autoimmune thyroiditis.
- Lack of iodine in the body.
- Benign tumor process in the pituitary gland.
- Mechanical injuries of the thyroid gland.
- Gallbladder removal.
- Insensitivity of cells to TSH to thyroid hormones.
- Oncological processes occurring in the body.
- Infectious diseases.
- Taking medications.
- Excessive exercise.
Also, the causes of increased TSH in women can be psycho-emotional stress.
Symptoms of Hormone Increase
The main symptoms of elevated TSH levels are:
- Swelling.
- Thickened neck.
- Sweating.
- Lowering body temperature.
- Nausea.
- Violations of the stool.
- Infertility.
- Iron-deficiency anemia.
- Dryness and peeling of the skin.
- Apathy and a sharp change of mood.
All of the above symptoms can occur individually or comprehensively. An elevated TSH level can be a sign of serious pathologies, so if you find any of them, it is recommended to consult a specialist.
TTG lowering
Lower values of the level of the hormone are diagnosed much less often than their increase. This may indicate abnormalities in the thyroid gland, in which T3 and T4 are produced in excessive quantities. The causes of low thyroid stimulating hormone are the following conditions:
- Thyrotoxicosis.
- Diffuse toxic goiter.
- Excessive starvation.
- Encephalitis.
- Mechanical damage to the thyroid gland and pituitary gland.
- Benign formations in the thyroid gland and brain.
- Malignant formations.
- Psychical deviations.
- Frequent stress and depression.
- Bazedov’s disease.
- Iodine deficiency.
- Decreased pituitary function.
- Taking medication.
Symptoms of lowering
The body of a woman painfully responds to a lack of TSH. The following symptoms may be present:
- Temperature jumps. In most cases, lower values are observed.
- Violations of the stool.
- Infertility.
- Increased appetite.
- Insomnia.
- Increased heart rate.
- Headache.
- Psycho-emotional instability.
- Feeling trembling throughout the body.
Antibodies to TTG
If endocrine disorders are suspected, an analysis is performed for the presence of antibodies to TSH. These are autoantibodies synthesized during immune system failures. At the same time, TSH receptors are perceived as foreign, and therefore the body perceives them as cells that need to be fought.
Specialists distinguish two types of antibodies to TSH:
- Stimulating the synthesis of thyroid hormones. In this case, antibodies 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.
- Depressing hormone production. In this case, TSH is not synthesized in sufficient quantities, which leads to hypothyroidism and atrophy of the thyroid gland.
If the analysis showed that antibodies to TSH receptors are elevated, a physician of a narrow specialty should deal with the full decoding of the result. The analysis does not indicate which type of AT is developed in a particular case. This can only be determined using the general 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 the doctor strictly on an individual basis. There is no specific treatment regimen.
In addition to analysis of hormone levels, ultrasound of the thyroid gland, and sometimes MRI of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, is prescribed.
In the treatment of low TSH, drug therapy is used, but appropriate nutrition is also of great importance.
Among drugs, drugs are used that stimulate the production of thyroid hormones or, conversely, inhibit their synthesis.
The following medications may be prescribed:
- L-thyroxine.
- "Iodomarin."
- Eutirox.
- Propitsil.
- "Lysurid."
- "Bromocriptine" and others.
In the question of how to increase TSH, there is no place for self-prescription of drugs. Therapy is selected individually according to the results of many tests.
It is also necessary to adhere to certain rules in the diet:
- Refuse harmful, fatty foods rich in "bad" cholesterol. You should not eat rich products, pasta from low grades of wheat, milk chocolate.
- To normalize thyroid hormones, you should add nuts, sea fish, seafood, seaweed, green vegetables to the diet.
- Eat more fruits and berries. Salads season with vegetable oil, linseed and olive are especially useful.
Ways to lower TSH
A pathological increase in 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 "Bagothyrox" are widely used.
Among traditional medicine, dill, chamomile, celandine, dog rose, and dandelion are widely used. Fatty varieties of fish, sauerkraut, coconut oil, cereals should be present in the diet.
If none of the above methods bring results, surgical treatment may be indicated.
Effects
If the result of the analysis indicates an increased TSH, the consequences of this without timely treatment can be very dangerous. The most common complications of the pathology are:
- Disorders of the cardiovascular system.
- Violation of the reproductive function of women.
- Miscarriages in early pregnancy.
- Visual impairment.
- Neuroses and mental disorders.
- The development of diabetes.
- Hypertension.
Conclusion
TSH has a great influence on the proper functioning of the body, therefore, with deviations of its level in the blood, an extended diagnosis should be carried out, according to which a decision is made on how to normalize it. In most cases, with timely treatment, hormone levels are normal. The decision on how to lower or how to increase TSH should be made by the attending physician.