How Your Thyroid Impacts Desire
Your thyroid plays a vital role in almost every system of the body, including metabolism, energy production, and especially hormonal balance. When your thyroid is struggling (hypothyroid, Hashimoto’s, etc) not only will you probably feel out of control with your weight, fatigue, brain fog, bloating, and hair loss… but your craving for ~sexy time~ 🔥 has most likely gone missing too! This symptom of underlying thyroid dysfunction can be awkward and embarrassing especially if you have a partner- sex can feel like a chore, and you might get caught in the vicious cycle of “wanting to want it”.
(Please remember: this doesn’t make you a “bad” woman, it doesn’t mean your relationship is doomed, and it definitely doesn’t mean you’re broken! Your body is just sending up signals that it needs support so you can get back to being the sexiest, most confident version of yourself!) 💃🏻
The Connection Between Thyroid Health and Libido
Many women with thyroid dysfunction experience low libido- so if you feel like you woke up in a 90 year old nun’s body, you’re not alone! Here’s what’s going on beneath the surface:
Hormonal Imbalances
ESTROGEN
Hypothyroidism (Low Thyroid Function): Reduces the liver's ability to clear estrogen, leading to estrogen dominance. This can cause heavy or irregular periods, PMS, fibroids, and increased risk of endometriosis.
Hyperthyroidism (High Thyroid Function): Increases estrogen clearance, leading to low estrogen levels. This can cause light periods, short cycles, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness similar to menopause symptoms.
PROGESTERONE
Hypothyroidism: Reduces ovulation frequency, leading to low progesterone which contributes to irregular cycles, PMS, anxiety, insomnia, and difficulty maintaining pregnancy.
Hyperthyroidism: Can lead to irregular ovulation and a shortened luteal phase, affecting fertility (and sex drive)
TESTOSTERONE
Hypothyroidism: Low thyroid function leads to low SHBG, increasing free testosterone in the bloodstream. This can contribute to acne, facial hair growth (hirsutism), and PCOS-like symptoms. However, even if testosterone is heightened (it isn’t always), fatigue and PCOS-like symptoms will quash any feelings of sexiness.
Hyperthyroidism: Increases SHBG, which reduces free testosterone. This can cause low libido, muscle weakness, and fatigue.
here’s your cheatsheet for the ripple effects of thyroid function on your hormones:
Low thyroid function = Estrogen dominance + Low progesterone + High or Low testosterone
High thyroid function = Low estrogen + Low progesterone + Low testosterone
Fatigue
Low thyroid function often leads to extreme fatigue, making intimacy the last thing on your mind. When all you want to do is sleep, you feel puffy, achy, and bloated…your partner’s cuddling is quickly rebuffed, as you dread where it might lead…and you’re just not feelin’ it. Again, you are not broken and this does make sense- your body is in hibernation mode!
Poor Circulation
Hypothyroidism can slow circulation which is why your fingers and toes turn into freezing ice cubes and you might feel like the oxygen isn’t really getting to your toddy brain. But another consequence of poor circulation is reduced flow to the pelvic area which lowers arousal (and if you do engage in sexy time, the sensation will be muted).
Emotional Well-Being
The thyroid is closely linked to mental health. Anxiety, depression, and mood swings—common with thyroid imbalances—not only make daily life more difficult, but it makes intimacy feel impossible. You may spiral, blaming yourself for being a “bad girlfriend” or you may lash out at your partner- “don’t they understand that I feel like sh*t and I’m trying?!” They might not; it’s very difficult for anyone who hasn’t experienced the depths of thyroid issues to TRULY get it.
How to Support Libido and Thyroid Health
The good news? Now that we’ve identified the problem, we can work backwards!
1. Nourish Your Body with Thyroid-Loving Ingredients
Iodine & Selenium: Essential for proper thyroid hormone production. Found in seaweed, Brazil nuts, and eggs.
Zinc & Iron: Help with hormone balance and energy levels. Good sources include oysters, grass-fed beef, and pumpkin seeds.
B Vitamins: Support adrenal health and energy production; B Vitamins are almost always depleted in my clients due to years of their bodies trying to keep up with chronic stress. Found in leafy greens, liver, and nutritional yeast. I do normally recommend supplementing because most women are working with such a deficiency. Here’s my fav brand!
2. Balance Blood Sugar
Blood sugar imbalances can disrupt thyroid function, leading to sex hormone imbalances. To keep blood sugar steady:
Eat protein and healthy fats with every meal. No naked carbs and please no sugary coffees as “breakfast”. I aim for 30g protein and 1-2 Tbl fat at every meal as a general guideline!
Avoid refined sugars and processed foods. This sounds like the most basic advice ever, but remember: when your body is in survival mode, it encourages you to crave junk food because it’s a quick and easy source of energy! Be aware of the gut gremlins saying "moreeeee caffeine! more sugar! some chocolate! and chips!!!”
Include fiber-rich foods like vegetables and legumes. Fiber is the unsung hero of hormonal balance and liver detoxification, not to mention feeding the good bugs in your gut and improving energy! Turn your vegetable goal into a game: aim for a lot of different colors and textures!
3. Manage Stress and Support Adrenal Health
Surprise, surprise… you really thought we’d get through this without addressing stress? Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, which can suppress thyroid function and deplete sex hormones (aka your body thinks “circling back” on an email is equivalent to fighting a bear and has you stuck in survival mode… not sexy mode!)
Prioritize rest and relaxation- and before you say “I don’t know how to relax”, I had to relearn this too! Relaxing does NOT mean being productive, doing dishes, or mindlessly scrolling to “decompress”. Go for a long walk outside without music, send time laughing with loved ones, and be in bed at least 8 hours.
Slow the heck down. Carve out 10-20 minutes a day to practice box breathing, meditation, yin yoga, or just sitting still with no distractions. So much of our nonstop 24/7 overstimulating modern life doesn’t seem stressful, but your brain is processing SO much information every second. Prioritize moments of quiet.
Calming Herbs and Teas: some of my favorite additions to soothe a fried nervous system include chamomile tea (or a destress blend from your favorite small tea brand!) and ashwagandha nightly. Your thyroid loves ashwagandha and for good reason! This herb helps suppress elevated cortisol and encourages healthy thyroid function.
4. Optimize Gut Health
Since 25% of thyroid hormone conversion happens in the gut, a healthy microbiome is essential…not to mention good gut health means less bloating and a better metabolism- heyyyy sexy lady!!!
Eat probiotic-rich foods (fermented veggies, kefir, yogurt). This doesn’t have to be a LOT- I eat about 2 Tbl of fermented veggies with breakfast. But if you find that probiotics cause bloating, that’s a good indicator that a deeper gut rehab needs to be considered. I would be happy to guide you through it!
Reduce inflammatory foods like gluten and processed dairy. Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with Celiac disease or a food sensitivity, cutting back on gluten and dairy for a few weeks will allow your body to rest and reset, as the conventional ways these foods are prepared (sprayed with glyphosate or pumped full of hormones) can drive inflammation!
5. Address Underlying Thyroid Issues
I saved the most obvious for last, but thyroid issues can be anything but straightforward. If you’ve been told by your doctor that “your labs look normal”, FIRSTLY, they’re probably not running a full thyroid lab which means you aren’t getting all the data you need. SECONDLY, your labs can “look normal” but if you still feel like crap (and forget about feeling sexy!) you deserve to be taken seriously!
One of the main issues I support in my practice is thyroid issues because I’ve dealt with them myself from a very early age- I get what you’re going through. I understand the frustration, the exhaustion, the confusion. And I wasted so much time DIY’ing it or accepting that I was just doomed to sub-optimal health forever. I don’t want that for you- YOU don’t want that for you! If you’re ready to understand what your body is trying to tell you, if you’re ready to reclaim your confidence and step into the sexiest, healthiest version of yourself, click the link below to explore ways to work with me!
